Garden Railway Forum

With my plans of gaining steam being somewhat thwarted to date, I've considered that there may be some advantage in pursuing the Roundhouse kit approach. This would mean that I can create my loco over time, which has it's financial benefits, whilst still being able to pay for my impending nuptials (5 months and counting).

However, my only cause for concern is my level of ability and the absence of "tools" in my house. How easy are these kits to build?

My understanding is they are fairly straightforward. I've not built one, though its on my to do list. When chatting to the bloke at the stand several years ago as I first started, I was informed that a 11 year old had managed to put one together without much hassle. They also have phenomenally good service, so if you get stuck, quick ring to Roundhouse and you get your answer.

Its also worth looking at the instructions which can be found on the Roundhouse website. These go into detail as what each kit entails and what tools you will need.

http://www.roundhouse-eng.com/download.htm#kits

My 'Billy' was built from one of these kits, not by myself but by a friend who is well into retirement with little engineering experience and minimum equipment.

Since buying it from him I have stripped it with the spanners and Allen keys supplied with the kit, fitted RC and rebuilt it. If I can do that with my basic engineering skills, I'm sure it is designed for most people to be able to follow the well illustrated instructions.
The finished article is beautiful runner and well worth the outlay.

I've not built any of their loco kits either but my understanding is that the more complicated bits are done for you.
I can also vouch for their superb after sales service. I've used the phone for help when products have been way out of warranty.
I also used their online kit intructions to disassemble and rebuild my rtr Criccieth Castle chassis and it still works!!!!!

Good luck

That sounds positive, thanks chaps. Might do it when I visit my father who is a much more experienced kit builder and may help. Father-son bonding and all that.

I am assuming painting as you go is sensible?

In some cases, painting BEFORE you go is advisable - painting the assembled frames and spacers BEFORE you add the wheels is MUCH easier, as is painting the wheels and motion. One thing - when you are assembling your painted body to the chassis, you will be VERY careful how you do it!!

I tried to document the construction process in this video. Roundhouse supplies spanners, and other than that you really only need a couple of small screwdrivers, some pliers, and a large clamp (to press the cranks onto the axles) to get the engine put together.

For the body, you need a soldering iron or small torch as the body is soft-soldered together, however this is also extremely easy.

The big advantage is the written instructions. Roundhouse does a fantastic job of the instructions, very well written and lots of pictures.

You would thoroughly enjoy this project.


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MDLR:105277 wrote:... painting the wheels ...

Yes! Yes! YES! More of this please! No full-size loco has ever run with polished-to-a-mirror-finish unpainted wheels.

I ...
- do all of the construction
- run the chassis on air only, just to make sure it is about right
- dismantle in to paintable lumps: for example, the frames are left as one piece
- clean, prime, paint, line
- reassemble, including setting the valve gear as it should be
- steam for the first time

For frames, smokeboxes etc. do you need to use a special type of paint?

For my paintwork I have used acrylic, both brushed and sprayed depending on location. The smokebox was sprayed with matt black and finally given a seal coat of acrylic lacquer. I have fired the loco several times since with no effect on the paint at all.

Hi. This is my Lady. Kit built about 20 years ago and is still my main service loco. (I really must get around to changing all of those slot head screws. .) Just get a good set of small files for fettling stiff joints and maybe have a practice at solderting sheet brass beforehand. A joy to put together and still runs beautifully. Maybe needs new piston O rings by now. I might get around to that this winter. I have not added much apart from Timpdon radio control and a Summerlands chuffer. Hopefully running her with my WHR stock in North Wales tomorrow, weather permitting.