OCCRE Rocket Build

[Roger J]

I am currently building two Modelship dockyard models (Hoy and Pandora) out of my depth on both so my wife gave me this kit for my birthday after seeing it on the site and liking it
My initial impression is that the instructions are good and the large box is almost all empty space

 

[Roger J]

The boiler and end plates 19 strips i expected the last strip to need trimming to fit instead there was a small gap of about 1mm so that is going to the bottom of the boiler

 

[Carleroo]

I have built this kit, along with about 15 others from Occre. It is a nice-looking model, with good quality parts and great instructions. I can't remember if the bands that go around the boiler are aluminum or brass, but gluing these onto the various painted surfaces can be troublesome. Even with superglue, it tends to come apart. Be sure to lightly sand the inside of the bands before gluing and make curves or bends ahead of time so that it does not spring off the surface. Using accelerator for the glue also helps. If the surface is painted, I have also made some very small scoring of the surface to cut through the paint along the line of the attachment. That way the glue can take hold on the bare exposed wood, and not the paint.

 

[Submarinerblue]

The aluminum (?) bands are a weak part of the kit. Very difficult to glue them to the water barrel without getting some crimping and dents. Otherwise, everything goes together pretty well.

 

[Carleroo]

Yes, they are aluminum bands, not brass. If you sand them lightly on the inside, and then rub clean with alcohol you will notice that the blue (?) colouring coating on the inside rubs off. Getting the inside clean helps with gluing.

 

[Roger J]

Hi to all many thanks for all the advise can i ask Submarinerblue where he got the crew from?
I have just got to the aluminium bands and looking at other builds realise the paintwork is a bit bright (In my defence i was given the paint with the kit)

 

[Roger J]

I decided to tone the paintwork down a bit and fit the bands with 2 part epoxy and pin them at the bottom
The parts shown are described as the boiler but i think is really the fire box

 

[Submarinerblue]

Hi to all many thanks for all the advise can i ask Submarinerblue where he got the crew from?
I have just got to the aluminium bands and looking at other builds realise the paintwork is a bit bright (In my defence i was given the paint with the kit)

View attachment 469909

View attachment 469910

I got them from a company in England that I can't seem to remember the name of. Must be getting old. But, I was referred to them by another member a49kid. I can't find his PM, but he should be able to tell you. Also do a search for "Rocket" and his postings will come up.

 

[Carleroo]

There's also a supplier in England - Modelu - that specializes in railway figures. They are excellent quality and available in many sizes. I ordered a few for my steamboat. They can also have them painted, and additional charge. They end up being quite expensive, but very high quality. Here are some of mine - 1:48 scale - very small.

https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-...es/railway-and-lineside/1804-1870-pioneering/

 

[Roger J]

Hi
Thank you Carleroo and Submarinerblue for the info and links much appreciated for the info on crew
The firebox is complete and moving on to the chassis

 

[Roger J]

The chassis is assembled and the leaf spring assembly just need to connect them and it will start to look something like
I cannot see why the leaf springs are there as they do not seem to connect to any thing?

 

[Carleroo]

The chassis is assembled and the leaf spring assembly just need to connect them and it will start to look something like
I cannot see why the leaf springs are there as they do not seem to connect to any thing?

View attachment 471038

View attachment 471039

The leaf springs are for the tender, not the locomotive.

 

[Roger J]

Hi Calaroo
I have seen the small leaf springs are for the tender but there are two large ones one each side of the boiler the seem to have nothing attached to them

 

[Carleroo]

Hi Calaroo
I have seen the small leaf springs are for the tender but there are two large ones one each side of the boiler the seem to have nothing attached to them

Hmmm. You're right. On my model those larger springs fit just above the axle on the front wheel. But, it's not clear how they are supposed to function, since in the model, they seem to provide a cushion between the boiler and the chassis. It would make more sense to have them provide a cushion between the chassis and the axle/wheels. I also looked on the web for other images, but it's not even clear that in other Rocket reconstructions there is a leaf spring there...

 

[Roger J]

The main assembly starting to come together but some of the fittings need a spot of gold paint which i have ordered so decided to have a look at the tender while waiting for it to arrive

 

[Roger J]

The tender assembled and planked and a few fittings on the boiler it looks ok until you point a camera at it

 

[Carleroo]

It looks great! I also nailed the aluminum strips to the boiler.
Carl

 

[Roger J]

The parts for the cylinders assembled ready for fitting a bit untidy and the tender painted (needs a bit of touching up in places)
I am going to have a go at the wheels for the tender next

 

[Roger J]

Made a silly mistake when i fitted the piston assembly and angled it towards the front of the engine after correcting it left a bit of a mess to sort later.
The tender wheels just need the aluminium tyres fitting and looking at the engine wheels

 

[Roger J]

Fitted the front axle assembly and nameplate on the engine and wheels on the tender