The WBC guards van is printed in two sections, representing approx one-third and two-thirds of the van.
Removing Support Structures
Carefully remove the support structure from both parts of the guard's van. It is suggested to use a sharp knife to carefully cut the supports away from the roof, ends, and the underframe. Take particular care around the steps, gas cylinders and the brake gear underneath the floor.
Once the majority of the support structure has been removed, carefully go over both parts and cut away the small supports which typically extend from one part to another, for example, around the brake gear. An Exacto type hobby knife with a sharp pointed blade (Exacto #11 or similar) is quite useful for getting into the nooks and crannies.
Additional "guards" have been printed, as shown below, to protect the side and end steps during production and shipping. Once all supports have been removed around the steps, these guards can be cut away from the floor of the van. Altnernatively, you may wish to leave these guards in place until most of the other work on the van has been completed. Note that there is also a guard behind the dividing bar on the large, rectangular window.
Go over the model and smooth off any remnants of the fine supports which will be visible after assembly.
When finished, test fit the two halves together but do not glue them together until the glazing has been prepared.
Each side of the WBC has guides adjacent to the windows to secure glazing material and slots in the floor which allow the glazing to be inserted after the model is painted.
However, the glazing must be prepared and test-fitted before the two halves of the body are glued together. Each piece of glazing is identified by means of lettering on the underside of floor L1-L5, R1-R5.
The glazing material (i.e. 0.25 mm clear styrene) should be cut into strips approx 50 mm long and test fitted into slots and guides. The widths of the strips are as follows:
R1, R5, L1, L5: 9.75 mm (4 required)
R2, R3, L2, L3: 8.25 mm (4 required)
R4, L4: 12.75 mm (2 required)
Ensure that the slots in the floor for each piece of glazing are free of obstructions, e.g. supports from the 3D printing process. If necessary, clear the slots using a very fine knife blade until the glazing strips can be inserted from below the floor.
Test fit the glazing strips into the guides either side of the windows. If necessary, clear out the grooves in the guide using a very fine knife. Another possible technique is to use a scrap piece of 0.25 mm brass as a tool by inserting it into the slots in the floor.
Once satisfied with the fit of each glazing strip, mark each strip where it won't be visible later with the appropriate position code, i.e. L1-L5, R1-R5 and set it aside. The strips can be trimmed to length now or later, at the time of final installation.
When finished, test fit the two halves together but do not glue them together until the glazing has been prepared.
Window Glazing
Each side of the WBC has guides adjacent to the windows to secure glazing material and slots in the floor which allow the glazing to be inserted after the model is painted.
However, the glazing must be prepared and test-fitted before the two halves of the body are glued together. Each piece of glazing is identified by means of lettering on the underside of floor L1-L5, R1-R5.
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| WBC Glazing Right Side (Left Side is the same) |
R1, R5, L1, L5: 9.75 mm (4 required)
R2, R3, L2, L3: 8.25 mm (4 required)
R4, L4: 12.75 mm (2 required)
Ensure that the slots in the floor for each piece of glazing are free of obstructions, e.g. supports from the 3D printing process. If necessary, clear the slots using a very fine knife blade until the glazing strips can be inserted from below the floor.
Test fit the glazing strips into the guides either side of the windows. If necessary, clear out the grooves in the guide using a very fine knife. Another possible technique is to use a scrap piece of 0.25 mm brass as a tool by inserting it into the slots in the floor.
Once satisfied with the fit of each glazing strip, mark each strip where it won't be visible later with the appropriate position code, i.e. L1-L5, R1-R5 and set it aside. The strips can be trimmed to length now or later, at the time of final installation.
Body Assembly
Once the window glazing has been prepared and marked for later installation, the two body sections can be glued together, e.g. with superglue. Some filling and sanding will be required at the join, particularly on the roof. The join on the ends is disguised by the vertical ribs. Tamiya plastic putty works well as a filling material.When filling and sanding the roof, be careful not to damage the raised ventilator on the roof. If damaged, a "spare" has been printed within the centre sill on the underframe which can be installed in place of the damaged one.
Fixing Holes
Bogies
The Marbelup Models WBC bogies are printed in two identical halves. A set contains four pieces to make one pair of bogies. As with other 3D printed parts, the first step is to removed the support structure and clean up the small supports in the holes in the bogie sideframes, around the springs, etc.
The bolster section of each bogie half contains two holes intended for 1.5 x 6 mm self-tapping screws (which are supplied with the bogies). The larger hole nearest the narrow end of the bolster is a "clearance" hole and should be cleaned out with a 1.5 mm drill. The smaller hole, nearest the bogie sideframe, should cleaned out with a 1.2 mm drill. Carefully drive a self-tapping screw into each of the 1.2 mm holes to form the thread. If it feels tight, back the screw out a bit before continuing.
The bogie sideframes contain holes for fitting brass pinpoint bearings (available from Railwest Models). These holes should be cleaned out with a 2 mm drill bit, after which the bearings should press fit into place. The bogies are designed for 10.5 mm disc wheels with 25 mm axles. Suitable wheels are available from various suppliers, including Steam Era Models (Part No. WH5). SEM retailers include End of the Line Hobbies in Victor Harbour, SA, Casula Hobbies in Sydney and Train World in Melbourne.
After assembly, clean out the centre pivot hole with a 2.2 mm drill bit to suit 2-56 mounting screws. (2.2 mm provides adequate clearance without excessive slop.)
Couplers
The WBC is designed for Kadee "whisker" couplers. Either the #158 (scale size) or #148 (normal size) couplers can be used, with #262 draft gear boxes. Because the #262 draft gear boxes are a bit hard to obtain, Marbelup Models now supplies these free of charge with each model that requires them.
Note that the height from rail level to the coupler mounting surface should be 11.5 mm, the standard for Kadee couplers.
Note that the height from rail level to the coupler mounting surface should be 11.5 mm, the standard for Kadee couplers.
Handrails
Small starter holes have been provided to locate the various handrails, which can be formed from 0.4 mm brass wire. The starter holes will need to be drilled out, e.g. with a 0.45 mm drill bit in a pin vice.
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| Handrail Locations |
End Handrails: 10.5 mm between hole centres. 4 required each end.
Door Handrails: 16 mm between hole centres. 4 required each side. Note that these holes are at an angle of approx. 45 degrees, when view from the top of the van.
Door Handles: 1.75 mm between hole centres. 2 required each side.
Roof Handrails: 5 mm between hole centres. 4 required.
Handrails should be fixed in place with superglue.
Brake Rods
There are 5 brake rods which should also be formed from 0.4 mm wire, and the starter holes drilled out with a 0.45 mm drill bit.
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| Brake Rod Locations |
Long brake rod: 33 mm not including right angle bend (approx. 1 mm) at one end.
Medium brake rod: 22 mm not including right angle bend (approx. 1 mm) at one end.
Handbrake rod (near gas cylinders): 10.8 mm not including right angle bends (approx. 1 mm) at both ends.
Brake Lever Rods (near brake cylinder): 11.7 mm and 12.4 mm not including right angle bends (approx. 1 mm) at both ends.
Air Brake Hoses
Uncoupling Levers
The diagram below shows the approximate shape to aim for, but feel free to adjust the measurements to suit your model.
After positioning the uncoupling levers, check that the coupler can swing freely and is not obstructed. After fixing the uncoupling levers in place, it should still be possible to remove the coupler and draught gear box, e.g. for painting, by sliding it out towards the end of the van.
Weighting
If required, additional weight can be added by gluing lead shot or sheet lead between the various frame members of the underframe, where it would not be seen in normal operation. Weight can also be fixed inside the van prior to assembling the two parts, but it should be securely fixed in place (e.g. screwed) to ensure it doesn't come loose.
Painting
Either enamel or acrylic hobby paints can be used to paint the finished model.
