Tipper Truck
Yes, it's a truck. I don't only have to build washing machines and supermarket trolleys! I really liked the look of this one, strange as it might seem, I quite like trucks... |
| Not bad looking - but not great! |
On opening the packaging I was now used to seeing loose parts, in
plastic bags rattling around in the box. A quick inspection of the contents
revealed the now familiar selection of ¼ inch hole spacing, narrow strips and
brackets. There are also a couple of new ¼ inch hole spacing, angle girders -
now they look useful. More new wheels
and tyres. My first thoughts are these will be useful somewhere else - my
second thought was, by this time next year we will probably be up to our
eyeballs in them! His Nibs has been messing around mounting them on bossed
parts - but that is a story for another post.
Now I have familiarised with the contents of the box, the
next job is to compare the supplied instructions with the download instructions
for the alternative model. The same problem of definition is apparent in the
printed edition in that all the dark areas just merge into one amorphous mass
of blackness. Tilting the page to the light helps a bit but it is not very
clear. We have spoken to the new owners of Meccano who are very aware of this
problem and have promised to look at it with some urgency. In the meantime it
is easier to look at the download instructions on the screen. Blowing the image
up to 200% helps but it does mean a lot of scrolling even though I am looking
at them on a reasonably large desktop monitor.
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| The tipper... Tipping |
Now to the build...
This model is built following the printed instructions as
far as stage 39. So it was off to the kitchen with my tray of parts and a hand
full of tools. I can build here , watch the telly and avoid the 'helpful' advice
from you-know-who. The first part of the build was problem free but as it
progressed a few niggly errors in the instructions started to creep in. At stage
45, instructions are given to fix the orange plate requiring two nuts and bolts
when only one of each is required. At stage 56, I altered the fitting of the
bracket that hold the wind deflectors in place by moving it up one hole from that
shown in the instructions. This enables the other parts of the cab to fit
together better. At stage 75, the 32mm tri-axle was too short so I had to
replace it with a longer one. Apart from
these few errors the model made up easily and, as far as this series is
concerned, the build was relatively painless.
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| Chassis detail |
Overall the truck looks 'alright' but the tipper body is far
too skeletal to be realistic. I may have a go at building a more realistic body
at some point.
 |
| From above the skeletal body lets it down |
 |
| Worm and pinion are not held firm |
Looking at the play value I think the potential is high but
in reality the construction is far too flimsy, the steering is way too reactive
with little control, the lifting mechanism does not stay in mesh. All these
things can be sorted with a bit of thought and a few additional parts so if I
do get around to building a new body I might well spend a bit of time
rectifying some of the other 'wrongs'.
Sue
Previous parts of this story:
Part 4 of Alternative Evolution can be found HERE
Sue
Previous parts of this story:
Part 4 of Alternative Evolution can be found HERE
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