Locoworks - Bagnall 2-8-2 (wip part 3) - Centring up....

The first attempt at a tender coupling...

was not a success;  the main problem is the way the back of the loco swings out round a curve  - too much for any simple coupling to cope with.

Looking at the real loco this model is based on shows the main drive wheels are more in the centre  the original builder had them too near the front.  Changing it would reduce the cab overhang as it rounds a curve and the 'travel' required for the tender coupling.

Oh well here goes (fingys crossed)... working out the new position.....

Improvised cradle to work on the loco body. More of the under frame had to be removed...

added some chassis positioning and under frame re-inforcing pieces

The chassis re-fitted, now sitting nicely in the middle...

A lot of work, but it looks better and more balanced. A unexpected side effect was to level up the footplate (one more thing off my snag sheet 😀 ).  So now I'll have to redo the the connectors for the front and rear bogies (sigh 😢 ), before I can go back to the loco-tender coupling conundrum.

This loco is definitely a challenge, I like tricky problems ... plenty of tinkering and fettling left to do ...😎