Building the chassis.
Before I
started to build the chassis, I contacted Denny to see what should I do and
use to put the chassis together, I got a fast reply and this is what he said to do.
I use emery cloth sandpaper if needed, But usually You won't have to sand it at all because
it has already been sandblasted. I just cut it and start soldering.
If you want the polished look you can sand it down to a shine while it is in pieces with any
fine grit sandpaper or emery cloth.
I use silver solder and regular rosin core solder, obviously silver solder is best and stronger.
I always use "Lucky Bobs" flux. Use at least a 40 Watts iron.
Because it has already been sandblasted and the kind of steel it is, it will solder fast and easy.
I have never had any problems with it holding fast, and it is always strong.
Now after building it you can go over the solder joints where it might look burned or brown
with emery cloth or fine metal sandpaper, just to clean it up, or to shine it up.
Do not not place it on a jig, lay the side rails on their sides like in the intructions to solder the
bottom piece.
So I followed his instructions.
After cutting all the parts of the tree, I did notice that the parts seem light, as I was moving
to the next step one of the parts bent some, I quickly re-adjusted it and it was fine.
I soldered the motor mount first with a small square to make sure it was lined up, soldered the
chassis at all the cuts on the chassis, it went fairly fast, I'd say no more than a 1/2 hour to do
all the cutting, soldering and clean up.
***My mistake here was my iron wasn't hot enough and spot soldering will not work, you have to
solder the whole lenght of the side rails onto the chassis, If your iron is hot enough it causes the
solder to flow under the (in between) the side rail and chassis.
I added the small brass piece for the mounting the rear of the body.
Thank you for all the detailed information Denny.
****I ran into a few issues, but Uncle Gary helped my poor soldering spots,
and he ran the whole lenght of the side rails, this made the chassis stonger.
Also I found my iron not to be a hot iron like Denny told me to use.
Make sure to follow his intructions like they're posted above.
use to put the chassis together, I got a fast reply and this is what he said to do.
I use emery cloth sandpaper if needed, But usually You won't have to sand it at all because
it has already been sandblasted. I just cut it and start soldering.
If you want the polished look you can sand it down to a shine while it is in pieces with any
fine grit sandpaper or emery cloth.
I use silver solder and regular rosin core solder, obviously silver solder is best and stronger.
I always use "Lucky Bobs" flux. Use at least a 40 Watts iron.
Because it has already been sandblasted and the kind of steel it is, it will solder fast and easy.
I have never had any problems with it holding fast, and it is always strong.
Now after building it you can go over the solder joints where it might look burned or brown
with emery cloth or fine metal sandpaper, just to clean it up, or to shine it up.
Do not not place it on a jig, lay the side rails on their sides like in the intructions to solder the
bottom piece.
So I followed his instructions.
After cutting all the parts of the tree, I did notice that the parts seem light, as I was moving
to the next step one of the parts bent some, I quickly re-adjusted it and it was fine.
I soldered the motor mount first with a small square to make sure it was lined up, soldered the
chassis at all the cuts on the chassis, it went fairly fast, I'd say no more than a 1/2 hour to do
all the cutting, soldering and clean up.
***My mistake here was my iron wasn't hot enough and spot soldering will not work, you have to
solder the whole lenght of the side rails onto the chassis, If your iron is hot enough it causes the
solder to flow under the (in between) the side rail and chassis.
I added the small brass piece for the mounting the rear of the body.
Thank you for all the detailed information Denny.
****I ran into a few issues, but Uncle Gary helped my poor soldering spots,
and he ran the whole lenght of the side rails, this made the chassis stonger.
Also I found my iron not to be a hot iron like Denny told me to use.
Make sure to follow his intructions like they're posted above.
