Reviews

NSWGR 5,000 Gallon Water Tank with 8” Jib and 10,000 Gallon two-tier Water Tank kits in HO scale from Mechanical Branch Models, PO Box 38, Beecroft 2119. Website: www. mechanicalbranchmodels.com.au. Price: $195.00 per kit.

These HO scale kits comprise 150 high quality etched brass, etched nickel-silver, cast polyurethane and 3D printed resin parts. Each kit includes assembly jigs for the joists and channel structural steel work. The general instructions for assembly and finish of both kits are accessed through the website (www.mechanicalbranchmodels.com.au).The instructions cover the assembly of both types of water tank. I suggest printing the instructions in colour, which makes them a lot easier to read and follow. The references used for the assembly of both kits are:

• The assembly instructions mentioned above

• Steam Locomotive Watering Facilities An overview by Peter Jarvis in AMRM Issue 288 (June 2011)

• NSWR General Arrangement Drawing Number 70045A for Standard 6' x 6' Plate Water Tank 25'0" A.R.L. Single and Double Tiered Arrangement 8" Diameter Water Crane.

The instructions cover prototype information, general guidelines and a list of parts with part numbers and some locations where these tanks were used. Peter Jarvis’s AMRM article provides an excellent overview of NSWGR watering facilities and mentions both types of tank modelled.

Assembly

As always, read and understand the instructions before beginning assembly. Follow the instructions and you will always get a good result. It is recommended in the guidelines that excellent soldering results can be obtained with tin/lead solder using 10% phosphoric acid as a flux. Phosphoric acid can be obtained under the trade name of Rannax through Bunnings. The appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should also be obtained. The combined gases of tin/lead solder and phosphoric acid flux can be harmful, so a fan should be used at all times to dissipate harmful gases. All drill sizes used are metric. I also used Loctite Super Glue No.1577327 for some of the assembly.

For the assembly of the tank