Ozark Miniatures Velocipede Kit

For a recent birthday my family treated me to several Ozark Miniatures 1:24 scale kitsets, the most significant being a Velocipede kit, No.0128, the feature of this review.

So starting in the usual fashion let’s open the bag to see what goodies we’ve got. Mmm a rather nice collection of white metal bits and some brass rods, but a rather heavily photocopied set of instructions. The white metal bits are all well cast with very little flash to trim off. The instructions took a couple of readings to get to grips with, and I feel would benefit from some pictures at a couple of stages through the assembly sequence, bit like the ones I taken I guess! In fact the quality of the photocopying makes the three photos included somewhat difficult to see clearly.

Whilst the instructions recommend CA Super Glue and 5 minute epoxy glue my preference for white metal kits is low temperature solder, supplemented, in this case with some full temperature solder on the brass axles. Low melt soldering is quicker and allows readily dismantling parts when you get your left and right sides mixed up, not that I did of course. Generally I followed the instruction sequence, though I made all my joints solid, rather than attempt to make it a working model, which if strictly following the instructions would be possible, thought I’m not sure how much use a working velocipede would be.

So apart from soldering all joints solid, I followed the assembly sequence set out in the instructions until it came to setting up the right (outrigger side) eccentric, pedal rod and the drive rods linking them all up. I bent and fitted the pedal rod first and dry fitted the pedal drive rods, next I slipped on the right eccentric but didn’t solder it, then fitted the eccentric rods. Once all was lined up I then soldered up the joints, trimmed the various shaft ends and fitted the pedals. After that I continued to follow the instructions sequence again until completed.

Included in the kit is some styrene tube which is offered as an option to use over the outrigger axle thus giving an insulated model. I didn’t do this as normally mine will be sitting alongside the Gangers hut on the H&MGR. However in hindsight this was a mistake as it would, for creating little cameo scenes, be handy to be able to sit the velocipede anywhere on your railway. How will I insulate the wheels on mine now it’s assembled and painted? With some of my good lady’s clear nail varnish on the bottom of the wheels, that’s how.

Once assembled, I gave the model a good wash (before doing the dishes one night) to remove any flux residue, finger grease etc. Once dry, it was given two coats of automotive spray can grey etch primer then two top coats of red oxide, followed by dry brush weathering. Oh and the wheel treats had most of the paint sanded off back to the white metal to look like they’ve been in use. The red oxide I used was a ordinary (non etch) automotive spray can primer as it’s a colour I like, but if you had a suitable true topcoat colour that would probably be better for the life span of the paint system.

Overall the kit all went together really well, taking just a couple of short evenings plus painting. I feel it would take longer if glued, as you’d only be able to a couple of pieces at a time before needing to set aside to full harden. Mine, having been soldered, feels suitably strong enough to be able to stand up to a life outside in all weathers.

In conclusion, apart from wishing to see the instruction sheets upgraded, I’d thoroughly recommend the kit, and coupled with the Hand Cart kit (No.0118), it will make the basis of a nice line side scene.

John Robinson.