Now i feel stupid.

No more then 12 hrs after i emailed Dan.......parts 1,2&3 arrived.

Man that sun is heavy. You could kill someone with that thing.

Nice prints of the Eagle nebula ,Jupiter and Milky Way.

This project is lookin more and more complicated with each passing issue.

p.s.~~~Keith are you saying you (newsagents) order in these type of mags on a no sale no return basis?

That hardly seems fair on you newsagents. Are ALL magazines ordered in the same fashion?

BTW~~~it just dawned on me that this model is truely a collectors item and a historic model also because it is the 1st one to include the newly discovered "dwarf" planets.

Hello, I'm a newbie and keen to share my experiences with the solar system model.

I originally subscribed via the web site and have so far received parts 1 to 7 without a hitch. I gather there has been a manufacturing delay with the folders but I am sure they will be shipped in due course.

In general, I am reasonable impressed with the quality of the parts I have received to date. The gears are definitely made of brass. Other 'non moving' parts seem to be brass plated with a coat of clear lacquer.

A couple of points:

I found it difficult to read the markings on the stamped base plate and the engraved gear because of the lack of contrast.

Solution? Black shoe polish.

If you carefully rub black polish (Kiwi in my case) into the engravings with a soft dust cloth, the difference is remarkable. You have to be patient in that it takes a while and up to five or six applications but the finished product is so much easier to read.

Incidentally, I bought a second copy of the first issue from a local newsagent just to experiment on and to satisfy myself that the boot polish wouldn't affect the lacquer. No problem on that score.

Here is an image of the finished article:



This picture was 'lit' to show the effect of adding the polish. The brass looks fairly matt in finish but I can assure you that the original lacquer remains untouched.

The only problem I have encountered to date was the moon gear arm.

Having fitted gears 35 and 47, I found that the top gear (35) was binding on gear 34. I eventually had to resort to gently filing out the outer edge of the gear axle shaft with a half-round needle file to eliminate the problem.

I do hope this isn't going to be a regular issue as we descend through the gear train.

Anyway, best of luck to all that have started the model. I am sure that we will all have something to treasure in March 2009.

Incidentally, this is the polish I used:



I'm not sure but any other type may use solvents that would attack the lacquer. I tried it repeatedly on my 'spare' base plate without a problem.

I'm liking the effect the shoe polish gives to the base plate.

Only thing i have trouble with is the damn grub screws. Even using a 1.5mm hex key.....................they dont go all the way in. So instead i am using a No.00 square headed (+) precision screw driver to get them all the way in.

Also by the time i complete it i am gonna need a HUGE bottle of Brasso..........to clean the whole thing up (which i will need to take apart to clean then rebuild).

Gonna try the shoue polish............because as you said the contrast is terrible.

P.S.~~~the arm that holds Mercury on is not very secure so i reckon a small dab of super glue should do the trick.

Interesting idea, shoe polish, I might that a go when its completed.

Thanks for the feedback.

I'd think twice about using Brasso or any other abrasive cleaner PJ. You're bound to remove the lacquer and the whole thing will start to look tarnished.

After applying and removing the excess shoe polish with a soft cloth, I used a spray polish (Mr. Sheen) to bring the 'shine' back. The gears are solid brass but I suspect that the other 'non moving' parts are brass plated. Proceed with caution as they say.

If you're planning on using the shoe polish Dave, I'd suggest you do it now.

It's a messy process and you'll need to remove any excess Kiwi from the base plate and engraved gear before proceeding with the build. It took about six applications to ensure that every little line was completely filled before giving the parts a final gentle polish with Mr. Sheen.

I'd think twice about using Brasso

I found that out the hard way. A few days ago i did use it on the sun and now its slightly tarnished.

I wont be making the same mistake with the rest of it. A quick rub with a soft cloth.

I'd think twice about using Brasso

I found that out the hard way. A few days ago i did use it on the sun and now its slightly tarnished.

I wont be making the same mistake with the rest of it. A quick rub with a soft cloth.

I'd suggest gently polishing the Sun and then applying a coat of clear lacquer. Failing that, I'm sure that Eaglemoss would be prepared to sell you another one.

Hi all,
Have been looking for a site which is dissucing the building of the weekly parts issue orrery and that search led me here. Down here in Oz we have just recieved issue #1.
Primarily but not exclusively my interest lies in building models, mainly wooden model ships. The orrery is a departure from my normal interests but like many people the night sky facsinates me and hopefully I'll also learn a bit more about our small part of the universe.

My expierence with this type of model (parts issue) includes the Red Baron's Fokker which was a 100 issues and currently I'm building the Battleship Bismarck comprising 140 issues. Personally I have never had any problems receiving one issue per week from the local newsagent in fact from the other forums I'm involved with it is usually the subscribers who have the most complaints. So all non-subsrcibers take heart.

Brownlow's idea of using shoe polish on the base is one that I'll be trying. Any idea how the polish will react over time??
Something I've been considering is using loctite on the grub screws to ensure that they don't work themselves loose 6 months after the model is complete.
One thing I'd like to point out is that these models rarely go together without the odd problem or two but these things should be seen as part of the modelling expierence.

Regards Greg.

I'd suggest gently polishing the Sun Laughing and then applying a coat of clear lacquer.

Yeah i've been thinking about trying that. What kind of polish and laquer would i use?

Failing that..................i'll just paint it canary yellow,LOL.

I'd suggest gently polishing the Sun Laughing and then applying a coat of clear lacquer.

Yeah i've been thinking about trying that. What kind of polish and laquer would i use?

Failing that..................i'll just paint it canary yellow,LOL.

Trying 'buffing' it with a soft duster until the 'gloss' returns (assuming you haven't removed the plating) and then using a clear aerosol lacquer to 'seal in' the shine.

You should be able to get a can of clear lacquer from B&Q or Halfords.

If the brass plating is still intact but the surface is very dull in appearance after using a dust cloth, you could try using a proprietary jewellery cleaner prior to applying the lacquer.

Best of luck.

Thanks. I will give that a go. I have to say that the tarnishing really isnt that bad unless you are are looking at the sun "point blank range".

I'm looking at it right now from maybe 2 feet away and i honestly cant see any tarnishing.

Thanks. I will give that a go. I have to say that the tarnishing really isnt that bad unless you are are looking at the sun "point blank range".

I'm looking at it right now from maybe 2 feet away and i honestly cant see any tarnishing.

I would still recommend a coat of lacquer to 'seal in' the shine.

I have a small ships bell outside my door and got fed up polishing it, I gave it a good shine on the buffer and coated it with car laquer (sp) I got from Halfords, 2 years and its still looking good and its outside so its another alternative.

I too am having problems with the gears binding after fitting the Earth/Moon gear. I'm a bit disapointed that there is no instructions in the book to give you help on what to do if this happens.

Bob

Hi, another newbie here.

I'm also having trouble with binding gears since I fitted the Earth/moon gear support (items 40, 41, 44). But in my case it really looks to me like it's the Engraved gear (36) that's at fault. This and the earth 11 tooth gear bind over roughly 180 degrees, but are fine over the other 180. (the whole system is OK if I remove the 11 tooth gear). When I looked more closely (with the 11 tooth gear removed), it's very obvious that the earth support location gets closer to the engraved gear as it rotates. With the earth support arm fitted, you can see it being pushed over ever so slightly over the binding area.

I believe the central hole in the engraved gear is offset by about 1/2 mm - not much, but enough to make the whole system bind over half it's circumference once the 11 tooth gear is fitted. (i.e. the orbit of the earth gear is not concentric with the engraved gear)

Any ideas how to solve? I was thinking of trying to either lightly dress the teeth on the offending side of the engraved gear with a needle file, or lightly dressing the outside of the earth spindle bush (44) - but I'm worried it'll either foul the whole thing up or the whole thing will go too loose and sloppy.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so, how did they solve it?

I had a similar problem with the moon gear arm. See my previous post on page 4.

The only problem I have encountered to date was the moon gear arm.

Having fitted gears 35 and 47, I found that the top gear (35) was binding on gear 34. I eventually had to resort to gently filing out the outer edge of the gear axle shaft with a half-round needle file to eliminate the problem.

I haven't received issues 8 to 11 yet but it would seem to me that the model is going to require a little bit of 'fettling' from time to time. My only advice would be (as you've suggested) to use a sharp, half-round needle file to dress the outer edge of the shaft.

I don't think I'd like to try dressing the teeth with a file. After all, they are going to be permanently on show.

Best of luck.

Yep, that's what I did in the end (on bush 44). Also made the hole in the bush into a slight slot, so as it rotates around it can move the eleven tooth gear outwards. it's a lot better now, and at least that way it won't affect anything else. Up to that point everything was fine anyway, apart from a bit of backlash in the gears.

Looking forward to lots of mods!! I also lost the pin off mercury (superglue to the rescue!)

I'd think twice about using Brasso

I found that out the hard way. A few days ago i did use it on the sun and now its slightly tarnished.

I wont be making the same mistake with the rest of it. A quick rub with a soft cloth.

im not sure about this, but i believe Tcut, the car polish is much finer than brasso and may clean off the sun nicely. ive used tcut to polish off the edges of a block of perspex and it came up almost as clear as the factory polished sides.

I'd think twice about using Brasso

I found that out the hard way. A few days ago i did use it on the sun and now its slightly tarnished.

I wont be making the same mistake with the rest of it. A quick rub with a soft cloth.

im not sure about this, but i believe Tcut, the car polish is much finer than brasso and may clean off the sun nicely. ive used tcut to polish off the edges of a block of perspex and it came up almost as clear as the factory polished sides.

I agree. I am sure that Tcut has a much smaller particle size.

However, the Sun along with many of the other non-moving parts is brass plated and I would think that a very thin coat has been applied.

It would be extremely easy to penetrate the plating to expose the metal beneath. Proceed with caution as they say.

OK i will give Tcut a go. Thanks for the help.

Has anyone received their binders yet, I received "half" a binder in a "an post" bag saying it was damaged, it must have been a genius who worked that one out.

I received editions 8, 9 and 10 yesterday - including a binder.
Unfortunately I didn't get any parts with the magazines. Rang them and was told the partes should be with me in 21 days

Here's hoping !

Hopefully not jinking myself, I've had no problems with the gears or any part of the model (well, no problems that weren't self inflicted - had to use a bit of superglue on the arm of the Moon for Earth and put the grub for Mercury in at an angle).

The model is starting to put on a bit of weight as the gears build up. It is annoying though that you have to loosen the central coloum every time and then reset it.

I got issues....................8,9,10 and 11 today (all parts included) plus a binder.

I'd love to know what the green and blue planet is cuz it sure as hell doesnt look anything like Earth.

I just noticed that the large 92 teeth gear that comes with issue 8 or 9 (not sure which) is missing. Gonna have to email them and get one sent out. I have also decided that the best/cheapest solution to my tarnished sun is to have them send me a replacement sun and add it to my subscription costs.

My mate Dan emailed me within 24 hrs and said he would send me out a new sun and also the 92 tooth-gear that was missing from issue 9.

I hve to say the the customer service service with this magazine is top notch.

Can anyone hazzard a guess as to the finished dimentions (width) of the orrery, cuz i plan to put mine in a nice glass show case (mainly to stop dust collecting on ot).

My replacement sun arrived today. It is shining like gold. I'm gonna keep it wrapped up til i have completed the model then put it on...............

Lads,
I never got issues 8,9,10,11 and no binder,
Who do I email to get these ??
Has this happened to anyone else.??