Hey everyone,
![Saddle template](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20150711_Saddle_Gauge-300x188.jpg)
got some progress and some pictures!
I started constructing the smokebox saddle. Since I own neither a lathe nor a milling machine I’m trying to make virtues out of necessities and hone my manual skills. The first step was to make a gauge for the saddle’s curves, so I could construct two symmetrical and identical parts.
![Portable workbench](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20150711_Portable_Workbench-300x188.jpg)
There’s a lot of filing involved, a work that takes time, but doesn’t produce a lot of noise and won’t require much working space. Therefor I took some scrap wood and threw together a portable working bench. This useful little thing easily rests on any table in the living room. I can be with all my loved ones – family and locomotive…
![Saddle brazed](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20150712_Saddle_Brazed-300x188.jpg)
With the gauge finished, I sawed and filed the front plate, plus the two parts that will connect it with the back plate, see my post of June 21st. Then came the brazing. Oh my, I so do have to relearn everything on that front…
![Saddle cleaned up](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20150712_Saddle_Cleaned_up-300x188.jpg)
I should have practiced on some scrap metal. However, these connections won’t be visible, so I guess it’s ok. Some (alright – a LOT) of cleaning up later, it looked like this:
![Saddle plus wheelsets](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20150712_Saddle_Wheelsets-300x188.jpg)
But that’s not all. The driver wheelsets finally arrived and I also got the new trailing wheelset:
With these crucial parts on my disposal, I can finally and seriously kick off constructing the frame.