I have several Branchline Blueprint kits to build and have run into a snag, if you will. Several of the kits are multiple numbered kits, and 3 are single numbered kits (billboard reefers). Figured I’d start with with the billboard reefers first, so if I had a generic problem with them, I’d solve it there before going on to the larger assemblage. For the most part the first kit went together okay. Most problems I had with parts fit I could fix rather easily. What has gotten my goat are the wheels/axles. The ones in these kits are not a straight cylindrical/round axle, but have a profile like that of a sway-backed horse with a dip in the middle. The axles are NOT bent, this is what I believe to be the design of the axle. Never seen this before. The major problem is getting the wheels properly gauged and square to the centerline of the axle. That is darned near impossible as there is very little space for the wheel itself to sit on on the axle. I don’t want to glue them if I can help it.
I guess what I’m asking is: has anyone here run into that problem with these kits? I know Branchline makes excellent wheel sets and hope this is just an anomally with these 3 kits. I haven’t opened the other kit boxes, because if it turns out that what I’m experiencing is endemic to this line, I want the shop where I purchased these to see what’s going on. I’m NOT saying the shop had anything to do with the wheel/axle problem.