Hallo,
Reppingen EKB threads auf Deutsch:
EKB von Reppingen
Dampfmodellbau Reppingen - Bausatz EKB (18, 19, 20c)
This is the only forum I have found with some info and decent knowledge about the live steam models from Reppingen. Hopefully I can get some questions answered here, as several of my questions sent to Ralph Reppingen are never answered. It will be helpful for me to keep this thread in English, but feel free to write in German, or a mix, ie. if you write in English and don't know the proper English word just use the German word. Quite often technical words are similar in German and Norwegian, but totally different in English.
I have been working on the EKB for a while, and I am sorry to say that the Reppingen EKB kit has been a disappointment. There are three big issues: Crappy building instructions, missing parts and parts which do not fit and work properly. Which of cause slows building progress and leads to some frustrations. :?
Building instructions
Some steps are well described, other steps are totally missing. The EKB model obviously comes in different variations, and is being constantly changed and "improved". The photos are of older versions or of totally different models. Reppingen has sent me several new photos, but even some of them are differing from the model I have.
Missing parts
I received the kit in July 2014 and hopefully I have now got the last shipment of parts in the end of February 2015. A very big problem is that there is no complete check list, so you will not discover which parts are missing until you get to the point where you need the parts. In combination with the above mentioned crappy building instructions it can also be hard to figure out whether you actually are missing something or if your version of the kit is different. So, several extra letters and packets have been sent from Reppingen. Maybe not a big issue if you live in Germany, but living in Norway and outside EU it can take a week or two.
Parts do not fit
According to Ralph Reppingen the EKB kit should be "just to put thogether with a screwdriver". This is very far from the truth. I expected to do some filing and sanding to remove burr etc, but the amount of metal work required to make parts fit and work properly has been a big disappointment. I could make a long list of all the cutting, drilling, reaming, filing, sanding, making threads, etc I have had to do. I wonder if I have been unlucky and got a kit made at the end of a batch with worn drills and reamers. I find it very strange that I even have to drill up several of the holes for the standard M2 bolts to get them through.
Anyway, disappointments are all about expectations. If you know what you get, have the required skills and a well equipped workshop the Reppingen EKB kit might be the right challenge. I have experience with live steam, but this is my first loco kit. I have had to invest in a lot of new tools, and a positive thing is that I am learning and improving my skills. Currently my chassis runs promising on air, so I still believe I will get a powerful and good running engine in the end. :roll:
Grüße aus Norwegen,
Thomas