Hi,

Progress has been slow on the Western this week, owing to night shifts - and long ones at that! However, Ive managed to add the grills into the Western and get some Primer onto one side to check for lumps and bumps. The holes for the grills were awkward to drill because of the grills being offset and not centrally mounted as the Lima mouldings are, but however the walkways are correct being centrally positioned. Speaking of grills it is a shame that nobody does the bodyside grills for the Westerns, although a recent entry at Shawplans' blog with a picture of a Western has got me thinking that they could be doing some Western parts... time will tell I guess

The first picture shows what I hope to get this model looking like, it is plonked next to my computer screen, sorry for the poor lgiht the glare emiited from the screen no doubt causing the photo to darken, but I think hopefully it shows what I aim to get the model looking like by the end of this project.

The "B end" now has the skirting fixed on, as well as the cab roof panel added also. Still to add are the Horn boxes which will be made from brass sheeting. The cab ends have markings where the handrails are lamp brackets will do ( its not some kind of strange writing ). Ive now made a start on the A end of the model. As per the same as the B end, the skirting is a one peice moulding that is also part of the bufferbeam. Running my knife blade down the sides releases the sides. They are glued on well so some force was needed to get them off. After the skirting/bufferbeam moulding is removed, the moulded on skirting parts that are part of the front cab moulding were trimmed away to make the cab fron flush so it can sit on the Heljan skirting. Hopefully by the end of this week I will write off for the Brassmasters kit, which has several parts in it that I require to help make progress on this model.

So far I am pleased with progress, the added length helps transform the model! and it is now a scale 271mm ( I think thats correct for a 00 Western??). I also hope to send of for the modeltorque ATC soon to replace the Lima motor also which will allow me to continue with work on the chassis and the the model moving once again under its own power which will probably be the next major milestone!

Comments as ever welcomed

NL