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Jack's Present Day Workbench - Coaches of Many Colours


Jack374
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Evening...

 

Today I had a trip to my local model shop, where I stocked up on a few supplies and both some wheels for the two remaining tractors, so these will be swapped in due course. I sprayed the chassis for 66152 black today, and thus (finally) the painting on this model is finished. Next I'll build the chassis back up and apply cantrail lining and transfers to the body:

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And another couple of photos of the 37s. I think the wheel swap is well worth it, and to me the prototypically sized wheels look better:

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Finally, if anyone has a Bachmann 66 chassis lying around, I'd be more than happy to buy this off you. It doesn't have to be working because it will be a 'dead' loco anyway...I'm after a non-low emission loco (e.g EWS and early Freightliner/GBRf) with the 'IOO' Wipac lights, as this will go under an EWS body. Also I've got a Freightliner 66610, GBRf 66701 and DRS 66407 to swap for a chassis or sell. I could use the chassis from 66701 but I'd rather not separate the chassis and body as it is weathered, and would leave me with yet another surplus body! :no:

 

More soon,

Jack.

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Today I’ve fitted the first set of wheels from a Bachmann 37 to a Vi 47 'properly'. This entailed cutting back the middle axle brake blocks slightly as they fouled the larger diameter wheels, and also bending the pickup wires outwards and towards the body by about 2mm in each direction. The loco works well, and I think the wheels have made an improvement...

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Also today I’ve filled in a few small gaps between the new front valances and the sideframes on 67017. This is following a coat of primer, which has highlighted a few small areas which need filling and/or sanding before painting.

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More soon,

Jack.

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This week has seen a couple of projects progressed, including the second 47 to be treated to ex Bachmann 37 wheels. 47501 was treated in the same way as 47787, i.e. the axles simply swapped and the pickups modified:

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Also I’ve added the sideframes to the plasticard chassis decks of the ex-BDAs, and added some plastic strip to represent the cross members that connect the 4 sets of underframes:

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And a photo of the Bachmann wagon, which has had its solebars chopped and plasticard tops added, however I’m not happy with them and one has already half peeled off, so I’ll redo them...

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Now onto a previously finished project, the NR genny van. I had glued the windows in where they were to be filled, and simply filled in the gap, however they have since distorted and one was cracked and one was nearly crumbling. This is added to the fact I’d done an awful job of the transfers, so I’ve stripped out all the botched filled windows and started from scratch. I’ll sand it down and fill it properly, repaint it properly and add transfers better this time:

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This evening I’ve sanded down the end on the RTOV, removing all the pipes and TDM cables, as well as the moulded handrails. New jumper cable receptacles and sockets were fitted as per the prototype, and I’ll now paint the end black before adding handrails, and painting all the handrails on the coach white.

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Finally for this evening, I’ve invested in some IPA to strip redundant paint off donor bodies, and I’ve started by stripping the genny, 47580 and the noses of what was 37401 (over zealous paint application), and a MK2 TSO, to be a new project which I’ll detail when I know what I’m doing!

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Busy day for me tomorrow as I’m off to Preston for the Ribble diesel gala (37424 went down to the docks this afternoon), before heading to Wigan show. I may find a couple of bargains for new projects, but I’ve also got a large amount of parts to pick up from Shawplan........ :D

 

Thanks,

Jack. :senile:

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Busy day for me tomorrow as I’m off to Preston for the Ribble diesel gala (37424 went down to the docks this afternoon), before heading to Wigan show. I may find a couple of bargains for new projects, but I’ve also got a large amount of parts to pick up from Shawplan........ :D

 

 

 

How have I just found out about this? It's going to be a long 37-filled day tomorrow then.

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So a little more has been done this evening. Firstly, the BDAs from Cambrian have had their middle trusses added. This was done by first gluing a piece of plastic strip to the underside of the wagon, as the trusses (once cut from their sprue and the top piece, to leave just the trusses) are a little too short. This is also to provide extra stability...

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Also a little project I’ve been working on for DB 66152. To allow full lighting functions to be catered for, three switches were added to the fuel tank moulding. First, the original switch was removed and unsoldered, then the hole plugged with a piece of plasticard and filed flat. Two new holes next to this were made, with a third in the opposite end of the tank itself. This one is for a three way switch, to allow for night, day or no headlight, whilst the other two decide what F1 and F2 do, either turn on the white markers at no.2/cab at no.1 end lights, or vice versa. More on this when I fully decide what I’m doing!

The switches were wired up and added with hot glue, but not before some careful (not!) butchery of the weight to accommodate them:

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And now to yellow things. 977868 has had its electrical connections removed as I’ve decided to add bufferbeam/underframe connectors instead. The holes were plugged (just visible), and plastic strip for jumper cable receptacles added. The same parts were added to 9701, and these have since been painted. The handrails on both coaches (where not already installed) will be added after transfer application:

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Also the cantrail lining has been added on the RTOV, however the cab and also the lining on 66152 will be done when I order some transfer lining.

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And here are the results of the IPA bath. The genny has been reduced to bare plastic, whilst the 47 still has some paint on the fronts due to the thickness of this layer:

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Finally, a recent workbench project of the Eurostar has successfully done the first lap of our club layout we’re building. A few issues were found with the layout, but these have since been sorted. The Eurostar performed better than it ever did with the old Lima wheels, and it should have more years left in it after its life extension:

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More soon!

Jack. :locomotive:

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Good evening...

 

Today has seen a limited amount of work undertaken, due to being busy with studies and this small thing called UCAS :O

 

Firstly, after I bought a number of parts from Shawplan at Wigan, I thought it high time I named my EWS 37406 'The Saltire Society'. All it needs now to finish it off is a highland dog motif and then a thorough weathering (just realised I could’ve bought some transfers for the 37 with my order yesterday for some cantrail lining...doh!)

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And now to the MXAs. I’ve turned my attention to the bogies, firstly by gluing shouldered brass bearings into the axlebox holes, and then I set about seeing if they sit right on the chassis. This flagged up that the wheels (some from a pair of Bachmann FNAs) were fouling the chassis floor, so some crude but effective holes were cut. Following this, a hole was drilled to allow access to the bogie securing screw, and the bogie supports were glued to the underside, modified by chopping off the lugs and filing flat. The bufferbeams were added, with some plastic strip behind for extra support, and then some Wizard/51L buffer castings added. Having checked throughout to make sure, the buffers line up with the buffers on an 08, which is what I base all my buffer heights on (yet none ever stay correct):

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And a quick pose with the box from the existing MXA, which has been removed from its chassis for some rectification work. Stoke Marcoft had to do the same, with some wagons returning for re-evaluation or further rectification work, so I’m being true to prototype! :P

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More soon,

Jack.

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Hi could we see some more of the IDA DRS wagons?

Hi Ollie, I’ll take a few when I get chance and post them. Do you need any more details of the modifications I’ve undertaken or do you just want to see photos of them?

 

Thanks,

Jack.

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Good work.....no doubt you've noticed the fox ( ?) ews numbers ain't quite the same colour as Bachmann. I think railtec were doing something. To address this

The numbers were rushed tbh, and the transfers were also faded which didn’t help. I noticed the other day that Railtec had added some to their range, but it’s a bit late now! Hopefully some heavy weathering and the excuse of a faded livery will suffice.

 

Thanks,

Jack.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Jack

A little modern for me but I'm liking your MXAS alot!

Excellent stuff

Will

Cheers Will, they’re slightly too modern for me too but I’m building a few more because they were very enjoyable to build.

 

Some more work on them has been done over the past week or so, namely adding the underframe components supplied with the kit and looking at couplings. I was going to use some Hornby and Bachmann pocket holders (as in pic below), but I found there would be no way to mount these in the space provided, so that they’d be strong enough to withstand the pocket being pulled out. The solution was to make new pockets from plasticard, by drilling two holes for each corner and the cutting out a triangle. These were easy and quick to make, and (despite their rough appearance) do the job and the first has been plastic welded to the bogie moulding...

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And a poor pic to show the couplings are level:

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Underframe bits: the first chassis is ready for primer and red now...

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Finally, a couple of photos of some projects which have been through the workbench, running on Leyland club's new roundy roundy, which I’ve started a thread for on here as I’m part of the team building it:

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Thanks,

Jack.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Wow, a long time with not much progress! :O

 

After my jollies to Scotland for half term and having finished my UCAS application (finally!), this evening I indulged in a bit of celebratory modelling. Firstly, the boxes to make the MXAs have been partly assembled. I’ve decided to glue the ends on first, then the sides, and (despite the photos) the ends are fairly square. I’ve used glue sparingly, so I can adjust the angle when the sides are added.

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And now to 57007. This is becoming one of those projects which keeps returning. This time it is to make the lights smaller and truer to scale than the oversize Bachmann ones, and also to experiment with fully controllable lighting. Tonight has seen the buffers removed because two had fallen off or become loose already, and these have been turned using a Dremel. The profile wasn’t helped by my over-zealous application of 'buffer grease', which was duly ground off along with some brass to create a much better profile.

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And finally, a shot to show the new lights. This evening has seen the headlight inside painted black ready for some fibre optic, and it now looks like it is resident of a works such as Eastleigh, for an overhaul:

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The bufferbeam steps have been removed to be mounted onto the body and repainted, but more of this later when I’ve done it.

 

More soon,

Jack.

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So another good modelling session has been had this afternoon. Thanks to the good weather, the MXA chassis (only the Cambrian pair) and bogies have been sprayed primer and black respectively. I’m not happy with the black on the bogies, so these will be given another coat when the weather permits...

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And if you’re ever spraying something with bearings, mask them! I learned the hard way when weathering and varnishing. :no:

Also the coupling slots have been masked:

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And finally for now, I’ve turned my attention to 37607 instead of 66152. This is because of a few factors, not least of which is that it’s not really the season for transfers and varnish any more, and I don’t want to risk it. I’ve identified what needs doing, and (having bought the bits from him at Wigan), set about adapting the body for the new Shawplan parts courtesy of Brian. The grille surround has been made to sit more flush, and the little round frame insert has had the lip it sits on underneath ground off with a Dremel, then mounted flush ready to be filed down. For now, the existing cross struts have been retained for strength. Other jobs will include removing a couple of moulded details (cab vents and boiler port blank), plus gluing in and sanding down the bonnet top doors, then adding new scale (larger) plasticard ones. The horns have been removed and the channels need to be filled, ready to accept the top marker light. New windscreens (also Shawplan) and new noses (possibly PH Designs or modified originals) will be added too.

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Thanks,

Jack. :senile:

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Looking forward to progress on 37607, are you using the Shawplan reinforced windscreen surrounds or the standard ones? I have an older Bachmann 37 and am planning to use the etched window surrounds.

 

Re masking bearings, I have always just stuck a blob of blue-tack on the bearing and removed when done.

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Looking forward to progress on 37607, are you using the Shawplan reinforced windscreen surrounds or the standard ones? I have an older Bachmann 37 and am planning to use the etched window surrounds.

 

Re masking bearings, I have always just stuck a blob of blue-tack on the bearing and removed when done.

I’ll be using the reinforced ones, as well as the back plate, both of which will need butchering to accept the top marker. The older Bachmann model suffers from small bonnet top doors, as well as grille and exhaust mouldings which stand too proud, so I hope to rectify these. Also I think the bonnet top may be the wrong shape, I’ll have to see.

I’ve just ordered a pair of nose ends from PHD, as well as some etched footsteps and other goodies, so hopefully I’ve now got everything I need.

 

I was actually going to do as you’ve suggested for the bearings, and even got the blob of blu tack out, however I don’t like wasting blu tack as it disappears quickly enough as it is. That’s why I use masking tape, which is one use only and a consumable. Who knew you could feel sentimental over blu tack? :dontknow:

 

Thanks,

Jack.

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Just a small update this evening...

 

I’ve finally delved into the world of CVs. I’ve been meaning to look into it for months, but I’ve always thought it was a black art...how wrong I was! My control system is an NCE Powercab, and an option comes up during reprogramming a decoder to either change the number, or alter CVs. Upon pressing this, you enter the CV number, it reads it, then you enter a new value. Very simple! I’ve reduced the volume on my Hornby class 60 to a less piercing level, and also reduced the time it takes to accelerate and decelerate. I’ve done the same on 37409, and then I had a look at my Northern 150.

 

The acceleration and deceleration on this took an age, and this was because the acceleration value was 79, but apparently only 1 to 64 is permitted. This was true too of the volume, so I adjusted both to more reasonable levels, and it’s now a completely different model. The sound was still a little tinny, so I surrounded the speaker with black and blue tack, and also made the hole for the sound to escape from bigger...

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Very simple adjustments, but they make a massive difference! I’ll be looking at a few other locos in due course, to refine their running characteristics.

 

Thanks,

Jack.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Evening all,

 

Things have been progressing slowly, as I’m doing bits and bobs when I can. The control panel for my model club has been taking the most time, but I’m now at a stage where no more large tasks need to be undertaken; I can just beaver away it the soldering as and when.

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The first photo shows the light strips, which sit on a deck below the top panel (as made earlier), and the second shows the first line lit up. The rest will follow when I’ve done them. The switches were wired to work as polarity changers, so the four corner tabs were connected in a cross shape, with the middle two being the outputs. Below is the first one to be wired. The missing switch in the above pic broke, but to get one line lit up I’ve wired the strip directly to the bus for the time being...

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The MXAs have now had underframes painted, and now just require boxes!

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The DRS 37 has had a couple more gaps filled in with superglue and filed down on the roof grille. I’m using superglue because it needs strength, and doesn’t have to be as perfect a finish as filler would achieve, as it will be covered by the Shawplan etch.

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Also the bonnet doors have been glued in place, ready to be filed down for larger scale versions to be added.

 

The other two buffers of the DRS 57 have been turned, and so too have the buffer shanks because there was a build up of paint on the smaller diameter part. These have been reattached securely, and the lamp brackets have been removed and one per end glued onto the buffer, as per the prototype. This is because the brackets were flush up against the front of the loco, and new ones would have needed to be sourced to replace them. The heads have been placed in position for a photo:

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The bufferbeams will be sprayed red in due course, which is why I’ve separated the plastic chassis moulding from the chassis block, and completely dismantled the loco:

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There’s plenty of space for a speaker in the fuel tank! I’ll hooefully be fitting sound to this, with improved light functions too.

 

Whilst we’re on the subject of sound...

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No prizes for guessing which of my two favourite locos these are going into...

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I’ve got a set of Laserglaze and some wheels robbed off my Bacmann 37s for these too.

 

If anyone’s interested, I’ve got a Bachmann DRS 66 going spare currently, 66407 with modified lights. If you're interested please PM me.

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And finally, I’ll leave you with a couple of photos taken on a fine winter's day, taken on 'Tighte End Yard'...

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Keep on modelling! :senile:

Jack.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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It's that time of year again! I'd like to thank each and every one of you who have viewed, liked, commented on and followed my workbench projects over the last 12 months. The new year will bring lots of change for me, as I will hopefully begin my first job as an apprentice engineer. I truly hope I can continue modelling, and I may even be involved in new projects...only time will tell! :D

 

Above is a photo of the layout I am currently working on, 'Tghte End Yard', with a couple of locos which have featured on these pages in the last few years.

 

All the very best for Christmas and New Year...I hope Father C brings lots of goodies! :P

 

Thanks,

Jack.

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So a bit of an update after a week of festive modelling...

 

I’ve been beavering away on 57007 recently, getting the chassis moulding sorted by adding pipes and couplings following a red spray. The buffers were added and painted, and then the details were picked out in their respective colours before both chassis parts (plastic and metal) were clipped together again...

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I’ve also added a cab light to the number 2 end made from an SMD LED from a light strip...

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After this, two switches were added in the fuel tank, next to the current switch. The bottom of the fuel tank moulding was removed in anticipation of the speaker (when I get a suitable decoder and speaker) and also for the switches. These will allow a four function decoder to control most of the lighting functions I want, with the switches set for specific applications (shunting/main line etc)...

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Santa brought me an NCE USB interface, so I’ll have a play with JMRI software to remap a decoder, and from there I should be able to have custom lighting on sound decoders in the future.

 

Also on the workbench have been these two yard lights. They are constructed from copper tube, brass tube and copper clad, as well as enamelled wire. These will be installed on 'Tighte End Yard', and I must say were fun to make.

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Thanks,

Jack.

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Great work, the yard lights look nice. Are they hollow with wires on the inside?

Hi Cal...yes they are, the copper tube is about 2mm OD, so there is plenty of room down the middle for two enamelled wires. The LED is soldered to a piece of copper clad, with a standard copper wire connecting the -ve side to the copper tube (the tube acts as the -ve). Then enamelled wire is soldereded to the other side (+ve) and fed down the tube. After a bit of practice I found if you left a bit more wire than is needed (extra 4 inches or so), you can pull it through after soldering the top of the 'T' and the bottom brass part on, as sometimes the heat melted the enamel and caused a short.

 

If you need any more info let me know, I can do a step by step guide if you like.

 

Thanks,

Jack.

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  • 2 weeks later...

More work on 57007 has been completed recently. The most major work has seen the loco wired up, and it now works. An 8 pin socket has been constructed from some IC socket pieces, and soldered to copper clad. Also, a smaller socket has been constructed which connects the pick ups and motor to the decoder socket. This has been added because eventually this will connect to the roof of the loco when I get a suitable sound decoder, as the decoder and lighting will be located on the body, with only a 4 pin socket on the chassis to power the motor...

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Also some footsteps have been fashioned from brass strip and fitted to the buffer beam. The 'S' shape means they are physically attached to the chassis, and so won’t ping off due to the glue failing...

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And the whole reason for the project...the first photo shows the loco alongside a ViTrains 47; the smaller lights clearly visible compared to the second photo. This Freightliner machine will eventually become a DRS one, to pair up with 57007:

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Keep on modelling! :senile:

Jack.

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  • 1 month later...

I’m seeing red....

 

Because all the MXA chassis have now been painted. :no:

The last Bachmann one was sprayed white then two coats of red, before the chassis parts had the paint scraped off and were painted black along with the buffers and draw hooks:

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The two Cambrian wagons have had a substantial slab of lead added to aid running characteristics. These have been attached using plasticard holders, so they can be shortened if the train ends up being too heavy!

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The whole train now looks like this:

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Also the next box has been assembled, with brass square rod along the top edge. The last 4 pieces of rod have been glued onto the respective sides, and will be built up as per this one in due course, before all the ribs are added from plasticard:

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More soon! :yes:

Jack.

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