Assembling the main frames was very straightforward. Everything fitted as it should with no fettling required, apart from cleaning up the cusp.

In the flat on the left, and folded up on the right;

I left the detail etch inside the frame cut-out until the frame sides were folded down for strength reasons, in hindsight this was unnecessary.

Both locos are being fitted with the early 'channel' bufferbeams. The buffer mounting bushes are fitted at this stage, note that they have a flat filed on one side to clear the frame sides;

Bufferbeams and frame ends fitted;

Side frame overlays and axlebox covers fitted;

The axlebox covers are laminated from 2 layers, I soldered (RSU) the half-etched outers to the inner half whilst the inner part was still attached to the etch. The RSU was used to attach the overlays and covers to the frames.

I still need to add the footsteps, coupling hooks, and buffer shanks.

There isn't really much to say about this part of the build apart from everything fitted nicely with no swearing necessary. Hopefully the cab will go together just as nicely.

Work on these two is progressing quite slowly at the moment, mainly due to a recent change of job which now means that I work alternate early/late shifts, which will take a bit of getting used to.

I've also had problems with my trusty Antex, I wasn't getting enough heat at the tip. At first I thought that the element was on its way out but I've traced the problem to corrosion inside the tip body. This has affected both of my 1mm tips (I use seperate tips for different solder types), it was only when I tried a 2.3mm tip that I found out the cause of the problem.

Paul.