Over the past week I have been building a High Level kit for a 58xx chassis to use with 5813. Given the number of very good threads detailing the construction of these on here, I wont go into detail. Just a couple of photos.

Construction broadly followed the instructions, the slight differences were adding the horn blocks to the sides using my Avonside jig before adding the spacers.

I have also removed the springs to enable the removal of all axles (ive yet to decide on how I will keep them in place).

Testing has so far been promising, I have noticed that one part was missing from the gearbox which allows the first idler to move on its shaft and disengage from the worm (this will be rectified today!) After which I will give it a proper test run up and down the test track, then get it going on the rolling road to run in the gearbox.

The final jobs are to fit the remaining handrails to the body and to build the brakegear (ensuring of course that it is fully removable) I want to get both of these sorted tonight / tomorrow so that I can have the loco finished (well ready for painting) before I make a start on the next project.

High Level have now released a horn block bearing for a 3mm diameter axle, as such as soon as my order arrives I will be able to build my High Level chassis for 2220. This is going to be my first attempt with CSBs... This will need some major modification to the Ultrascale wheels (reducing the boss thickness and removing the original gear) however it seems that the going rate for RTR conversion ultrascales on ebay is a significant saving on buying 1/8th parts new (this set was cheaper than a set of Gibsons!)

However the temptation may well be to start on my Dean Goods, given that I will be picking up the Finney kit on Sunday. The intention with this is to take inspiration from Martin Blackwell's MRJ article on building 2 locos from one kit, and to build myself a pair of them (with the second getting a High Level chassis, and the first getting the Finney working valve gear If I can manage to get it working...) The first is going to be 2340 (given the photo of the loco on the branch in 1949 in one of the Cheddar books) For this one I want to ensure all the details are correct, so will need more research to start identifying footplate / firebox / cab type identification.

The other is undecided (and will depend a lot on what is left). I'm not sure I even need two Dean Goods so it may well end up on Ebay (though I doubt I will want to part with it once finished). If it turns out to be suitable, I quite fancy doing the one they have at Steam given the number of photos I took of it when I was there the other week.....

I think the sensible option is going to be the High Level kit, particularly as I need to use the 1/8 inch hornblocks to use the chassis jig when fitting the horn guides (logically I should then be able to replace with the identical 3mm component afterwards without any issue....)