The chassis' now have bufferbeams, solebars and axleboxes. The bufferbeams are built up from 3 main parts, as well as seperate drawplates and coupling hooks.

The first job was to bend up the main part of the 'beam, after punching out no less than 22 rivets;

Note that there are two sets of locating slots, to suit either the OO or EM/P4 frames. At this stage I fitted the drawplates and coupling hooks whilst I could still access the inside of the 'beam for soldering the coupling hooks from the inside.

The next step is to solder on the bottom plate, which has slots etched into it to allow the 'beams to be filled with liquid lead;

Note the half etched channel to help to locate the part centrally.

The top plate needs bending as this is also the plate that the tipper body rests on. Then it can be soldered in place, again there's a half etched locating channel;

I found it best to fold the smaller upper bend of the channel first.

Solebars next, and more rivets to punch out before bending it into a channel section, here shown soldered in place;

Onto the axleboxes. The instructions show the bearings being fitted though the axlebox etch from the outside and locating into the frames, however I found the bearings to be a little short so I soldered them into the frames from the inside, then fitted the axlebox etches in place over the protruding bearing;

The axleboxes themselves have to be folded flat with the fold line on the outside before they're ready for fitting.

Again all soldering done with a 25W Antex and 188 degree solder.

So far so good, but there's still lots more to add!

Anyone bored yet?

Paul.