So did I achieve what I wanted from Hunslet week? Yes and no I guess. In my wildest dreams I was going to be showing pictures of a finished model! Well the impact of the real world and rather a lot of set backs scuppered that one. My stated aim was to get a working chassis and I am almost there. Here is the new gear box being run in this morning. A couple of hours in each direction in the end with no problems. Oh! the soldering of bearings while running thing? Worked a treat! Had just tack soldered the bearings then made up the gearbox. On running it would only just turn over but a quick blast with the mini blow torch and the difference was remarkable! Everything found it's preferred position and a very smooth running box resulted. Then I tried to fit it to the chassis!

It fouled the chassis cross member, the compensation arm and potentially point frogs. Much filing, sawing and swearing later I had it fitted.] Then some more sawing of the foot plate to get it in the cab. It does protrude a bit but will just have to set the back head back a little and fill the gap - won't be noticed. Have run the chassis in the vice and seems to be pretty good so happy from that point of view.

Next job is the pony truck and then the valve gear - which bit am I going to enjoy the least!