A while back I was inspired by a photo of a 57xx pannier on Paul Marshall-Potter's Albion Yard blog, I decided that I would replace the rear windows on my pannier and 58xx with the Mainly Trains etch. This is a nicely done Ian rice designed part which comes with enough to do a good few locos. It's still a bit too flat compared to the prototype, but having the glass behind the etch should look a lot better than having window bars which are a scale 3 inches thick!

After a lot of procrastination, I've finally got an etch (via the classifieds) and I have set to fitting it to 5813.

The original bars were carefully removed with a sharp scalpel, I then carefully enlarged the window to match the etch.

Looking at photos both the front and rear windows on the airfix 14xx are too short and too narrow, so the next job will be opening up the size of the front windows.

See the prototype here. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/46668-left-hand-tank/

Before gluing the etch in position the final job was to cut new windows to fit (before putting away until after painting)

For the 57xx it was a little easier as the windows were more or less the right size, I am however tempted to try and model the front windows open...

Will try and add the model photos tomorrow...