Inspired by the newly arrived Kernow/Dapol Western locomotive, I decided to try to upgrade the brake gear on my Heljan example, D1007 Western Talisman. This involved cutting the plastic pull rods off and substituting wire, inserted into drilled holes in the end brake shoes, as well as shortening the mounting lugs behind the shoes to narrow the fittings down. More work is still needed as it doesn't quite go around the sharper curves yet. I need to fiddle around more to get the clearances right but the improvement in appearance will be worth the effort, I think.