I’ve not laid hand on either of the part-finished C13 chassis for the last few weeks. One or indeed, two “other activities” were referred to last post but since then the computer has been active with me trying to grasp the skill of producing drawings for etching.

My tutor has said that I’m nearly there and that I should draw something I would like to actually send off and have etched. This needs careful thought because there is an initial charge around £50 - £100 to set up.

I have decided on trying to design parts to build a C13 body plus some additional parts to make it a C14.

Please do not think that this work will be developed into a loco kit. At very best it will provide some flat bits of nickel-silver (possibly brass), exactly following parts that I would normally mark and fret out by eye, blued metal, scriber, engineers square & piercing saw, were I scratch building. No kit instructions and therefore of use only to those with scratch-building skills really.

No turned parts, not even a ready-rolled boiler; - just flat laminate bits for running plate, buffer beams; valances; cab sides, spectacle plate & rear sheet; tank sides; bunker sides & end sheet. Hopefully there would be help with riveting but not etched rivets because riveting varied so much across both classes. With an etched hole on the rear, rivets could be pushed out if they needed to appear.

At best this could be considered as an aid to anyone who may be thinking of scratch-building a model of either class.

Nothing could possibly be ready for the etchers until the new-year, always assuming that I carry out what I have in mind.

If there is anyone out there interested in having an etched sheet from these drawings and you are willing to help with the setting up cost then please PM me on this media. No promises; I still may not go ahead because I could scratch the lot for no cost and that possible £100 set-up is not attractive! Five of us and £20 sounds more so!

Off for my tea now, bye!

Dave.