I have a confession to make. This project probably would not have been started, knowing what I know now. A pair of Hornby Class 29s and all the detail parts were purchased months before Falcon was announced. I simply did not realize how much work would be required to correct Hornby's Class 29 either.

Then there were the announcements for the prototype DELTIC, Classes 14, 15, 17, 22, 41, and Kestrel. There is even a Baldwin Centipede coming in a few months! In SEABOARD! CRIKES!

So why I am spending inordinate amounts of my time on a model of a Class of locomotive that will probably hit the streets as a RTR model the next five years? That is a darn good question!

The etched bits are attached prior to a shot of primer. There is a compromise along the roof. The white plasticard rectangle marks the spot where another filler hatch should go. On the prototype, it's a smaller recess than the boiler water hatch on the right. I considered using something off of an N-scale loco, but in the end decided to plate over the recess.

One of the modifications to the Class 21 locomotives when they were converted to Class 29 was the addition of two more grills per side. On the model the upper window was plated over and two of the Class 73 etched grills attached. The grills are actually quite flush on the prototype. Closer to the etches than the molded on Hornby grills. Since I could reduce the Hornby grills, I added some plasticard under the three body side grill etches. This made them thicker, so that the relief of the added details more closely matched the original details.

The rear cab bulkhead has been modified as well. On the Hornby model the bulkhead is between the door and cab like the arrangement in a Western. The doors now open up into the cab as they should, of course we still have the shallow floor, no getting around that if you use the Class 24 mechanism...

And a couple of shots in white primer:

Something is still not correct in the nose area...

I'm going to grind some beans, make a nice strong cup of coffee, go to the workshop, and decide whether I can live with the current version of the North British nose. The nose looks longer now, but it's pretty close topside, the bottom rounded edges are too proud though. The buffer beam faces should really come forward a bit more, of course it was right on the bottom side before adding material to the face of the nose to get the topside closer. Every time I correct one aspect of the model, problems cascade over onto another...

The cabs fit, the chassis fits, the bogies move freely, it really is time to compromise and start applying sherwood green.