It's been a while since any update but progress has been made. Shortly after my last update I attached the axle boxes but made a bit of a mess of it. I had two problems, the first was that I stuck with my original iron tip (now way past its best), and the second was that I'm not using a temperature controlled iron. The end result was that I melted the edges of the axle boxes slightly (the pictures below show this). Basically I was impatient and just wanted to carry on. I decided to be sensible and got myself some new tips and a dimmer plug, this delayed progress for a couple of weeks, but it was certainly the right choice. the only melted white metal since then was caused as I moved the iron away while soldering some brass, and just brushed against one of axle boxes (easily fixed fortunately).

The only other issue issue of note was the coupling hook, which I very carefully soldered into place. Only after I'd done both ends did I realized the coupling hooks were also supposed to be sprung, and not just the buffers. In de-soldering the hooks the coupling reinforcing plates came along for the ride. After some cleaning up I managed to get things in order.

So, whats still to do. Firstly I need to make a riveted plate for one of the deck support brackets. I hoped the one I lost would turn up, but it's been lost to modeling gods, never to be seen again. After that it's time to do a general tidy up, check all the joints, remove the excess and then it's on with the paint. One thing I'm leaving off is the LNER plates, this is going to be NER wagon, as I intend to stick with NER in 0 gauge.

Overall, how do I think it went? I'd give the end result a 5 out of 10, as a first effort maybe 7 out of 10. It works, it's all pretty straight and once it's been cleaned up and painted it should look pretty good. On the other hand, some of the axle box edges were damaged, the rivets aren't great, some of the joints could be better and a couple of the bends could be better. I'm certainly glad I've done, I'm also definitely going to do more 0 gauge metal kits. On the other hand I'm not going to turn away from 00, I haven't the space for a roundy roundy 0 gauge layout and I do like just watching trains run, I also like the fact I can pick up a plastic kit for less than 10 pounds and have it together in a couple of hours, or for not much more get an rtr model and be able to have it running in seconds. if I had the time, money and space I would move completely over, till then I'm happy to take advantage of what both scales have to offer. I'm already trying to decide on my next 0 gauge adventure, at the moment it's between connoisseurs NER birdcage brake van or one of Piercys NER hopper wagons. It's nice to have choices.