As we were at the house over the weekend I managed to get a little time at the bench. I made a start on the body for the loco.

I made up the smokebox which was ready rolled, but needed a bit of tweaking. The boiler again was prerolled but needed quite a bit of pushing and shoving to get round, There was only a disc for the smokebox front, so I made a couple for the boiler.

Having the smoke box prerolled limits what locos can be built, as all the BR ones have riveted ones. I find unrolling riveting and re rolling does not work.

The Bunker was next up. Here the bend line dimension in the instructions was wrong but soon amended. The cab front, rear and bunker front were all to narrow, this was cure by soldering a wire down either side and flattening off. The assembly was good I just need to add the slopes which are to small in the kit. the sides were also folded and test fitted after the two halves of the footplate were joined. Some details have been added, with some still to do.

When trying the boiler unit I found it had a too large a diameter. I took apart and adjusted and reassembled. The space allowed for it between the tanks is a bit tight. as you can see, Once adjusted it started to look like a loco. I have some checking to do as I not happy with a couple of bits. The front splashers have also been put on.

I thought the 2mt was a large tank loco, but next to the V1/3 it positively looks small.

Next session on this I will do the checks needed then solder everything up solid. I have decided to do this as one of the last batch the V3's. It will be in post 1946 livery so will go right into early BR I think the last one to get its BR number was in 1950. I was thinking of early BR but I need a riveted smokebox, and I do not want to waste brass on a new one. Plus I have a lack of BR transfers. Must order more.