Having built all my GWR loco kits and won`t be doing anymore ever, it`s time to move over and build some coaches.

I have got a token RTR GWR auto-coach from the Lionheart stable but my preference has always been to build kits as these will have my own build compromises rather than the manufacturers.

Anyway, I was lucky enough to snap this Cavalier B set on ebay back in 2012 and made an initial assessment of what was needed back then.

Serious construction then started last November so as to be some alternative project during the building of my last two loco kits.

Cavalier kits were the biz back in 1985 and were way too expensive for me back then.

you get quite a bit for your monies......................................

Nice pre-formed and VERY thick brass coach sides.....tin plated pre-shaped roof.... fold-up etched truss framework and then all white metal underframe detailing, coach ends and bogie kits plus wheels.

Having very thick gauge brass draws a lot of heat from a soldering iron and I needed every watt from my 80W Antex iron.

The kit represents a GWR 60` Bow-ended B set with recessed door handles and guards door.

Folding up the recessed door etches was hard going......

The recessed door handles was much easier going........

.......and I finished the recessed guards door with Milliput Filler.

CPL Models produce some very juicy 7mm coach detailing products and I used their fold up door hinges and door stops to upgrade the kit as I went along.

Drilling small holes in the thick coach sides caused a lot of cheap drill casualties !!!

The next challenge was to be soldering white metal cast ends in place. For this I used Carrs 100deg low melt solder ( Carrs yellow label flux is essential) which needs no pre-tinning of the brass sides.

I don`t possess a temperature controlled iron so in true cheap-skate style I merely switch off my 80watt iron for 1.5mins and she`s then ready for 4mins of whitemetal soldering !!!!!...... but like a full Porta Loo on a camp site you need to be in and out quick !!!!

Then solder on the tin -plate roof and brass rain strip and trim everything up.

The bottom edges of the coach sides have a pre-folded recess to take the pre cut `hard board` flooring. There are also pre-folded brass channel chassis frames and white metal frame ends. This assembly bolts on to the bottom of the coach end castings .

The kit has etched thick brass fold up angle irons for the underframe trusses..... impossible to fold without making a `pigs ear` for me anyway, so I replaced with brass angle strips....much easier and better looking in the long run...

....and it`s not a difficult job to complete. I did use the etched centre truss support brackets supplied.

The cast whitemetal bogie kits are not compensated and go together very well.... no brake blocks but looks the biz..

Next I added further detailing parts from CPL Models plus some scratch handrails of my own to supe rdetail the outer coach ends...

The kits have a simple and ingenious way of springing the buffers which are cast lostwax offerings

These kits have a good supply of chassis components which need a minimum of cleaning up ready for assembly....

I have completed both coach underframes this week....a couple of evenings work....most satisfying.....

.... note the use of PCB strips for the running boards.....

So far .... so good.........

This week has seen the final amount of detailing prior to etch priming.........