Having had some paint problems,  mostly very slow drying (maybe temperature related, it's not that warm in the loft at this time of year), the SR van is parked to one side while things go off. So to avoid practicing I've started the BR 12T pipe wagon kit. With a bit of luck I can do one while the other's paint dries and so on.

The box is what you'd expect - a box really. Inside there's somewhat less a number of parts compared to the SR van - and no need to pre-paint stuff.

The instructions start with assembling the couplings and fitting them to the draw bars. Ah. The kit comes with three link couplings, whereas being fitted it should have instanters. Instanters ordrered. I'm going to skip the couplings and do them when the proper ones arrive. If I can get hold of the supplier I'm keen to fit roller bearings as this one is for Soddingham, but that may have to go by the board. Anyhow, assembling the body presented no problems, and a few minor mould marks and very little flashing. The instructions suggest fitting one end to the floor, then a side, other end and other side, but just for being a bit easier to hold I did one end, then both sides. I'm glad I did as the floor was just a tad long meaning the door closing pins at the tops of the doors didn't quite meet up with corresponding mouldings on the end when the end was square to the floor. A little filing fixed that and tra la, one body.

Next, having checked the axle box backs move freely in the axleguards (2 did, 2 didn't quite) the sole bards were offered up to body. These needed a bit of timping to get them to sit nicely in the backs of the drawbars, but no rocket science required. I've not fixed these yet as I wanted to see if the 'pips' on the chassis frame should stay or go as there aren't mentioned in the instructions. Stay is the answer, with them there the chassis it at the right height to fit flush to the drawbar (its a little warped when not being held in the photo). I'm assuming that's how it goes as it 'looks right'. The chassis is notably shorter than the distance between the two drawbars, about 1mm each end. Not a lot I can do about that without getting entirely carried away with plasticard. That's for tomorrow, or the day after in the van paint has gone off.