Well I have spent most of the morning (and a small proportion of the afternoon) removing the front end of the 159 donor unit and replacing it with the class 323 brass etching. I was quite pleased with how well the front came off and in the end I had nothing to fear really.

The pantograph bay has also been almost completed with just a small hole needing to be drilled before I can complete the work on that entire carriage.

What did surprise me, with regards to how problematic it has been, was the air dam that I have decided to attach to the main body. I think that when I was folding it into shape I must have got the proportions wrong for the front as it does not sit very well and I am consdiering removing it and building something out of plasticard using the Electra rail graphics as a means of decorating the exterior. Although it wont have the same feel as the etched part does I think it might be easier for the motor end to consider doing that.

The above picture is before the air dam was attached and before I reattached the front because I was unhappy with the angle at which it had stuck.

Putting the vinyl onto one side has really given me a big incentive to keep going. It really looks the part and I cannot wait to get the whole thing done so I can give it a good run. I expect to have the unit mostly completed by early next week.

The above picture is after the air dam was attached and also after the intermediate carriage had the pantograph bay pretty much completed.