The front sandboxes are attached to the valances and just need bending to shape. Another very impressive piece of design work. Here's a pic, one 'box bent to shape and one still flat;

A lot better than a whitemetal casting I'm sure you'll agree.

The lids sit above the footplate, these will be added after the bonnet is soldered in place.

The rear sandboxes are made from 3 parts, above the footplate there is a cast brass body with an etched lid and below the footplate there is a L shaped etching. This was a pain to solder in the right place, even being held in place with blu-tack. This etching does need narrowing as it sits too low compared to the plate coming down from the cab rear. So far thats the only part of this kit that I've found fault with and thats only minor!

A few pics;

Here's a pic from underneath;

Note how the bufferbeam has a cutout that the tag on the end of the footplate sits in. Again more clever design.

And now a pic of the progress to date;

Next job will hopefully be the gearbox.

I'm not sure when the next update will be, I'm picking up a new puppy tommorow so modelling time might be limited!

Paul.