I am really starting to hate being away from home (I am currently half way through a six month placement with our corporate jet production business up in Broughton). Apart from being away from Helen & friends etc and the 3 and a half hour commute back to Bristol each weekend, it means I cant do any modelling when I want to!

So to at least feel like I am making some progress on the project I have been researching underframes, and shopping for components

I think I know know what I want for the underframe, the compressor looks to be the most difficult component to source, followed by the fuse box. May have to just bite the bullet and purchase the full Southern Pride EMU components and accept that most of the moneys worth is going straight into the scrap box. I've said it before and will say again, the Lima 73 really is crying out for a detail parts manufacturer to release a set of underframe castings. I'd take at least 4 sets for a start!

Time spent looking at the bogies highlights another detail part that is needed, the flash guards. Fingers crossed Shawplan take a good look at these (and the rest of the grills) in the future!

While looking at the bogies, I have started to think about modelling the 3rd rail shoes in the down position, not exactly sure how yet, but shouldnt be too difficult.....

So far the only shopping list items have been a Bachmann 25 and an old Shawplan roof grill

To which I have now added enough sets of Gibson 12.6mm wheels to complete the rake, along with a Shawplan order to give a Extreme Etchings Class 33 roof grill for 33116, paint to respray the grill on said 33, varnish to finish off my DRS 37/6 (so I can finally try and get it finished) and a lazer glaze pack for my GWT 47 (although that wont be finished until I go to Devon in mid July and can paint the yellow ends.)

So I am now really geared up to make some serious progress on the 73 project, the only problem being that I am in Poole for a wedding this weekend, so cant do any more work until the following weekend.....