After a break building CDR wagons and refurbishing the ex Andy Cundick Letterkenny and Donegal Town layouts, I finally got back to the Class 5A which has been waiting for the electrical pick-ups to be fitted. These were installed and tested this morning and this afternoon I have been doing a spot of fine tuning as it was running beautifully going forwards but rubbish in reverse. I think I may have built in too much play in the rear axle (to cope with tight curves on the layout on which it is to be used) which was allowing it to 'crab' under power. I cured this by springing the rear bogie and adding weight (liquid lead) to the bunker to counterbalance the cast white metal smokebox and compress the bogie spring. Now runs nicely in both directions.

Having the space in the 5A to use a larger motor, and substituting a High Level gearbox and Gibson wheels for those in the kit, have made this a much better runner, able to cope with much tighter curves than the Class 5 that I built previously. Off to try them on their layouts tomorrow.

Both locos are having their first public outing this weekend at the CDRRL mini show in Kees Hotel, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal. Class 5 Drumboe will be running on Letterkenny and Class 5A Blanche/Alice on Donegal Town. The latter will be running unpainted, that's a job for later! Pics to follow. Unfortunately I won't be at the show myself, as I have a prior commitment in Connemara this weekend.

Come to think of it, I had better go and fit some couplings to the 5A!