Made a start on 735, managed to get a couple of sessions in. The etching is not a crisp as one would of hoped for, but nothing that can't be got over. The chassis etches were worse than the body ones, just takes a little more cutting out and a bit more filing.

First job was to cut the frames for the hornblocks, after this it was plain sailing to get the chassis together. As you can see I have marked all the axle bushes so I know they will fit again when painted..

Having assembled filed and polished the coupling rods the horns were soldered in. Then I found one of the coupling rods had broken at the hinge, the etched hole was far to close to the edge and had broken out. They are only 2 laminates so this created a real problem. Managed to solve it, but having done one I had to do the other so they would match. Now have to repolish.

The brake hangers and shoes are only a single etch to I added some plasticard to the inside to give the shoes some depth. Will also help them not to short out. Also made the detatchable as normal for me, this was done with short hangers in the frames and tubes soldered to the brake hangers, then it just clips onto the chassis. I have tried 14BA screws and nuts, but find it is just something else that needs masking or cleaning afterwards.

Would of been better if I had of put the leading brake hanger on its mounting rather than under it.

Next job will be to fold up the gear box and get it and the motor mounted, to check clearances and put in the motor support. I think I will get the chassis painted and running as I build the body.

I am still thinking about the chimney, hopefully I will come up with a solution soon.