The vacuum pipes are now fitted in place, sitting on little stanchions made from scrap etch, along with the end bracing struts. The end struts are made up from 2 pieces soldered together in a 'T' shape. A couple of pics;

Stanchion positions were found by studying photos of the prototype. End struts soldered together using 188 then tinned with 145 and attached using my RSU.

The brake wheels are also fitted now. To make them up I drilled some holes in a piece of MDF for the handles and spindle;

I then soldered the assembly up, using 188 again;

I made them in 2 halves, spindle meeting in the middle, seemed easier than making up one brake wheel with the spindle,threading it through the chassis and then trying to attach the second wheel to the spindle without unsoldering the handles...

I'm not sure that using MDF for this kind of work is a good idea, it seems that heat melts the glue or resin that binds it together which not only smells nasty but can contaminate the workpiece. Perhaps balsa would be better.

Here is the wagon as it stands at the moment;

Below the fish bellied frame can just be seen the strengthening channel that sits across the botton of the chassis, made from 3 parts soldered together. I'm sure that it could have been etched in one piece and simply folded up. Again assembled with 188, then tinned with 145 and attached using the RSU.

I'm not too keen on the handwheels, theyr'e a bit flat and would perhaps have better if they'd been laminated so as to include a half-etched rim.

I still need to fit the couplings and whitemetal parts.

Paul.