Following on from the previous installment a kind friend provided the image I was looking for of the target engine in early 1920s condition. There are several Swindon features to incorporate, particularly on the chassis, including reinstatement of the front guard irons. More of that in a future installment. 

With the cab and bunker erected I moved my attention onto the boiler. Appropriately sized tube was cut to length and a balancing pipe for the tanks bent and attached before being tacked to the partial firebox to check height and level before creating the material to support the front end and further fixing.

The balancing pipe was made from tube and so some wire was inserted to reduce distortion on the sharp bends.

The boiler had to be cut away to allow the tank casting - I probably cannot justify calling it a body anymore - to fit. A reversing lever was formed and fitted too. It will be mostly hidden by tool box and handrail. 

In a bits box I found some No. 1 toolboxes and various other castings from N brass locos that will assist greatly with progress around the footplate.

I felt these needed some filling to reduce the prominence of various features. The unfettered versions is top right, subsequently treated to similar condition as bottom left. I cut and filed some lumps of brass 2x2x3mm for the front sand boxes too and trial fitted them with the tanks. The safety valve cover is a replacement part since I destroyed the first one after drilling it out too much.

The toolbox height was felt to need some further reduction by more filing before final fit. One fitted I returned to the cab. A 'small backhead' was also in the bits box and this was fitted in place. More filing required to clear the gear train but that is now hidden - a great result.

The cab floor, which I may have mentioned previously had to be adjusted. Fortunately it was still a loose part since I need to add a few more details to it before final fixing. The photograph shows the underside.

I don't think the gaps will be visible normally 

Whilst filing I also adjusted the rear cab steps to the style shown in the aforementioned prototype photo. Here's the current status.