Thanks for the help everyone, it's much appreciated.
Cheers Rob, all the pipework runs to the floor will have the cut ends hidden by a planked floor as per the prototype. I intend to make this from plasticard so that i'm able to texture the planks to look convincing.
Adrian,
I figure that the more I press gang them now the easier it wil be when they're older. My eldest son who is three already says ' when I'm a big boy I can build trains with you daddy '

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The blower valve location makes sense now you describe it as it's designed to create draft from the smoke box and NE engines have that valve fitting at the end of the handrail on the firemans side, I feel stupid for not putting two and two together

I'll borrow the idea for the cab roof as well if thats ok as the kit supplies some plates to secure it which I don't like. I've got some 1mm brass strip or some 1mm square bar :scratch:. Looking at the E4 the bar looks more appropriate but like you say I may have issues around the spectacles, what would you advise ?
Col,
I took about 60 photos of the J69 and got some really funny looks as I was poking my head between the frames and laying on the floor. They've moved it since I was last there to in front of the big window and put benchs around it, so plenty of issues trying to take photos !! Peter asked that I try and obtain measurments of the valve gear but this would have really got me in bother

I have another visit planned later in the year to the search engine to obtain drawings for the A7 build I talked to you about using the pantograph miller so i thought I could look up drawings for the J69 then? I'll give Peter a ring and discuss it with him. Also I'll burn a disc or two with all the imaages on mate and get one to you if that helps?
ATB Mick
PS is it common for GE engines to have the inside of frames and motion painted yellow??