James Spooner
Western Thunderer
This afternoon I have been working on a replacement smokebox front and door. The real things had quite a domed smokebox door but the kit comes with a smokebox front that has an almost flat door. I know we all have our own pet likes and dislikes and what one person would be happy with is an anathema to another. One of my pet dislikes is a poorly formed smokebox door; perhaps it goes back to my childhood and the Thomas the tank engine stories but the smokebox door is the ‘face’ of an engine. I have gouged another one out of different thicknesses of plasticard and trial fitted it to the loco. The spinning process caused a black ring to form (where I had a dirty sanding stick) so I think, belt and braces, I will give it a waft of primer in the morning to make sure I am happy with it, before gluing into place.
I have also formed the fireman’s side handrail wire and I think that is the above footplate stuff done on the fireman’s side.
Still to do on this side is the brake blocks and rigging, the lubricator, cylinder drain pipes and the non moving bits of the valve gear. I am planning to finish the pipe work on the driver’s side before going back down below and finishing the chassis. Photo attached.
Nigel
I have also formed the fireman’s side handrail wire and I think that is the above footplate stuff done on the fireman’s side.
Still to do on this side is the brake blocks and rigging, the lubricator, cylinder drain pipes and the non moving bits of the valve gear. I am planning to finish the pipe work on the driver’s side before going back down below and finishing the chassis. Photo attached.
Nigel
