Little to show over the weekend, just working around the model and adding the finishing bits and making sure they're all done so I can concentrate fully on the backhead.
First up the smoke box door, nice clean affair though the original white metal hinge post was a bit of a mare, after spending a long time cleaning, filing and sanding it broke off...figures! So I drilled for a new post only to not quite drill straight and blow through the side of one of the fixing posts, out came the 1x1 mm bar and a new post made and all was good in the end.
I added the small metal spigot just under the dart, it's a post with a recess to hold the locking bar in place and allow the use of both hands to tighten up on the other...thingie, can't remember what it's called now
Just so y'all know what your looking for, it's that bit of metal just below the dart fixing.
The instructions advise 1.0 mm for the handle which I thought a tad over zealous but looking at the picture above, it is a rather hefty affair, I drew the line at drilling the vent holes, there I believe to try and dissipate some of the latent heat that builds up during steaming.
Fitted to engine.
Getting there now, not quite sure how to fix the number plate, the smoke box door has a large bulge to it and the number plate doesn't quite sit flat or square, it's basically two long studs which are visible from the sides, not quite sure how to replicate that just yet, I'll ponder over that whilst I fiddle with other sundries, probably drill out the etched stud on the number plate and replace with wire pins and then drill the smoke box accordingly, bit fiddly but the number plate won't drop off then.
Sharp of eye will note some painted bits, it's becoming ever more difficult to keep things clean so bits that need to be fixed now that will be difficult to paint behind are getting a base coat primer to seal them.
As a bit of a folly I had a go at high lighting some of the bright work, rather than mechanically cleaning to get back to bare metal I used cellulose thinners and a very small brush. I could of masked but the theory was that by using thinners you'd get a wash in all the creases as well and save doing that wash later. I don't have time to do much more as the build has to progress, but the diversion was relaxing and reasonably effective for the 30 mins or so of dabbling.
Excuse the odd angle, saves turning the monitor on it's side, you can hardly see these two items the right way up and with the body on, but they do catch the light and I do need to do the anti vacuum valve as well, add in the steam cocks it should break up the black area down here.
Cruel close up of the power end, the seahorse lube pipe and oil pot are getting there, I was getting the hang of it now, and that's when I knew it was time to stop, can't have too much fun just yet
The cylinder wrapper will get a coat of satin black to give it a little shine once the primer has baked off for a few days.
Onward!
MD
