End of weekend update.
I'd hoped to have completed the upper works, but things conspired against that, specifically the sanding levers and cranks, for their size and simplicity you'd not think there's a good five hours work in there. Still, that elephant has been banished from the room and the list of things to do is down to a mere eight items; cab step treads, buffer beam step, firebox/boiler washout domed covers, cab roof gutter, smokebox door number plate bracket, some cover thingy at the base of the smokebox/boiler behind the saddle, speedo bracket with conduit and finally a strap over the rear of the whole firebox to close the small gap with the cab and represent the angled bracket therein.
Slightly closer view of the sanding levers and steam pipe footplate flanges.
Three cranks, two levers, three pivots and two gland plates plus valve rods. There should also be four studs on top of the rocker covers, two on the flat section, two on the sloped section, I'd like to add them but that whole assembly is likely to dissolve if you even threaten it with a soldering iron lol. I'll sleep on it and see if a easier solution presents itself this week.
Sharp of eye will notice that the front handrail has been removed, I wasn't happy with it, couple of the bends were not quiet just so and it wasn't all 100% square and ship shape, plus the central handrail knob wasn't centred correctly, only being out by less than 1 mm. Head on it was blatantly obvious and cockeyed so it had to be moved.
Once those last few upper works parts are done then it'll be time to finish the chassis, motor, pickups, valve gear, brakes, draw bar mount and vacuum pump to complete, this only leaves the two injectors behind the cab steps.
Whilst I have some very nice castings acquired with the exchange of some shekels (there's nothing in the kit at all, injectors, brackets, pipework or drawings) I've very little accurate details on pipework at the moment. So some time this week a little research is called for and then the decision as to whether to fit to the frames or step rears will be the final thing to do.
Couple of larger overall views.
Some one privately asked if there was any of the original kit left, the answer is yes.
About 80% of the tender was used, most of the coal space was rebuilt and an all new fire iron tunnel as well as tool lockers were required. There were a couple of extra bits and gubbins underneath as well as the brake shaft rebuild.
On the engine about 60% is original, main frames (plus a couple of stays), footplate, valance with rear steps, cab sides - front, floor and roof, cab seats and reversing lever stand, reversing lever reach rod, buffer and rear drag beam, firebox wrapper (should really of changed that as well with hindsight), splasher sides, cylinder front and rears (with new correct profile overlays) and bogie are all original....though some bits were modified.
Additional castings used/planned, lamp irons, tender axle boxes and springs, boiler washout domed covers, injectors behind cab steps.
The rest is all scratch built which leaves all this as left overs.
Rather more than your average kit waste...sadly.