It’s been hard going this week. That darned Real Life keeps sticking its oar into things.
Be that as it may, I’ve fitted the hanging bars. The split method used by Mr Mitchell tends to leave unsightly joins that will need to be dealt with. Filler? I don’t know. We’ll see. In the background to can see various bodywork components scattered about, including the kit parts for the bunker rear. I’m going to attempt forming it up to fit, and if it doesn’t work then I’ll scratch a new piece - as mentioned previously.
Speaking of bunkers, I’ve fitted the extension plates to the carcass. These are simply butt soldered to the basic cage, but I will reinforce the joints with some scrap etch later. I may also add strips across at strategic points to support the detailed skins.
Having installed the buffer planks, and the front deck, something was nagging at me. It’s obvious if you look at it, but in case you can’t spot it, the front deck plate has rounded corners at the front. This is not a feature of the 4400 and 4500 classes. I have a spare etch, left over from the baby Prairie build - which also entailed a scratched front deck, if you recall - but it still has the same issue of the rounded corners. I really, really, don’t want to scratch build a new front deck, with all the rivets, plates and various apertures and sockets, but I rather think I’m going to need to. It’s enough to make me put it all in the box and get on with something else for a while.
Anyway, it won’t happen this weekend. We’re off out gallivanting, so the bench can fester until we get back.