I've been quiet, but I've been busy. Apart from the current build, an LNWR all third driving trailer and accompanying all third trailer coach have arrived, not to mention an 9F that's materialised from somewhere. More about those another day.
Having opened out the window rebates, I have primed and painted the insides of the sides. While I ponder the next stage with the sides, attention has turned to the ends.
You may recall, so way back in this very thread, I had more or less completed the ends of the D94 as part of the test build. As my knowledge of the prototype has improved, I realised I made some silly errors. I decided now was as good a time as any to set about the gangways properly, and to fabricate the rather obviously missing suspension brackets.
Cue a desperate scrabble to recover the "instructions" from where I'd thrown them some time ago, and some flicking back and forth in the reference books to get some good views of the gangways. Luckily, the books have a nice clear three-quarter end view, and side views that show the gangways coupled and uncoupled. The "instructions" are somewhat less clear.
Essentially, imagine an A4 sheet in landscape. Imagine a block of thumbnail images, in a three by two grid. The first image shows the fret of gangway parts, the second shows the parts cut out and arranged neatly with the rubber concertina, something like this:
My interpretation is a lot clearer as I just photographed one set, instead of both gangways at once. I've also added the cast suspension brackets.
Now, I don my fez, say the magic words "jesslike-a-darealthing" while waving my hands over the workbench - manic chuckle and grin optional - and the gangway is constructed. At least that's how the instructions show it. The third image is the completed gangway, sitting there like an ice cream sandwich, the black bellows stuck between the brass etches. The remaining images simply showing how it's glued to the end moulding of the coach, along with the steps. Not a clue of how the actual gangway parts fit together.
You might say it's obvious. Well, I would agree with you. The latch handle folds up, and fits over the little etched hole, through which you can stick a bit of wire. Presumably you can make it work "jesslike-a-darealthing" if you want. The bellows fit in the two central etches, the one with the rebate is glued to the end of the coach. The protective end plate is optional, and I will probably use it on the end of the third brake. So, what are the three little T-shaped bits for, and where do they go? It is all very far from clear, I have to say.
I think I shall simply pretend the T-pieces don't exist. Perhaps they're to help the end plate fix in place? I don't know. I'm guessing.
Happily, some of the scrap etch from the gangway fret is about the right width to help me fabricate the main hanging brackets. I'll show how I work that lot out - there's twelve to make, after all - in another post.
The noise was awful, the damage significant and the language.........rather blue !
