Here's the final version of the panels. 2500 has handwheels with spigots so I removed the levers and added some spare ethings from the MOK 4MT. There are 12 separate pieces in the right hand one and 17 in the left. For what you can see through the cab lookout I suppose it was a bit of a vanity project really.
And in the cab.
I have removed as much of the epoxy around the base of the water pick up domes, but I really shou,d have done that before it hardened too much. The ends of the brake handle have been rounded off with a cup burr to tidy them up.
The cab doors, inserts and handrails have now been added. The door inserts were a real pig to fit, having to hold them in place with a pair of tweezers while soldering the seam which is right next to the beading. It took a lot of special language to get them in.
Further forward, the grab rails on the hanging plate above the expansion link have been added but I've no idea what purpose they served. On some of the class, there was an opening in the tanks just above them. On one illustration I've seen, the caption describes then as a foot hole, but I see why the crew would need to stand there. If anybody knows what the holes and grab rails were for, it would be good to hear.
T'other side.
Here's a couple of views of the cab door area.
On 2500, the handrails are secured at the bottom with a nut under the running plate. I'm assuming the 2 cylinder versions were the same so I left a little of the rail showing to represent the nut.
The coupling hooks on these locos pivoted from side to side in a horizontal slot 8n the bufferbeam. The kit provides the normal type of hook, so to fix it there is a bracket with vertical slot to go behind the buffer beam. To beef it up I added some NS spare etch in the fold and soldered them both with 225 solder. Hopefully it will take the strain of pulling a train.
The front one. The steps have been reinforced with a bracket made from spare etch.
So, apart from the whistle, all the external body detail has been added. That just leaves the backplate, reversing mech, cab seats and couplings to complete it. On the chassis, the sandpipes plus some scratch parts will finish that off and then I'll fit the pick ups and motor.
Cheers,
Peter