Moving on with the Maunsell composite. After measuring, I am now confused of Brazil. The diagram 2302 is an 8'6" body, but the body will end up 61.5mm not 60.2mm as it should be. Diagram 2301 is 9' wide (63mm). So it will come out somewhere between the two. That I think leaves with a choice from either diagram. But not sure whether it would look better being slightly narrow for R4 or slightly wide for R1.
Back to the easy part.
Both bogies are now waiting for the plastic parts and a coat of black stuff. No difficulties here as such the one I had to turn around was the most difficult as it was in more unit parts than the second one.
Now did I mention something being easy. Well that was a mistake. The body kit is made like many early etched kits from brass that struggles to stay straight laying flat in a box.
I started on what I thought was an easy bit, you just to get the feel of it. Well the inner floor, and partitions were cleaned and soldering iron waved around. Well the corridor partition looked like the front of a serpentine chest. So after getting the blow lamp out I cleaned off the solder and blood, body count was 2 digits sliced once and one twice. Try again but the brass waved as the iron past close by. Forth digit pierced. Pinned and screwed floor to ply, in holes new and old. Some angle along top of corridor, well again it was part of trial two. Having to remove pins and file down tags made progress slow but does now look the part.
Second wound to digit four. Getting worried, one running out of plasters and only have nine usable digits, and a lot of carriage to do.
To the under frame, folded and soldered, time to look at details. Second wound to digit one through plaster.
Also as word of warning, plasters do not stop phosphoric acid, and it makes your eyes water no matter how quickly you tear it of. (Plaster not finger, however tempting).
Expat wishing he was in UK where bloodsports are banned.