This week saw the fitting of the under chassis gubbins.....
....which was primed, painted and mated to it's glazed and lined body. This being my first attempt at lining after a 30 year gap - only the windows, lower panels, outer end and bottom edges are lined.
The body was given two overall black/brown washes to get into the panels which has hidden the lining in some parts. Once this was dry I wiped over the body with my finger to 'polish' the panels which left a bit of grime in the corners. I've deliberately left the coach unkempt as it was sold by the Southern in 1926 to the EKR without being repainted into SR colours.
A view into the compartments...
The SMOKING signs are part of the Fox Transfers SECR set and like all decals they are designed to be placed on the outside..... however....
....I did not want the decals to be on the outside of the panes so I prepared them as per the instructions but dabbed them with a piece of kitchen towel whilst still on the backing sheet (but loose) to remove excess water. I then brushed a drop of Johnsons Klear (orginal formula from I bottle I purchased years ago) onto the inside of the window and applied the decal with a fine pair of tweezers. Due to fragility of the decals there is very little time to manoeuvre them into place.
A bit of a cruel close up and as can be seen these SMOKING decals represent the etched glass style.
Mmmm. It really needs a 5 compartment 3rd and a SECR ex-LCD loco to keep it company. Preferably an A class 0-4-4T
.