Vent loops done. And here's how I did it. Each etched bar has little tags on each end, which fit into corresponding slots in the roof either side of the cast vent. I stuck a vernier across the slots to work out the diameter of the loop, and then chose a suitable drill. I stuck that, business end first, into my vice (with soft jaws), leaving the shank so I could manipulate the etched part round it. A little tweaking with round nose pliers, and the formed loop could be clipped in place and secured with a drop of cyano.
Of course, the Law of Sod tells us I would perfect the forming process by the time I got to the last loop.
The end rain strips were successfully folded without learning new swear words. Watch for those little tags at the ends, designed to fit into slots in the roof. Don't trim them off, like I did on one end before I remembered. I don't think the strips should have the visible slots along their bottom edges, so a wipe of glue or filler will go on before painting begins. I guess, with extra care and teeny tiny fingers the folds could be done to minimise the gaps, but out of four attempts I couldn't managed it.
The mid-point strips have also been fitted. Now, the kit roof is etched so both strips have the same relative orientation. This is correct according to the sketch plan in the Parkin book supplement, so I have gone with it. Reference photos of preserved RMBs seem to show the strips may have been angled so the higher end was away from the lavatory end (or the other way round), but without opposite side views of the same vehicle in my stash I can't confirm, so the kit fitting is what it is.
While I was checking strip orientations I decided to swap out the domed fan casting for the type with the shield. I think this better suits the later refurbished vehicles.
Barring the filler pipe runs, I am content to leave the roof now.
The roof attachment solution was to be wire rod, soldered under the floor once the roof was pulled down. On reflection, I have decided to try and source some 8 or 10BA threaded brass rod for this job, and use a bolt under the floor. Hopefully, Metalsmiths might have something at Reading on Saturday.
Meanwhile, I need to check whether refurb RMBs still had destination board clips in the 1980s. I suspect they didn't, so the etched slots will need to be filled on the body.
Foot boards on the underframe now need thinking about.
