Trial fitting the body (before butchering the chassis).
I took the plunge and hacked of the etched springs. Now waiting for wheels to arrive to see how to go about dealing with the compensators. This was best done before fitting the body to avoid damage. The sole bar and buffer beam overlays were soldered on. Both sole bar overlays are the same unfortunately, so on one side the rivets don't match up with the vee hangars.
The sides are two layers of overlays. I laminated these with 181' solder (hence the copper colour) to allow then to fitted with 88' degree solder without de-laminating. I hope. They will have to be shaped to match the tumblehome before fitting.
The body has holes for 6BA fixing screws, an unusual arrangement but actually works well when dealing with the tumblehomes. The tabs on the ends had to be modded before folding. The sides were then screwed down, adjusted, screwed down really tight and the the corners soldered. When I was happy the tabs, which had been tinned with 181' solder, were soldered in using the blunderbuss soldering iron - there's a lot of brass to heat up. I then removed the screws, waste not want not and all then. Success.
One of the compensator units. I've ordered some wheels that are, I think, intended to allow the wheels to be pulled off the axles. The I can see about souring bearings.
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