The body and chassis frame are done. The kit for this one had been 'examined' at some point and one part of the hopper chutes lost, so that bit that supposed to stick out of the bottom is not there. The instructions just say make some handrails up using pictures, so I did. In real life they were so mangled if you modeled them prototypically no one would believe you. The thing is still all square, a relief as ever.
As having an LNER/BR HTO is compulsory on 70s/80s layouts I'm keeping this wagon, and have decided to use some of my dwindling stock (and not to be re-stocked apparently) working springs. Not least as the axle boxes on the supplied cast axle guards are, er, 'large'. Doing this will sacrifice a Bill Bedford compensating kit to get the correct W irons, and also a Slaters fully sprung MR axle guard kit to get bearing carriers. I usually make these out of plastikard but I'd already robbed axle boxes from the kit so the miser in me is okay with using them. Just need to check the spacing between the sole bars to make sure this will work.
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