Things usually starts very harmless...

[Schraddel]

The work is not delayed on the W&LE Mallet.


There was an dreadful "open air" area beneat the firebox. And the trailing truck does'nt look right too.
So i cut some styrene sheet and glued it under the firebox to block the sight thru. It is only one sheet in the middle possible for not disabling the sviveling of the trailing truck too much.
The sharp corners of the equalizing bar (?) of the trailing truck were filed round. The cast on sprung hangers were removed an replaced by an brass rod glued into drilled holes. I added new equalizer bars and hangers made of styrene sheet. They have no technical function, they only should look right. And it was not possible to built them in full length because the truck has to svivel. So there are gaps which guaranted the free movability.



This an an photo i made for comparison with the real loco.
The smokebox was stripped from all obsolete parts, numberboards, marker lights, long handrail stanchions, plumbing, head light visor and these shields behind the marker lights. The numerous holes were filled with short plastic rods and ACC. The marker ligths, to my astonishment made of die cast, were recycled and mounted on brass arms to their new positions. The handrail were bend into a shape to meet more prototypical appeareance. New short stanchions were fitted also.
On the pilot deck i bend and soldered new handrails.
A real problem for me is the smokebox door. On the photo it is horizontal, on the model it is vertical.
Any suggetions?

Lutz