N Brass Locos Glyn Valley Tramway Horse Drawn Coach - part 4.

The steps are now fitted below the doors. These are again quite delicate therefore the instructions tell you to reinforce the two uprights with wire. After bending the step itself along the half etched line I made a little jig to bend the legs on all four steps to the same length as the legs don't have a bend line etched onto them;

Once all four steps were bent I soldered a length of brass wire onto the back of the legs. The wire was filed flat on one side before being bent at a right angle and trimmed to fit;

 

Note that the wire was left overlength to give me a handle to hold whilst soldering. I used 188 degree solder for this.

The steps could then be soldered under the floor, again the legs needed a little trim so they stuck out at the right distance from the solebars;

 

Not my neatest piece of soldering I'm afraid. I used 145 degree for this stage to prevent unsoldering the reinforcing wire, the only time that I've step-soldered on this kit.

Its now almost ready for the paint shop, here it is with the wheels and coupling loops temporarily fitted;

In the foreground can be seen some of the etched vents, these fit above the windows. As they're painted in a contrasting colour to the body sides I'll paint them seperately and glue them in place before varnishing. Before painting I'm going to add some lead weight under the seats as the completed coach only weighs 17 grams.

The instructions mention that this coach was possibly painted with buff sides and mid green ends and ventilaters at some stage, which is probably the livery that I'll use.

Paul.