A first 006 diesel - cab

 The cab is based, at least in size, on a Ruston as per the Meridian kit but with slightly larger windows and a door fitted to the opposite side. The 4 sides are cut from .030" plasticard, with one side scribed for a door.

The windows are .010", cut to size with a .8mm hole drilled in the centre. The window centre positions were marked out on the front/rear and the plain side sheet and again drilled .8mm.

The holes were used to position the windows, which were glued in place with Plastic Weld and allowed to dry for a very long time! Once dry I opened the windows out first with a succession of drills going up in size, then I used needle files to finish the openings to size. In the below photo each stage is documented;

I used my mk.1 eyeball, as favoured by Iain Rice, when filing out the windows working until the frames looked right rather than try to measure the frame width. This is a technique that I dreamt up a long time ago and have been waiting to use. I'd like to try it in brass next. The door has a handle made from .33mm brass wire, and hinges from that horrible red plastic rod that Slaters sell.

Before fitting the cab sheets to the footplate I glued the sides and ends together, giving me two L shaped sub-assemblies;

This was done for easier attachment to the footplate. 

Lead, in the form of 'Supa 10' aquarium plant weight, was glued onto the cab sides to add a little more weight over the rear axle;

Then the cab sides could be glued onto the footplate;

I rolled a cab roof from scrap etch, and soldered .33mm wire along the edges for rainstrips;

I'm quite pleased with the way the cab has turned out, even though it is a little out of square. Although plastic is easier to work with than brass I get better results with sheet metal. Work that one out.

Those window frames are I feel pretty decent. As I said above that technique is one I came up with ages ago but have only just put into practice, it does need care at every stage and a slip of the file could easily ruin your work but the results are to my mind worth the effort.

Bonnet next.

Paul.