[modelperry]

Parts 161 - 171

Parts 161-166 The tender surface skins.
Each side wraps from the inside side wall around the front curved edge and meets at the rear in the middle. If you install each side separately, there will be an obvious and unwanted overlap. So I joined both pieces in the middle to preserve the rear graphics and sectioned the resulting piece into three. This was a much better approach. The top flare was also joined in the middle and attached as one piece. The flare was just slightly short on each front edge, so a little trimming of the top plate in this area was needed to dress everything up. The accent pieces all fit with only minor trimming.

Parts 167 - top side bins - No issues

Parts 168 brake wheel
The only issue here was trying to work the wheel shaft down through the tender floor into the cable spool underneath. I broke the spool loose trying to force the shaft through. Delicate repair surgery ensued.

Parts 169 the other control levers - No issues

Parts 170 the rear tank hatch - No issues other than no pattern provided for handhold.

Parts 171 front tender edge handholds - No issues.

This brings me to the end. This was such a well designed model that building it was a pleasure and not a cussfest. Do not be afraid of it if you have it in your stash and have yet to build it. It compares well with the prototype with just a few color issues, mainly on the tender truck frames where there should be a little blue.

On to the next project....

greg