Detail Parts Added

Finished adding the traction motor cables to the underside of the body shell, and installed the piping brackets from Details West kit #259 on the engineer's side. Also added most of the rest of the parts from Details West kit #230 including brake vent valves and air dryers. Here's a couple of photos:

The large rear dryer is supposed to have a pipe that extends out to the rear then goes up into the body. Problem is the dryer itself is mounted on the plastic body shell and the pipe extends across the metal frame to the rear - so there's really no way to permanently attach it that allows for separation of the shell from the metal chassis frame. The pipe has a really nice valve casting on it, so it would be a shame not to use it. I'll have to mull that one over some more.

I installed the emergency fuel shutoff boxes from the DW 230 set last week, but the little pewter wires sticking out the sides broke off when I tried to bend them, so I had to replace them with 0.015 brass wire. I should have done that before I installed them, it would have made drilling the tiny hole in the side of the part much easier!

I also cut out the square hole in the back of the shell for the recessed sand filler housing, but haven't glued it in place yet. Next, I'm planning to tackle the DW air tank set (DW 261).

For previous blog entries on this project, follow the links below:

Update #1

Update #2