[berth44]

It's a bit late now to find out or do anything about it Anthony , all I'm concerned with is the repair and getting it back together and running, but I wont re-install the coupling,I'll just fully detail the front end and stick in a crew...Dave

[berth44]

My concerns were justified, attempting to get the body re-united with the chassis proved impossible, and the 'cast floor' section of the chassis that I had 'superglued' in place?, well, it broke off!, the buffer section went flying, but fortunately remained intact with both valances still attached, but it's still a disaster never the less!!
I had made up a 'new chassis floor' from 'Plasticard' like I said I would, I thought it might have given the 'fix' some strength, unfortunately and alas' (as I've stated).... it didn't.....what a bugger!!
Anyhoo, I got back to fitting the 'bits and pieces' to complete the body (while I pondered what I'm going to do with the broken front end) It seems that I've lost 3 handrails,not one, plus a window wiper!
OK, that's no great deal, I'll make up these from the 'spares' box....mind you, the handrail wire is very thin, probably made to 'scale', I have not got anything that thin lying around, I'll find something...surely!! ........but the question is, "do I have another solution to the break??"
I'm not really sure about that, but I've decided to glue in the cabin 'modules' to start off (I forgot to bung a crew in...me twit!!)
By doing the above, it should allow the body to fit a bit easier, (I hope!!)the 'non broken' cab end is OK and should not present any problems re fitting (it has the metal floor still intact with the electrical connection for the lights), but with the new 'plastic floor' end, I would require to glue this part onto the said floor as the 'connection wires' (from the motor)are attached to it, this part in turn 'clips' into a 'socket' on the underside of the 'cab module' I thought this could prove to be 'difficult' to fit and therefor deemed...'was not a good idea'..
So, I'm thinking, if I leave off the plastic floor there will be a big 'hole', (vacated by the coupling pod) and (I'm thinking) " I can gain access to the above now 'loose' electrical connection and push it into the 'socket' on the cabs floor when the unit is back together. "Hmmm??"
It all sounds a bit complicated I know and a heap of bother as well, but hopefully, it'll all be worth it in the end and I'll have an operational A-1-A ,..."OH!!"....remember the 'buffer' part??, it can actually be re-fitted to the front end without any problem, I've made sure of that!!..........Dave

[SkyFire]

Good luck with it all.

[berth44]

Luck??, well if you can call the othe cab end breaking off Anthony.. 'luck'...you'd be right mate!!!!...it broke off quite cleanly from the chassis at the rear of the cab 'wall', but after doing a wee bit of sobbing, I thought, "hmm" this is not as bad as I thought and was actually an accidental 'godsend!!', fitting the body with the cabs fixed in place now makes it so easy,, mind you, it required a bit of 'heavee' filing to get this part re-fitted to the front end,and when I eventually did, it was carefully 'superglued' into place with the front valences in place.
So, in future is it has problems,removing the 4 body screws it should just drop out once the electrical connector has been prised out from the cab floor, and that could be sooner than later as one set of tail lights don't work,but that is really no big deal, it's running like a wee 'sweety'.....Dave

[SkyFire]

Sounds like that loco has been through the wars, or maybe a driver slammed into a truck on a crossing and didn't tell anyone.

[berth44]

The main thing is Anthony,she's been resurrected resolved and rectified and now has a new lease on life and has many friends (others in class) to help her get over her wounds and get better ....Dave