There's still much body detailing to do and I think the bracket at the rear needs to be moved up a bit; I thought she was nose down standing on the track, but comparing to the J71 I think she's stern up.
I think Robert Forsythe says this kit was introduced in 1959 and I believe this is quite an early one - it had brass plates either side of a whitemetal chassis block and a motor unlike any Ks one I've seen before. It also cost 99s 5d when new. I think two builders may have had a hand in it as it has been soldered so far and then other bits have been Araldited on. Whatever, I'm getting an inordinate amount of pleasure from the idea that it's going to be completed after maybe 50 years in the building.
While that was on the rolling road I added the brake gear to the J71. Now, this was the only bit of this chassis I had trouble with; the shoes were too near the wheels on two of the three axles and when I added the pull rods they moved the shoes all over the place in relation to the wheels. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had the same trouble?
I've just added the shoes, suitably filed down, and won't bother with the rigging. Some of it would interfere with the pickups anyway. This loco is now going to be 326, one of the first 10 J71s built and the last withdrawn, according to Yeadon, after 74 years service.
