STEP BY STEP
1 Dismantle your
‘J94’. The cab roof and the coal load unclip and the smokebox slides out with a little gentle pressure from inside the body. Ease the chimney out with a small pair of needle-nosed pliers and use these to remove the buffers. I stripped the existing paint and decals from the metal casting by submerging in brake fluid for several days. After 24 hours, gently scrub the body with a wire brush. Repeat this process over several days in order to remove the last traces of paint.
Use the moulded handrails as a guide to drill holes for the replacement handrail knobs. Four holes are required on both tanks. Start with a No. 77 drill bit for the pilot holes and then enlarge with a No. 80. Don’t forget two holes above the smokebox door. Now remove the moulded handrails using a small file and clean them up with very fine sanding films/papers. Trim the handrail knobs to half their size in order to clear the chassis block and secure with cyano. When dry, thread in the handrail wire.
Cut away the rear spectacle plate with a razor saw and file the casting smooth. Cut the RT Models etched overlay from the fret and tidy any flash with a needle file. Secure the etch in place with cyano. Temporarily position the cab roof in place to ensure that the etch is square. The RT Models etch also includes two window frames for the front spectacle glasses. Carefully remove the parts and gently tidy them with files. I fixed them into position with Deluxe Materials Glue ‘n’ Glaze.
The RT Models etch includes provision for BR’S additional steps located approximately halfway down the running plate. I was a bit apprehensive about fitting these as they require bending and the separate top step must be glued to the main part. However, each set of steps went together smoothly. The top step is provided with a ‘ tongue’ that slots into the main part and is then glued in place. Glue the step to the edge of the running plate to ensure that it clears the crankpin.
I gave the body two coats of Humbrol acrylic satin black and painted the bufferbeams red. I re-fitted the buffers before adding the BR emblem and numbers. The finishing touches are the single lamp (from Langley) injector pipework and the RT Models reversing lever. The body received a coat of Humbrol matt varnish and, when dry, I glazed the cab windows with Glue ‘n’ Glaze. Before reassembly, I painted the wheel rims black, along with exposed brass pick-ups.