Not a Spitfire

 

I mentioned that there would be three 16 ton minerals running with COND lettering for Rhiw 2. This sprung me into thinking that I should get the third done as well. To this end the Airfix box was pulled from the cupboard and a start made. Then I thought why not run it as a short series. Not that the highly experienced readers here need any tutorials, but with half and eye on how well the Spitfire series went down a few years back.

The idea was to make this a modified version with evidence of new welded plates on the sides and a plated top door. All this is straight forward in wagon bashing terms and the start was to chop out the top doors with a saw and knife as above.

Removing this made the side a little waggly so the doors were added to firm things up, but not before taking the dangly Airfix hinges off leaving a short stub. I noted from photos the the central bar on the top door-less versions is thinner, so these were reduced with a file down to about 50%.

Some 20 thou scrap made the plate section and the new top rail was cut from 40 thou sheet (ex recent platform building). So far, so good.