An adventure in brass

[Steve]

Lutz
What a tremendous mount of work. However, I must say that the "finished" product really looks spectacular! You have done an excellent job.

I would love to see pics when the owner puts the finishing touches on it

[cnrglen]

Great work. It's too bad the clamshell doesn't work but it looks fantastic. It's almost a shame to paint this and cover all that brightwork.

[e-paw]

Solder, solder, solder, and more solder. Great job, can't wait for paint. :-D

[Mr Fixit]

A fine effort Lutz.

Its just a shame that the kit has not been made better to make it easier to assemble as I am sure that if it had been made better then more modellers would attempt it and end up enjoying such a project. Okay, maybe "enjoying" such a project is stretching the point a bit, but like any kit requiring a certain skill set it can be learned if you are willing.

As an example I would compare it to learning to work and join steel and the different processes that are available. You bolt, tech screw, pop rivet, hot rivet, silver solder, arc weld, mig weld, tig weld, friction stir weld. Now some of these processes are now considered "old school" like hot riveting, while others are very "new school" like friction stir welding and as such are specialist industrial techniques.

Myself, I have been learning to weld for the past several years, predominantly arc welding, with some mig welding and I will be learning tig welding. Some of my early arc welding is atrocious but the items have held together and slowly my welding is improving. Frequently working with second hand materials sure doesnt help, but you work with what you can get your hands on.

Mind you there are several guys at work who will readily say; "I cant weld", but when questioned will admit that they havent really tried and or dont really want to learn. If a toddler came out with that attitude, they would never learn to walk or talk, now would they?

Like everything it all comes down to aptitude as well as attitude.

Mark