Another PRR A-5....

[doctorwayne]

...continued...

..and here, installed on the mechanism...



Because the model is cast metal, it was easier to drill oversize holes for mounting the small details,  as drilling the zinc with small-size drill bits often resulted in either broken or severely-worn bits.  Once the larger holes were drilled, I used styrene rod about .003" or .004" in diameter greater than the holes, dipping the rod into MEK in order to soften its exterior surfaces.  After a couple-or-three such dips, the over-size rod was easily forced into the under-size holes.  Once it re-hardened, any protruding material was sliced-off and the area filed or sanded smooth.  It was then easy to use a small drill bit (in a pin vise) to drill suitably-sized holes for detail parts, such as the grabirons on the sides of the sand box (dome).

A front view (the headlight lense is not yet cemented in place)...



...and the view into the cab, with its not quite complete boiler backhead...



A few photos of the painted and lettered loco before weathering...









...and a look inside the cab...



I took some more photos after adding some weathering, a combination of airbrushed paint and brush-applied artists' pastels...















....continued in next post....