Im assembling a Branchline paired window coach kit. It has been a rewarding experience thus far. However Ive run into a challenge not described in Branchline`s instructions.
I want to add ice boxes and battery boxes to the undercarriage as shown in the Branchline detail. But the boxes interfere with the brake cylinder linkage-pipe and the steam traps. Should these parts be trimmed or removed to enable mounting of the boxes, or should I construct some spacers using styrene to get the boxes underneath the obstructing parts?
Ive looked for prototype photos showing how low under the car these boxes should be, but Ive not found a picture with adequate detail.
While I cannot offer any help with the problem I can tell you that you are not the only one who discovered this problem. I have three of the paired window coaches lettered for Canadian National and ran into the same problem. I built all three up to the point of adding the ice boxes & battery boxes then stopped there till I could figure a way to mount the rest of the parts. That was 6 months ago so I would also be interested in hearing how other dealt with the problem.
The two I did I just shuffled parts around till I got everything to fit. OK so it ain’t prototypical - but my HO sclae maintainence guys can’t tell the difference and neither can anyone else. Underbodies were often changed due to rebuilding etc.