Your efforts called back my struggle building this kit. The problem I remember is the way how to attach the end parts -ladder, hand brake, handrail, and steps- to the body. The ends wouldn't hold on tight to the roof by only two posts. And, if you attach them to both the roof and the floor, the floor would never come off. That's why my model has no glasses! Another one I remember is that the completed model was top-heavy that it would rock. I added auxiliary weight on the floor to fix it. Hiroshi Nakanishi | Boxcar Red Collection
Hiroshi, how did you locate the holes for the cupola roof grabs? Eyeball it? Did you install the roofwalks after painting to ensure paint coverage? More weight is never a bad idea, as these cars are usually underweight NMRA recommendations-wise. I am planning on a Micro Kristal Kleer glazing option when I assemble. Better instructions would include a legend of what part goes where, as it's not always self-evident.
I made a guide effective to one side from a styrene sheet. As I lost several roof grabs, I also used the guide to bend the wire to make substitute parts as is the case of #01480 shown below. Kristal Klear would be a nice choice! I didn't know such a material. I didn't care about the roof painting; I applied the roof walks before painting using Tamiya can spray. I owed much making this kit to Pat Sanders' article in Jul/Aug 2007 N Scale Railroading magazine. But, it doesn't mention all the detail parts in the kit. The rain gutter was a pain for me. Hiroshi Nakanishi | Boxcar Red Collection
