Now that the chassis is in a better state for its intended purpose let us go back to some parts that are added to the boiler unit. I have been building the pilot deck and the front (permanently fixed) snow plough. Here are a couple of views of it -

These 2 views show the front end, with the pilot deck complete and virtually in position. It is fixed to the cylinder assembly; there are still the pressure relieving (steam) pipes to be fitted below the cylinders.

The pilot beam, which would in British terms be called the buffer beam is made from wood and has a section at the rear lower face removed. This is to allow a series of pieces of plasticard to be fitted that are part of the seating for the cylinder unit, and also allow the entire unit to be seated in the correct position on the remains of the front part of the Bachmann chassis.

Again I have used the system devised by David Fletcher for the building of the Mason Bogie, and here is a photo of the underside of the pilot deck. This photo has been made into a 'negative image' to show the detail a bit better. Here everything is black, and I did not take a photo of it before painting so this is the best way of showing it. Also in the view is the underside of the snowplough. The triangular underside is laminated to 3mm thick; this is the base for the pilot that is covered by the snowplough. All the detail (that ends up hidden) is also plasticard and the spokes are the same 3mm thickness, they will need a lot of sanding off to give you a continually changing curve from front to rear that the snowplough is fixed to, I can only say it is 'worked out in position'

Here is a closer shot of the snowplow. Underneath it is a reduced pointed 'cowcatcher' (which should really be called a pilot) - not as many spokes, but then there are added an extra set to keep the curved plasticard in the correct shape as well. plus some final pieces under the triangular top. The two side wings are made from 1/2mm plastic card, that has been 'persuaded' into shape by my fingers. Basically there is a tapered rolled bend towards the back of the two pieces, that end before the central joint. This can be kneaded into the plastic card, and assisted by careful rolling between your fingers and the edge of a table or desk.

Much fiddling with bits of card was needed to get the snowplow shape correct! When it was finally correct, the required shape was drawn onto plasticard and cut out, and fixed in position; fill any imperfections in the front join, and clean it up. There is a coupling link for the front coupler which is still operable if needed. The hole for this 'link coupler needs to be cut before joining the pieces to the pilot spokes, it is a critical shape as it is easily seen, try to use a pattern to get both sides the same. It is assisted to keep its shape by the hidden braces at the back of it. The two front smokebox braces (made from bicycle spokes) are not long enough, in the sloping part, and will be replaced. They fit into the 'disc shapes' on the sides of the smokebox and holes on the pilot deck, 'trial and error' will get them right. Do not forget to add the step on the fireman's side brace so access can be gained to the headlight, the access door being on this side. The pilot deck end of these braces needs to have the extra 'strap' fixings added and in the centre is the spring cap for the front truck; there is also an edging to the pilot deck to be added between the cylinders and the pilot beam. The pilot beam itself has on each end the fixing plates, bolts and straps for the snowplough ends.

The 'link & pin' coupling receptacle is built up from a small piece of plastruct tube (drill it for the coupling pin before cutting it off), the pin itself being a nail with a small drilled sphere on the top, the link is a piece of 2mm copper tube flattened at each end and a hole drilled in the flat. This 'link' goes through the hole in the front of the snowplough. Plate the top of the snowplough and add the centre brace and stiffening back at the back of it. All this detail is made from plastic, do not forget the bolt heads they add a lot of the detail.