Finally managed to get some bench time in. It was all about the pe. Got the step/track tool assembly figured out. I started off by gluing some 5 thou sheet to the etch pieces. This makes life easier with alignment and gluing. I got lucky with the lower half of the clamp section snapping off, I had suspected that the step was a bit too tall, and so it was.
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If you're following along at home, here's how I did this:
1) Glue the top cross member in place. It sits more or less flush with the back of the hull.
2) Tack the vertical upper brace and dry fit the step assembly to see where the upper clamp should sit. Snapping this off might be a more sensible approach from the get go than trying to work it as a one piece deal. I ended up filing a hair off the top after gluing in place.
3) Tack the lower vertical brace, leaving enough of a gap for the step to go into the clamps.
4) Place the track tool in place and hold it down with your thumb and add the step. When the step is in place, slide the lower brace up as far as it goes to trap it. Apply more glue if necessary to the vertical braces.
5) Glue the track tool into place.
6) Add the bottom step mounts, again, glue some 5 thou onto the bottom. You will most likely need to shave off two bolts from the fenders. Do one set at a time, check alignment as you go.
7) Leave everything to set, then run some paint onto the bottom mounts and the clamp/step. That will hold them in place well enough.
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Added the top pieces to the tool clamps as well. I may have screwed up somewhere along the line. The clamps for the towing clevises are a bit shallow, so I had to induce a bend in the top strips. Still not sure if they're sitting proud or not. You'll notice I also added a "hinge" by super gluing stretched sprue on the back edge. Close enough I think. Glue over sized lengths, then trim. You might not be able to tell, but wing nuts were glued on as well. Added the spare wheel racks too, with requisite weld beads.
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Hopefully I get to do a bit more tomorrow. The plan is to have everything base coated by Friday. I've been told my next project is in the mail and should be here this week.
Kimmo