In the home stretch.
Reassembly time. I am going to have to bolt the walkways from the inside so they have to go first. The bands are held in by the center walkway risers so the bolts have to pass through both.
I am using these blind bolts from the watch repair screws. They look good but are super tiny. Caveman hands do not like this fine work. Several new curse words were invented for this operation. The ends get a small drop of Elmer’s white glue to make sure they do not loosen over time. I like using the white glue because if I ever have to dismantle car I can peel it off easier than superglue or gasp,! E6K
The lower walkway nests in the bottom part of the tank with 3 screws securing it. Since I cut the internal supports out to seat the two new domes I have no way to screw the top and bottom halves of the tank body together. Gorilla clear glue to the rescue. Jobs a good’un.
I had planned on using the small glasses repair screws to attach the ladder bottom the same as I had done with the top but the plastic is to hard to let them thread in. I ended up drilling out the holes and bolting the bottoms to the lower walkway.
The handrails turned out to be a problem. The stanchions do not slide easily and the rails are in two pieces that join, hidden inside the center stanchion behind the ladder. A few more new curse words but I finally finessed them into place. They are secured with a small drop of superglue.
The next part was easy. Reattach the frame and connect the bands to their faux turnbuckles. Coupler boxes and trucks. I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
A small amount of judicious weathering and it is complete.
It is a cool car. I know BD wishes he had one and Rooster too but he will never admit it.
