I received the test etch back from the etchers and after a family holiday (Lisbon – hot but great and with fab trams – see below………) I have had a chance to look at it.

I still have some things to learn, as where I have drawn things up at 4mm the smaller elements have come out a bit fine.  so things like the framing around spectacle plates or the cross to the centre of the brackets is a bit too delicate to use.  Also, I made a number of the fold lines and the holes are a bit too small so need to be drilled out.  Thus, whilst the 4mm ones are usable, they can be done better so I am going to edit the etch.

I also included the signal arms etch at 7mm and this is much better.  Whilst one or two elements would benefit from a slight redraft, it is definitely usable and therefore I am just in the process of some 7mm modelling (excommunication from the Scalefour Society?).   I’ll get some posts up when I can get it a bit further.

In the meantime, I have also managed to have a bash at some 3-D modelling on CAD to get some finials made up.  The idea will be to do an initial set via 3-D printing and then to use these to make some lost wax castings.  Whilst these are available via MSE as a whitemetal casting, they are very delicate and will last very little time in my clumsy mits.  I will do a lamp via the same route for the same reason.

Anyway, this is what the 3-D model looks like (actually the final version has a sprue coming of the top to support the top of the finial but it rather blocks out what it is you are looking at):

And to give a flavour of the trams in Lisbon: