Hi All
New to posting on the forum have been busy reading and looking at the efforts of others. There are some outstanding models and really good tips that have been a godsend as I embark on the D51 build.
First time for me on a locomotive and also on a brass / metal model, mostly been plastic and wooden kit builds to date.
First time using epoxy, read a few horror stories but in the main i'm coping with it ok, the tips to use cocktail sticks and apply liberally were sound advice.
The model its self truly does not disappoint, well packaged, the parts i've received to date are precise, fit together well and I can see this is going to turn into a epic model and I'm certainly going to have the usual fun and frustration building it.
Here are my efforts in building the first few stages, once again would like to thank you guys for all those little tips that make building the model a lot easier than it otherwise would be for me.

You're gonna have fun with this build. They start you nice and easy and you learn a lot as you go along. I too didn't know anything really about building models when I started this one and now I'm building 5 of them at the same time, including a wooden ship.

You might want to make your pictures a little smaller, the forum doesn't handle big pictures too well unfortunately.

Nicely done, its a great build have fun with her

I prefer the look of the painted versions, my painting skills aren't great though, never done airbrushing before but willing to give it a go.

Update on how the build is going, don't have the small socket tool so improvised with a pair of long nosed pliers and span the piece, tightened with the small spanner provided. Epoxy on the shaft and fitted onto the frame.

More screws on the next stage, nothing difficult here just a matter of lining up the holes and having a magnetised screwdriver

The pick up tool makes quick work of the tiny rivets...happy I got one too. Your build is looking good.

Looking great. You're right at where I am too.

I've had a lot of success with the rivets after I put them in the supplied tray. Apparently the tray slightly magnetized them and I could just dangle them from one end of my pliers and simply drop them in the holes. Took 10 minutes total.

Looking at other builds, early on I have decided to paint, whilst the brass versions look great I think paint really makes this stand out... One problem - my painting skills!
Anyway here goes, always glad of advice and thanks to those who have gone before for the ideas on paints to use it has been really helpful.
I started with the wheels, I'm using white vinegar to degrease, everything gets a thorough clean. Then onto prime, here I have used cambrush primer, finished it gives a shiny plastic look but a great surface to paint on.
I found myself over applying in a couple of areas and got a couple of runs, put this right with a bit of sanding back and reapplication.
Pictures show one set primed and the other set finished using Railmatch weathered black acrylic. Need to clean up a couple of areas around the edge but I'm still wrestling with the dilemma of painting the tyre in. Think I will on one set and see how it looks on the frame with the other bits in Situ.

Front section and steam box primed for paint.