Springs

 

Nearly there. A quick clean up of the buffers shanks and they bolt stright in with the accompanying spring. It's a few minutes very satisfying work. 

The couplings though. The theory is simple, but the nut doesn't quite fit between the chassis strengtheners. And if it doesn't fit, you can't do it up. 

So, there was a fair bit of carving away to make this work, but eventually I managed to get some clearance so it could be done up to the end of the thread in the hook casting. I considered a few bodges, but in G1, the hook really should be sprung. It might look pretty, but you can't see when the van is on its feet.

Actually, I seem to remember the same issue on the O gauge version. I should have learned.