Complicated Repair and Upgrade of a Brass Van Hobbies 2-6-0

Sometimes you encounter a repair where just about everything that could possibly go wrong does, in fact, go wrong. For some background, this HO 2-6-0 from Van Hobbies (Samhongsa) had custom work done on it years ago. Some of the mechanical work wasn't exactly the best, but the original owner who passed away was a well-respected member of his club and friend of the model's new owner, so I wanted to be sure that everything was repaired as well as I could get it! There were plenty of frustrations with practically everything going wrong at some point, but months later, it finally turned out to be a good runner!