There is a fine line separating encouragement from goading. I’m pretty sure Rob Kirkham didn’t cross it, but his assistance in interpreting the Bachmann drawings in an attempt to figure out how this engine might come apart was inspiring. He helped me realize that I wouldn’t be happy with elongated running boards on 1120.
I still haven’t taken the engine apart, but emboldened by my success with cutting off the domes, I wrapped even more masking tape around the model, and embraced my inner Dremel hand model. The existing running boards had about a half-millimetre gap just above the cylinders, which meant I didn’t need to get all the way to the boiler with the Dremel. As it happened, there was no way I could, but I could get far enough to finish the job with side-cutters. Riffler filing the ragged ends smooth took the better part of an hour, but by then there was no way back. So, I persisted, and came up with a product that is much closer to the prototype.
Pembroke:87 
Happy to “help”, lol. The running board length matters to me – I guess disproportionately from this distance, but it brings back memories. When I was 4 or 5 years old, the stuffed & mounted CP 374 was still on display (without a fence) at Kitsilano Beach. Back then, us little kids would climb up the tender, run over it to the loco cab and then out the fireman’s side door along the running board. Here is where it got tricky – as the running board ended short and we would step onto the steam chests. But over time (it had been on display about 20 years at this point), the steam chests rusted-out and broke through on top. This hazard slowed us down as we traversed to the pilot and back to the cab on the other side, and I was wary about cutting my leg on the rusted metal opening. But it also bothered me that it wasn’t protected, and years later I was glad they restored the cosmetic appearance of the engine. Anyhow, when you mentioned the short running boards on your loco, it brought it all back. Very glad to see GTR 1120 with the short running boards!
That’s a great story!