Thanks Andy, sorry to hear of your ailment and hope your are fully back to sound health and comfort very quickly.
Yes, like you, I had realised some time back that these pieces [with their very tight fit] will need special attention. Mine has a 1.2mm thread in both ends of the handrail and this will act like a captivated bolt, hence fitted from the other side to pull it into place. The holes just have to be drilled..........
......however, with the Covid 19 situation, the gardener I had just employed to do my 'small patches' has to remain at home. Thankfully he had given the front and back gardens a high and medium cut last week [first cut after the winter - ha, ha], so the biggest job done. I will now have to keep this going until matters return to 'normal'. I cut both yesterday [it's like summer down here] and attempted a little edging and pruning, but my hip and back gave up!! So, time for modelling very slightly reduced, just after I had started to make progress. That's life though. A few thoughts later tonight though.
Take care, Kim