lofty1966 Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 (edited) The preamble A while ago I purchased four Hornby Auto trailers. Two were in excellent condition whilst the other two were damaged. One of the damaged ones was an easy fix whilst the other had a roof split in two places along nearly 2/3rds of its length and the driving end was also split into three with broken windows. I originally didn't want to do much so glued in a new set of windows to strengthen the end, hand painted the cream top section and renumbered it. The roof never went back on properly which bugged me so when I managed to get another bodyshell and roof off Ebay, I decided I would ditch the old one. Well , before the new body went on it had to be repainted to GWR colours as I bought a BR maroon one. So whilst that had to be done why not modify it to an A28 diagram ? Conversion mostly done , my thoughts turned to what to do with the old shell? I was gonna bin it but couldn't bring myself to do it (waste not, want not) Sooooo into Russell's coach book vol. 2 I dived and in a moment of madness I realised with a major hack session I could probably fashion an A27. So onto my bandsaw I went to produce this Oh dear..... But then morphed into this Next the drivers doors were cut out and swapped sides and glued in Then the huge sanding op commenced A coat of primer a slight re filling and some more sanding and another coat of primer produced this (under frame is for the A28) A comparison on the different lengths of the Diagrams Which is the end of part one Edited October 18, 2016 by lofty1966 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted October 18, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 18, 2016 (edited) I'm really impressed! I have contemplated doing the same, but haven't been brave enough to take this step! I will watch with interest, good luck. Kind regards, Nick. Edited October 18, 2016 by Brinkly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Your bravery award is in the post! Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Thanks Chaps. Think it maybe more stupidity than brave but onwards we go.... Part 2 Being a glutton for punishment i felt i had to cut the windows into the luggage compartment Then the drivers doors need hinges 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandc_au Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Lofty, I certainly wouldn't say stupid at all! I am doing an A10 by the same method using 2 of these bodies. A) It's fun. B) it gets you the version of an autocoach that you want. C) it hones your modelling skills even further. Looking forward to more updates. Khris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) Lofty, I certainly wouldn't say stupid at all! I am doing an A10 by the same method using 2 of these bodies. A) It's fun. B) it gets you the version of an autocoach that you want. C) it hones your modelling skills even further. Looking forward to more updates. Khris I find I get obsessed with the work and frustrated when it doesn't go according to plan.Often my skills don't match my ambition! A10 ? That sounds interesting ! Any pics ? Edited October 19, 2016 by lofty1966 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yan Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 This is looking good. I've never been happy with my RTR Autocoach that is sitting in a box somewhere. Watching you come through the pain barrier is encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to post your techniques and progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandc_au Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 I find I get obsessed with the work and frustrated when it doesn't go according to plan. Often my skills don't match my ambition! A10 ? That sounds interesting ! Any pics ? There are a couple of early ones here: http://oomodelling.blogspot.com.au/ Given I am modelling late 30's I am fortunate enough to be able to do smooth sided. Have to update blog so may take some pics tomorrow and post. Khris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted October 20, 2016 Author Share Posted October 20, 2016 Looks quite the project. You are silhouette cutting the panel overlays i presume ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 Managed to get a coat of cream on late last night and then a coat of brown this evening 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted October 21, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 21, 2016 Looks interesting. I used to be a shareholder in one! guards end cab boarded up, a bit rotten, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 Current state of play. Painted and lined out then a quick coat of matt varnish. Wasn't happy with one of the joints in the body so rubbed it down and touched it in. Couldn't find any brass wire in my supplies (I know I have some but no idea where its hiding)! So waiting for an excuse to drive the 120 mile round trip to nearest stockist. I also discovered that all my auto trailer chassis have already been modified to correct A28 or A30 configurations so have bought (yet another) scrappy auto trailer of Ebay to pinch the chassis from ! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted December 24, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 24, 2016 I've considered this, but am unsure about the 'set' of the 7' bogies; are they the correct distance in from the end of the coach, by which I mean is the distance between the bogie pivot and the headstock correct? If not, the finished coach will look a bit odd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted December 24, 2016 Author Share Posted December 24, 2016 I've considered this, but am unsure about the 'set' of the 7' bogies; are they the correct distance in from the end of the coach, by which I mean is the distance between the bogie pivot and the headstock correct? If not, the finished coach will look a bit odd.The wheelbase matches up to Russells drawings but they sit too far in for the tension lock couplings to be used.You have to fashion an extender bar oruse another form of coupling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham456 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 I have wondered for a while now, when people slice up coaches,how do you keep the saw vertical? Miter saw block and razor saw? But my block is to small I have a miter saw but the blade is to course, can you get a miniature one ? Gosh midnight....Merry Christmas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted December 25, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 25, 2016 The wheelbase matches up to Russells drawings but they sit too far in for the tension lock couplings to be used. You have to fashion an extender bar oruse another form of coupling. Wasn't expecting a response as quick as that at xmas; thanks lofty. If Russell says it's ok that's good enough for me, so once I buy a baccy A38, one of my antediluvian airfix pair will be withdrawn from service pending surgery to make it an A27. The next move when that is done (I've got a layout to finish in the midst of all this bashing) will be to have a go at scratch building an A7 or A9 matchboarded one. I'm not the world's most accomplished scratch builder, but everything on these is vertical and the windows are square so I don't have to worry about getting the corners right, and even I might be able to cobble together something reasonable... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 I have wondered for a while now, when people slice up coaches,how do you keep the saw vertical? Miter saw block and razor saw? But my block is to small I have a miter saw but the blade is to course, can you get a miniature one ? Gosh midnight....Merry Christmas When I sliced and diced the A27 I used a Bandsaw and the 90° sliding fence. Luckily the thickness of the blade was perfect on several of the cuts so just a careful run through and a deburr and then join. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted October 19, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 19, 2017 (edited) Can I ask a really newbie kind of question?: Where do you experts get your information from? How do you know the detailed differences between A27, A28 and A30 diagrams, and where can I find that info to look at for myself? I've had a bit of a poke around on t'interweb and although I can see a few useful bits and pieces, nothing really definitive yet. Thanks. BTW: I see lots of missing "Photobucket" images above. Do you see the same problem? Edited October 19, 2017 by Harlequin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Can I ask a really newbie kind of question?: Where do you experts get your information from? How do you know the detailed differences between A27, A28 and A30 diagrams, and where can I find that info to look at for myself? I've had a bit of a poke around on t'interweb and although I can see a few useful bits and pieces, nothing really definitive yet. Thanks. BTW: I see lots of missing "Photobucket" images above. Do you see the same problem? There are books. The two good ones dealing with auto trailers are "Great Western Auto Trailers" by John Lewis and published by Wild Swan. Part 1 covers trailers built by and for the GWR prior to 1923, Part 2 those built post 1923, those converted from steam rail motors and trailers inherited from companies absorbed by the GWR at the Grouping. John Lewis has knowledge of things GWR second to none and I can forgive him for deciding to call the shade of red adopted by BR maroon instead of crimson! Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted October 21, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 21, 2017 There are books. The two good ones dealing with auto trailers are "Great Western Auto Trailers" by John Lewis and published by Wild Swan. Part 1 covers trailers built by and for the GWR prior to 1923, Part 2 those built post 1923, those converted from steam rail motors and trailers inherited from companies absorbed by the GWR at the Grouping. John Lewis has knowledge of things GWR second to none and I can forgive him for deciding to call the shade of red adopted by BR maroon instead of crimson! Chris I'm sure they are excellent books. Part 1 is readily available but Part 2 (the one I'm more interested in) is out of print and I can't find a copy anywhere on the web. (And I'm a bit concerned about the potential cost of the book, when only some of the info would be useful to me.) The great western archive website has a pretty good image of Diagram A 26 but not the ones I'm looking for (27, 28, 30). I wonder why more of the raw info, which must be out of copyright by now, is not on the web somewhere for everyone to use for free??? I have one more good lead to follow up, though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbowilts Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 Question from a new follower of this thread:- Any chance you can sort out the missing photos? It would be more useful for us newcomers TIA Tim T Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 I'm sure they are excellent books. Part 1 is readily available but Part 2 (the one I'm more interested in) is out of print and I can't find a copy anywhere on the web. (And I'm a bit concerned about the potential cost of the book, when only some of the info would be useful to me.) I tend to look upon such purchases as an investment but I accept that others may not. Have you thought of seeing whether a copy may be found via inter-library loan, if such a scheme still exists? Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted October 21, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 21, 2017 Have you thought of seeing whether a copy may be found via inter-library loan, if such a scheme still exists? Chris Searching your local library catalogue can reap rewards, I've currently got on loan a volume by J H Russell which hadn't been out of the Derbyshire Libraries Central Store for about 10 years. Cost me a small fee to get it sent to my nearest branch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 Question from a new follower of this thread:- Any chance you can sort out the missing photos? It would be more useful for us newcomers TIA Tim T I will see what I can do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lofty1966 Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 This is the best I can do. My 'pooter' skills are poor and I can't be @#$ed to redo all the cutting out of the photobucket pix and inserting the new RMweb uploads. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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