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Yet another Work Bench - West Coast Mainline Focused


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So back in 2015 I started a project to scratch build a series of KFA units from taking Heljan cargowaggon flats and converting them over much like how it was done in protoype.

I have seen other to something similar in laser cut MDF but these looked to bulky to me and I looked into making everything from styrene.
I made all the uprights for one car and modified the top of the cargowaggon getting rid of the timber layer and replacing it with a smooth sheet of 0.5mm styrene that has been sprayed rusty brown to simulate the steel plate surface that seems to have replaced the timber judging by photo research.
I then handmade one Bulkhead end but then got these 3D printed to save time and help with consistency.
 

Below is the first prototype.

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It has since been a long time in doing anything with my projects as life in its usual way as gone off on a tangent. Lately though I have finally had a chance to get into my scratch building projects again.

 

Now I have been getting back into this project to make 15 KFA log carriers converted from cargowaggens. I have had the ends 3D printed and have hand built most if the stays and am now at the point of assembling the everything together.

 

In the shots below we can see that the pints came out pretty good although they needed a lot of cleaning which was easy enough by time consuming getting all the soft resin off. Then the just get a primer paint finish.

 
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Having now cleaned all the bulkheads it was time to create all the verticals of which I need 210 of them and with each having 11 parts to them that ends up being 2310 components to make!!!!.
Its a good thing I made a whole bunch of these earlier.

 

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Now that everything has been made it is time to paint it all...

 

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I have also been working on striping mk1/2s to repaint into a full length WCRC excursion based on the versions I have seen with the Cumbrian Mountain Express with Royal Scot 46115 Scots Guardsman on the front. I am still try to get the shade right as I am sure those that have also tried this it is very much a hit and miss affair as the colors in prototype are not all the same and every new cost they apply seem to be a different shade. Nothing like a good challenge though. Whilst waiting for the weather to improve to paint I have been working the on BSK support coach needed. Taking a Bachmann BSK and blocking out 2 windows and adding in a Larger opening for the Roller door to be installed.

This was done cutting infills out of 0.5 sheet styrene and fixing these in from behind using an epoxy. Then using a very fine filler I filled the surfaces on the outside of the coach letting dry. Then sanding it down with a fine 800 wet-n-dry and again with a 1200 wet-n-dry (wet this time) to really smooth out the finish. Now I just need the weather to behave.

 

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Next step:

Remove the factory up rights and take the wooden decks off the wagons and replace with 0.5 thick styrene sheet and spray the tops with a red brown paint to give a base coat of rusty brown for when we get to the weathering stage which will blend it all together. 

 

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Well now every wagon has had the bulkheads fixed on and the vertical struts fixed down. Next step will be weathering all of them which will hopefully be something that can be done this weekend as the weather is looking good for it.


 


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Well now comes the "fun" stuff with making the finer details like the handrails that sit on the side of the bulkhead. Time to put on a good series and get the tweezers out. I found some .25mm nickel silver wire which is just about the right size for handrails in my reckoning. After making 30 of these with 2 spare I will paint them white tonight and fix them in place once dry.


 


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Also I have seen in pictures that after they added the holes in the bulkhead to allow air through that they have later added struts across the holes to prevent logs flying out. Just as well as from these photos several have been broken and bent outwards as a result of sliding logs. So looked for the smallest styrene strip I could find from Evergreen which happened to be 0.01mm by 0.25mm and cut up several lengths into 4/6/8mm lengths to go over the holes in the bulkheads. Simply gluing them onto the back where the joins will be weathered over helping loose them in the rust.


 


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Completely outwith my period, but excellent modelling/bodging.

If only the complainers on here had a go instead of moaning that they can't open a box and drop something straight on the layout.

 

Mike.

Thank you Mike. You get more satisfaction when you personalise your rolling stock or at least more enjoyment as you are more involved. What do you model?

 

Regards

Rand

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So this weekend I had a slight opening weather-wise and as such took the opportunity to paint the coaches I have set aside for my WCRC excursion train. It took a bit to get the color right but I think I got pretty close. This week I will be starting to apply all the decals which I go from Railtec.                                        

 

These have all been stripped using IPA in a Spaghetti Container which doubles nicely as an overnight bath for the Coaches. Using a tooth brush I scrubbed off the paint and decals and then using a 1200 fine wet N dry just smoothed the surface before painting.

 

All up there will be 11 coaches all up in the following Running Numbers:

 

 

BSK Mk1 80217 BCK Mk1 99304 TSO Mk1 5032 TSO Mk1 4940 RMB Mk1 1860 TSO Mk2 5237 Pullman Mk1 99350 Maroon Pullman Mk1 Julia Pullman Mk1 Alexandria SK Mk1 99722 Pullman Mk1 Diana

 

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So I have been Adding some of the EOT lamps from DCCconcetps onto some of my wagons. These fit onto the wagons pretty easily coming with spring pick-ups, wire, lamps, flashing device and a reed switch with magnets in case you wanted have a automatic switch on the layout that turns the lamp on and off. I see no need for the reed switch as in real life the lamp is always and on the train.
Having said that these lamps look pretty prototypical when installed and have a nice flash rate when running along. I have installed the wiring in the container in this example which is a IKA flat with 48' container permanently mounted on the wagon. I have also fitted these lamps onto a MEA, FEA and FLA wagons.

 

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Have now got the first 4 Coach sides decaled. Next step is to paint the coach ends and roofs where necessary before placing the sides back on the chassis.

 

 

 

They look amazing. Any idea what is going to be at the front (and dare I say back) of these?

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On a side note I updated the tower case for my computer and this left me with a spare tower with no real use. Then I had a thought, which is dangerous I'll admit, about converting the tower for a new use. Up to date I have been doing all my weathering outside as I didn't have a way of venting the fumes outside from indoors. I didn't have the space or cash to buy or make a spray booth for my weathering projects. Now that I am going to be doing this more often I wanted to move this inside so I wouldn't be at the mercy of the prevailing weather of the day.
With this back story I looked at the computer tower I had spare and had the idea of converting this into a spray booth. It has 4 sides, a top and a base. I have removed one side panel which will be the access side and removed the front aesthetic panel to have access to the front grill which is where I have attached a 200mm extraction fan. I then lined the sides with canvas to absorb any off spray and placed a nice bit of timber in the base to spray on. All I need now is to find a lazy Susan.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
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 SK Mk1 99722

 

 

Hi Rand,

Hope you are well.

How goes it back in Oz?

 

The WCRC fleet is a bit of a minefield - 99722 has been converted to a SO.

 

Cheers,

Mick

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Hi Rand,

Hope you are well.

How goes it back in Oz?

 

The WCRC fleet is a bit of a minefield - 99722 has been converted to a SO.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Hey Mick,

I am doing well and just keeping busy here with little projects. How is that new layout coming along?

I get the impression that the entire WCRC fleet is a hit and miss affair. If it really bugs you I can renumber it just for you =P. What would be a suitable number in that case?

 

I see the new TPE livery for the 68s is now revealed. 

 

Regards 

Rand

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Hey Mick,

I am doing well and just keeping busy here with little projects. How is that new layout coming along?

I get the impression that the entire WCRC fleet is a hit and miss affair. If it really bugs you I can renumber it just for you =P. What would be a suitable number in that case?

 

I see the new TPE livery for the 68s is now revealed. 

 

Regards 

Rand

 

Hi Rand,

Layout slowly moving along.

I don't think there's any "proper" SK's left in WCRC fleet - they've had the corridor stripped out and converted to open seating. They've also done the same with some FKs - 13320 springs to mind.  Best plan may be to try and obtain a SO interior and chop to fit.

 

Cheers,

Mick

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Hi Rand,

Layout slowly moving along.

I don't think there's any "proper" SK's left in WCRC fleet - they've had the corridor stripped out and converted to open seating. They've also done the same with some FKs - 13320 springs to mind.  Best plan may be to try and obtain a SO interior and chop to fit.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Thanks Mick. I will look into that.

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  • 3 weeks later...

As per usual life will through unexpected things in your way what has meant progress on some of the modelling project has slowed down. However, The carriages are getting there with the first 2 more or let done and another 2 just needed the detail to be painted on the bogies.


 


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I am now working on finishing the TSO Mk2 Carriage (Bachmann) and the 2x TSO Mk1 Carriages (Hornby).

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  • 4 weeks later...

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