Utilising Midland and GWR coaches (of Ratio Manufacture) for ones own - London, Brighton & South Coast purposes.

[sem34090]

Good Evening, One and All,

 

I have recently taken it upon myself to decide to build up a spectacular fleet of coaching stock appropiate to a model of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, and having read the truly marvellous postings by Mr G. B. Luelightning of this parish, my curiosities regarding the Ratio Midland Railway coach kits has been aroused.

 

Kindest Regards,

 

E. Missenden

 

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Basically, I was wondering what is exactly involved in cutting and shutting the aforementioned kits, both the MR Bogies and the GWR 4-Wheelers (And the LNWR Ones?) into LBSCR, and possibly LSWR and SECR, coaches. As I understand it, the MR Bogie coache require little work to modify them to suit LBSCR use, but what era of LBSCR coach are we looking at? And what diagrams (Roughly!)?

 

Are the GWR, LNWR and MR Clerestories of any use for modelling the Southern companies?

 

All the best,

 

sem34090

[BlueLightning]

I attach a group of very cruel close ups of my push-pull driver showing some of the mods. I cannot remember the details and I don't have time to look them up as I need to get some sleep!! However I can look them up tomorrow. These sets were in "The Southern Way" Volume 11 if anyone else wants to look it up in the meantime!!!

 

I can also describe what I did at more length tomorrow when I'm not half asleep!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary

[sem34090]

Thanks Gary!

 

I imagine we can discuss this at length tomorrow! In the meantime, I suppose I'd better get some sleep if I stand any chance of getting up later on this morning!

 

 

E. Missenden

[Edwardian]

There is one Brighton diagram, a Third IIRC, which is certainly the same length and compartment spacing for a Ratio Midland suburban - I'll dig out the details at the weekend.

 

I'd swop the bogies for those on the Ratio LNWR kits because, again IIRC, the latter are 8' as opposed to 10' and could pass muster as a Fox bogie at need.

[BlueLightning]

I'd swop the bogies for those on the Ratio LNWR kits because, again IIRC, the latter are 8' as opposed to 10' and could pass muster as a Fox bogie at need.

 

Yes, this!! I completely forgot about this! I used the bogies from the Midland kit, but i remover 4mm from each side to make them 8' bogies, and after doing that, I would recommend using the LNWR ones!

 

Gary

 

EDIT: there is also a page that covers the basics of what needs doing in the "Pilot"  edition of Eric Gates (Burgandy)'s LBSCR Modellers Digest!! http://lbscr.org/Models/Journal/LBSCR-Modellers-Digest-0.pdf

Edited January 26, 2018 by BlueLightning

[Edwardian]

 

 

EDIT: there is also a page that covers the basics of what needs doing in the "Pilot"  edition of Eric Gates (Burgandy)'s LBSCR Modellers Digest!! http://lbscr.org/Models/Journal/LBSCR-Modellers-Digest-0.pdf

 

Whereas I had forgotten that!  Thanks, Gary.

[sem34090]

Thank you both: I was ignorant about both! I knew about the 'digest, but not of the article.

[drduncan]

Has anyone done a cut and cut of the Ratio MR clerestories into say an MR brake composite? If so how did you do it? Also what companys’ stock can use the Ratio suburban as a basis apart from SR constituents?

Duncan

[CKPR]

Has anyone done a cut and cut of the Ratio MR clerestories into say an MR brake composite? If so how did you do it? Also what companys’ stock can use the Ratio suburban as a basis apart from SR constituents?

Duncan

 

The Ratio MR suburban comp makes a very passable M&CR tri-compo with very little work bar new flat ends and new lamp tops.

[Edwardian]

Generally the Midland suburbans are unsuitable for most other coaches because of their unusually deep waist bands.  So in most case you will not find a very good match even where the compartment widths match.

 

Both Gary and the builder of Handcross have, nevertheless, fooled us, even though the two-tone livery ought to emphasis the discrepancy, into believing these are Brighton coaches, which only goes to show!

[Compound2632]

Generally the Midland suburbans are unsuitable for most other coaches because of their unusually deep waist bands.  So in most case you will not find a very good match even where the compartment widths match.

 

Both Gary and the builder of Handcross have, nevertheless, fooled us, even though the two-tone livery ought to emphasis the discrepancy, into believing these are Brighton coaches, which only goes to show!

 

Thank you for saying that, James. 

 

I'll refrain from further comment...

[sem34090]

Whilst the Midland coaches are not perfect - as has been discussed previously - they are close enough for many modellers and, in my given case, I can buy up to about four Ratio kits for the price of one Roxey! Also, being plastic, I have less concern about completely wrecking them!