Dapol Stanier Coach Detailing-Part 1
One of those projects I've had sat on the workbench for a while were a couple of those Dapol Stanier coach kits which I wanted to detail. The composite offers the missing link in Hornby's range of Stanier coaches. I'm no expert on LMS coaches but hopefully these modification will bring these 1970's models up to date.
I think I'm right in saying that Airfix/Dapol got the battery box on the wrong side of the Brake 3rd so I modified this as per one of Coachman's threads on modifying/using the Dapol kits. On the Composite I replaced the moulding with a Comet white metal casting. Comet also supplied the brake cylinders, dynamos, cross bracing and regulators. Hopefully everything is stuck where it should be? Using these components is a vast improvement and brings the underframe to life. Buffers are also from Comet. The underframes and bogies have been painted using Halfords grey primer and Satin black.
Moving on to the bodyshells I used Valejo biege which believe it or not is an exact match for the Dapol 'Cream' to paint in the window ledges, The printed numbers were removed using a glass fibre pen and I need to gently blow over these areas with some Railmatch Crimson, The sides have received a coat of brush applied Johnsons Klear to add some lustreto the finish.. I've also applied the grey panels on the luggage compartment doors on the brake using Tamiya acrylic paint. Flush windows have been made up for the rear of the brake and I'm replacing the toilet windows too with new ones. I think Airfix/Dapol have got too many frosted windows on the brake.
On the ends of the coaches I've removed the moulded handrails/water fillers and made replacements up with wire and short handrail knobs. These will go on once everything is back together again. I also masked off the ends and gave them a coat of Halfords grey primer and satin black.
Roof wise the kits plastic vents were replaced with MJT shell vents and the moulded water filler pipes were cut off the composite, whilst for ease the ones on the brake were left. Following a coat of primer I preshaded the roof with Tamiya Nato black before spraying over a Tamiya medium grey. This has worked well but I need to add further washes/dry brush areas on the roof to add definition.
Thats where we are at present. Once the windows are finished its a case of adding the window bars in the luggage compartment of the brake, adding numbers and weathering them both.
Does anyone know of the number series of these coaches? I believe the Brake Third is a D1905 but I'm not sure about the Composite.
Cheers,
Mark
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