Hi Pete, Just come across your blog.

I'm very interested to know which manufacturer's kit you made this EPB from. Old Lugger and myself have been pondering on EPBs this week. He is making a No Nonsense kit. Is yours the DC Kits BR design? What will be the final livery/period for your model?

Colin Parks

Hi Pete, Just come across your blog.

 

I'm very interested to know which manufacturer's kit you made this EPB from. Old Lugger and myself have been pondering on EPBs this week. He is making a No Nonsense kit. Is yours the DC Kits BR design? What will be the final livery/period for your model?

 

Colin Parks

Colin,

Mine is indeed the DC Kits Mk1 version. It will be in c1970 condition - blue with full yellow ends as I have very early memories of SUB and EPB units in this condition. The Bil will be in early 1960s green.

Hi Pete,

You mention a 2 BIL. I'd like to see a photo of that! I have just finished mine, although not completely satisfied yet with the running on the Black Beetle motor bogie.

Have you considered making a pre-war 2HAL? Branchlines have all the bits (apart from the Kirk 2 BIL kit!). I think it could be done without the Kirk plastic kit parts and scratchbuilding those 'missing parts' instead. 2BILs and 2HALs commonly ran together.

Colin Parks

Hi Pete,

 

You mention a 2 BIL. I'd like to see a photo of that! I have just finished mine, although not completely satisfied yet with the running on the Black Beetle motor bogie.

Have you considered making a pre-war 2HAL? Branchlines have all the bits (apart from the Kirk 2 BIL kit!). I think it could be done without the Kirk plastic kit parts and scratchbuilding those 'missing parts' instead. 2BILs and 2HALs commonly ran together.

 

Colin Parks

Colin,

The Bil is in some of the earlier posts - blogs are latest post first, ordinary topics are latest post last for some obscure reason.........

I've been toying with the idea of a pre-war HAL, but haven't done anything yet. There seem to be 3 options - the hard to get hold of and slightly crude Phoenix kit, the Branchlines conversion for the also hard to get hold of Kirk 2-Bil, and the massively expensive and slightly wonky looking Ajay resin kit.

And I could always start a wish list

Using the Branchlines bits without the Kirk kit sounds interesting though. I'm guessing it's a set of brass body overlays and detailing parts?

Colin,

 

The Bil is in some of the earlier posts - blogs are latest post first, ordinary topics are latest post last for some obscure reason.........

 

I've been toying with the idea of a pre-war HAL, but haven't done anything yet. There seem to be 3 options - the hard to get hold of and slightly crude Phoenix kit, the Branchlines conversion for the also hard to get hold of Kirk 2-Bil, and the massively expensive and slightly wonky looking Ajay resin kit.

 

And I could always start a wish list

 

Using the Branchlines bits without the Kirk kit sounds interesting though. I'm guessing it's a set of brass body overlays and detailing parts?

Yes Pete, sorry I've not replied to your question before now, it's been hard to get on the system. I agree with your analysis of the kit situation for 2 HALs. I'm still thinking about the Branchlines 2 HAL option, but it would mean an all-brass body and roof (Branchlines sell a 'Universal' roof with etched fold lines on the back). Of course, there is a rumour of a ready to run 2 BIL from Hornby. We could stick the Branchlines' etched sides on that instead couldn't we?!

Colin,

It occurred to me that it might be possible to use the Hornby Maunsell body as a base for the Branchlines parts. It's the right profile but is too short.

The only Hal drawing I have to hand is the highly suspect one in the recent Gouding book on EMUs, but it looks as though the Hal body minus it's domed roof cab is about the same length as the 59' loco hauled coach.

New flat inner ends and a domed cab roof would be needed.

Peter

Colin,

 

It occurred to me that it might be possible to use the Hornby Maunsell body as a base for the Branchlines parts. It's the right profile but is too short.

 

The only Hal drawing I have to hand is the highly suspect one in the recent Gouding book on EMUs, but it looks as though the Hal body minus it's domed roof cab is about the same length as the 59' loco hauled coach.

New flat inner ends and a domed cab roof would be needed.

 

Peter

Hi Pete,

There are quite a lot of suspect drawings about!

I have thought about the 2 HAL and might shelve th project for now. The SR designed EPB is much more suitable for my project. Have you built a No-Nonsense kit before? Old Lugger has one of their kits fot the EPB and it looks just right - if a little costly.

Colin Parks

I've never tried one of their full kits - I'm tempted by the HAP and SUB though. At the rate I build EMUs cost isn't really an issue - I'll get many hours of entertainment for my ??100+

If the etched bits are anything to go by, then they must be pretty good.

Next projects are to be a couple of electro-diesels. A DC kits 74 and a detailed Hornby 73/0.

I've never tried one of their full kits - I'm tempted by the HAP and SUB though. At the rate I build EMUs cost isn't really an issue - I'll get many hours of entertainment for my ??100+

 

If the etched bits are anything to go by, then they must be pretty good.

 

Next projects are to be a couple of electro-diesels. A DC kits 74 and a detailed Hornby 73/0.

Dear Pete,

I agree that there are many hours of fun to be had making EMU kits. There are some people who quote seven or eight hours to put a 2 BIL together - I'm not one of those and nor are you! The N.N. Bulleid style EPB looks to be of very high quality, although I was surprised that wire held with split pins should be suggested for the roof conduit.

The Hornby class 73 is certainly worth a go. I spent a great deal of time on chopping up the chassis detail between the bogies and creating a 3-D set of underframe components. Mine is repainted from the Fragonset 'Spitfire' model which gives an easily prepared black undercoat for the BR blue livery once the printed names, logos and numbers are removed. Order your set of Ultrascale wheels now if you want it running this year! (They can supply 13mm dia. replacement wheelsets which only require the removal of a small amount of plastic on the motor bogie moulding to accomodate the flanges). The Ultrascale wheels made a lot of difference to the running and appearance of my 73. Out of the box, the model won't run on code 75 track, at least not SMP bullhead.

The constuction of a DC Kits class 74 was subject of an article in BRM a few years ago. Watch out for the bogies, they seem to be tricky..

Colin