This project is a culmination of two fascinations. First, to model some of the GWR’s excursions stock of the 1930s. Second, to dip my toe in the water of brass side/RTR coach conversions. 
 

The GWR entered the world of dedicated excursions stock in 1935, identifying the need for dedicated coach sets to take fans to the football, and families to the beach. The first (non-dining) open coaches built by the GWR since the clerestory period, open thirds, open brake thirds, and buffet coaches were ordered to form the sets. 
 

Such was the success of these sets, the GWR ordered further sets, albeit to slightly different coach diagrams. The final sets ordered before the Second World War comprised 28 C76 open thirds, 2 D126 open brake thirds (4 seating bays) and 2 D130 open brake thirds (5 seating bays). However, most entered service in wartime and likely never ran as formed sets but rather as general service vehicles. 

When I saw Bill Bedford offered the C76 & D130 brass coach sides, I ordered two of the former and one of the latter. With a slight trimming of the ends, these would be a perfect fit for the Mainline/Bachmann GWR Sunshine coaches as coach side conversions. 
 

The D130 was the first to be tackled, with a prototype surviving on the Severn Valley (No.650) providing excellent reference opportunities. An old Mainline E159 brake compo acted as the donor coach. 

The willing donor…

The brass sides are supplied flat, and the tumblehome needs to be formed, using the old “skirting board in a vice” method. 

Roof furniture is added and rearranged, and the solebar has steps added with styrene strip…

The coach ends are altered to match the prototype. 

The sides are primed, and the interior starts to take shape. 

Don’t forget the guards compartment! 

Then, my modelling mojo disappears for the best part of three years, with some brass-to-plastic adhesive issues along the way. 
 

Come May 2023, an urge returned to get this coach finished. So, et voila! 
 

For my first go at brass sides onto RTR, I’m pretty happy with the result, even if it took 3 years to outshop! The two C76’s will now follow, using Mainline C77’s as donors. 
 

The only disappointment is that this coach etch has an erroneous window on the right-hand van doors at the rear, which appears on both sides and is not found on the prototype. Perhaps I could have blocked this window up, but by time I’d noticed this I’d already painted the sides and didn’t want to unpick the work done. 
 

I’m not sure if the GWR returned to using fixed excursion sets after the war, so I’ll probably run my excursion coaches mixed in with other diagrams. Does anyone know for sure - can anyone comment? 

Hope this blog is of use and interest! 
 

Jon