Recently a good friend of mine picked up a fairly decent 'old school' Bachmann split chassis GWR Mogul.

 

In this instance the Collett cabbed later prototype version.

 

 

I said I would give it a service and make good any problem areas. 

 

Initially the model came in unlined economy BR green. Something 7327 carried in later life. The Bachmann green was a bit flat. I decided I would give it a makeover for him. 

 

I carefully removed the moulded on cabside numberplates as well as the smokebox numberplate. A new door strap was made up from Microstrip. 

 

The chimney was lopped off with the trusty Xuron's and the base made good. An Alan Gibson turned brass replacement was fitted having been sprayed with Halfords grey primer and satin black.

 

The smokebox was sprayed in with Tamiya matt black and the boiler, cab sides and tender received a coat of roughly applied Precision BR Green. This certainly lifted the patina.

 

Dapol spares available from Peter's Spares came up trumps with new sprung buffers, lamp irons and vacuum pipes. 

 

 

 

Wheel sides have been inked in with a black Sharpie. Valve gear with a silver Sharpie.

 

Steve at Railtec made me up a set of excellent 3D printed transfers for the cabside, smokebox numberplate and the shedcode plate for 81E Didcot.  A brilliant service and product if you have never tried it. Well recommended.

 

 

What started off as a reasonably running loco developed the wobbles from a chassis failure. Examining the wheelsets showed the dreaded split axles.

 

Thankfully, Peter's Spares produce replacement axles and gear for these split chassis Bachmann models. 

 

The parts arrived speedily once more from Peter's Spares and in a matter of no time using a OO Scale back 2 back gauge I had a sweet running chassis in both directions. As new...

 

 

I have started lining the loco and tender out with Fox Transfers lining. I have sealed this with Johnson's Kleer as I have gone along. 

 

 

Now my question is does anyone have a decent picture of the cabside lining on these Collett cabbed variants?

 

The horizontal upper lining start point is easy beneath the handrail but the separate vertical handrail throws out where I think the lining should go.

 

 

If anyone can help please get in touch.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark