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Improving the Bachmann 150


The Fatadder

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Another project started (yes I know I havent finished the last one but........)

 

I mentioned this earlier when I started looking at rewheeling it, but now I've got on with the much more important task of the actual detailing.

 

As mentioned before the plan here is to cover:

  • Minor chassis improvements (adding extra pipes etc to match that added to the 153)
  • Rebuilding the driving ends chassis to get rid of the large chassis block and over the top AWD drive system, instead going with an underfloor motorbogie at one end (havent decided if I will rewheel an existing blackbeetle to P4 or have a play with some of the alternative systems available) Once this is out of the way I then plan on fitting a full inertia
  • Detail the inertia with correct seat colours etc along with inertia lighting
  • Modify the lighting units to get day/night operation + the fitting of door open lights. (while this is a feature I really want on the layout, at the moment it does come under the 'dont like doing electrics so will do it later' category...
  • Renumber to 150232, this requires adding the Wessex Trains logos (which will have to be commissioned), new numbers for the ends/sides along with new destinations
  • Replace the windows with correct clear ones, and replace the window frames with Jim S-W's etch

It is on the last part that I have started today,

First of all, unfortunately Bachmann have taken the "how much glue can we cram into the loco" approach to gluing the windows into position, making them rather difficult to shift. Given that for today's work I really wanted to get a window out for testing sizes etc of the replacements, I did want to keep it on one piece (just incase this dosnt work!)

Thankfully after trying each individual window I found one which was slightly less well glued in than the rest, and with some careful work with the scalple managed to get the windows out.

 

Matching up etch with window it does look like the hole on the model is a tiny bit short, so some further work is going to be required to get the new windows to fit, the next step is going to be getting hold of some of Shawplan's laser cut glazing to test fit in position...

Assuming that goes ok the final job is going to be carefully cutting away the raised beading from around the window so that the etch can sit flush onto the bodyside, and painting the surround of the frame Regional Railways blue (another 'fun' job!)

 

For comparison I have attached a photo showing the etched window on the left and the Bachmann attempt on the right.

blogentry-0-12567540602369_thumb.jpg

 

EDIT:

 

In response to Jim's comment below I have attached a close up image showing the Bachmann window in comparason with the etch. As can be seen all of the detail around the opening part of the window is missing from Bachmann's along with the rubber seal around the lower part.

 

blogentry-54-12568172430562_thumb.jpgblogentry-54-12568172446262_thumb.jpg

3 Comments


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  • RMweb Gold

That frame looks pretty good. Is it a J S-W etch? I'm intreagued about the Shawplan 'laser cut glazing'. Tell me more!

 

 

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Guest jim s-w

Posted

Hi Rich

 

Do you have a close up of the window? I am interested in how much difference there actually is.

 

Shawplans windows with my etch on a Bratchell 150

 

file.php?id=90055

 

Cheers

 

Jim

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  • RMweb Gold

Jim, have attached a couple of photos which should show it. on the Bachmann one the blue suround to the window is part of the model though...

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