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Can you tell what it is yet?

Barry Ten

Entry posted by Barry Ten

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To be honest, I wouldn't have started this Blue Pullman project had I known that Bachmann would be doing one in 2012. Back in 2007, though, when I started acquiring the bits, an RTR model seemed like a very remote possibility indeed. Even now, I can't see Bachmann ever considering a WR eight-car set being an economical proposition. A lot of modellers, myself included, would probably be happy with the MR formation (which, after all, did run on the WR anyway) - it ticks the BP box for me, and I'm sure Bachmann's model is going to be a stunner.

 

Still, in the words of Magnus Magnussen - I've started, so I'll finish.

 

Here's part of the formation under construction - two parlour seconds and a driving car. The parlours are all back to the front for the time being, since I need to find some clearance between the driving bogies and the (largely fictional) underframe detail. The driving car is running on black beetles. The bogies are Chris Leigh castings, the cabs are from Genesis, and the window inserts from Southern Pride. I currently have enough donor vehicles to do a 7 car set. With some moderate weighting, I hope that the black beetles will have enough grunt to shift the whole formation.

 

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A bit more of a quicky project - like, an evening's easy work - were these quick and dirty upgrades to the Hornby ex-Lima CCT. Finescale types look away now.

 

The main problem with this otherwise nice model (I remember being thrilled to bits with the original Lima one, when it appeared) was that Lima fitted their usual heavily flanged underscale wheels, and then Hornby merely substituted the correct diameter wheels without adjusting the ride height. The resultant tip-toe look means that the vehicles look a bit odd unless something is done about it, and even more incongruous in a formation of other vehicles. Looking for a low-tech bodge, I inserted Gibson shouldered axle bearings into the existing holes and then carefully melted them down a smidge using a soldering iron, applied sparingly and with constant correcting and cooling-off until a consistent ride-height was obtained. Once at the right height, the bearings were further adjusted to give free-rolling wheels. Et voila - not one for the purists, obviously, since the brake gear is still miles out, but at least they look OK in a train. With the models on the workbench, I also got the roofs off and inserted Shawplan lazer-glaze windows. I retained the original glazing (sawn off the roof mouldings) so as to provide the effect of bars behind the windows.

 

blogentry-6720-0-07027700-1323471187_thumb.jpg

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  • RMweb Gold
Captain Kernow
  • RMweb Gold

I inserted Gibson shouldered axle bearings into the existing holes and then carefully melted them down a smidge using a soldering iron, applied sparingly and with constant correcting and cooling-off until a consistent ride-height was obtained.

 

You, Sir, are a Hero of the First Order, definitely someone who knows no fear!

 

Excellent result, by the way - they do look good!

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BlackRat

A good idea to me, low tech fix, and if it looks right, then thats it!

 

They are still pretty good mouldings too, Lima could really get some things right, whilst other things......

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  • RMweb Gold
Barry Ten
  • RMweb Gold

Decided to re-position the front bogie of the BP back a bit, and spent the last two nights putting separate handrails on the driving units. Very tedious but worth it as the extra detail really lifts the mouldings, which are quite nicely done overall. I have to decide whether to do the same with the lifting rings on the roof.

 

You have to wonder why Triang cocked up the front so badly. I know there was a general requirement to have the buffer beam raised on Triang models, so that the coupling wouldn't foul when going up gradients, but why didn't they just leave off the coupling? I bet not many modellers ever coupled their BPs up to anything.

 

Next job is to wire the Black Beetles together and arrange for DCC compatibility, although I won't fit a decoder just yet. I'm pretty impressed with the BBs and the ease of fitting; I may order a couple more to go under some of my older DMU/railcars.

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JZ

I use two BBs in my 8-car set. I have placed them at the outer end of the 2nd class parlour cars.. Yet to add extra pick-ups and decoders. But when it was used on DC, it had no problems power wise.

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