Stoke Courtenay

[checkrail]

Final comments on my experience with the D121 build.  First time I've used Comet parts and was a bit puzzled by a couple of things.  The first was the length of the etched sides, which I had to shorten quite a bit with razor saw, files etc.   I did this at the van end where there was enough blank space.  But why were they so long in the first place?  Russell has the D121 as 69 ft 11 1/4 inches (61 foot, near as dammit), and the C77 and E159 subjects of the Bachmann coaches exactly the same.  And the Bachmann models are exactly 244mm long. Don't quite understand.  Am I missing something here?

 

 

The other thing is that the Comet instructions have a drawing of the coach end complete with steps and handrails and states that. "the ends are identical".  I think this must be wrong.  Perusal of Russell suggests that by this period steps and handrails were only provided where there was a roof tank to access, so the van end should be plain.  But by the time I realised this I'd applied the sides to the body and didn't want to risk damaging the coach trying to carve off the steps.  Might do this carefully in due course.  But I did omit the handrail at this end!

 

 

Hmm, I see from the second of these pics that there's a bit of a gap at the compartment end, so another delicate little job with some filler and paint touch-up.  Be nice if you could get black filler.  Whenever I finish a coach I feel a slight dissatisfaction that I haven't executed it as well as I would have wished, and vaguely consider starting it again.  But once seen running by in a train at normal viewing distance these thoughts fade away and I accept the result as a decent 'layout coach'.

 

 

John C.

[Coach bogie]

Comet sides have been overlength from the start of Comet. I used to buy from Malcolm when he was alive and he told me it was deliberate as they were all originally intended only for RTR coaches which could vary in length. It gave the builder more options with donor bodies as there was not a huge range of rtr coaches available when they started. My first Comet sides went on BSL body kits as BSL were readily available from several retailers.

 

My last Comet was a K38  full brake which went on a Hornby suburban Collett. Took two evenings. Back when Comet started the only option would be what is now the Railroad Colletts which came with mk1 bogies at the time and would have taken a couple of weeks to convert.

 

Mike Wiltshire.

[checkrail]

Thanks Mike.  That all makes sense now.

[Barry Ten]

Fine work, John, and very inspiring.

 

I've only used Centenary sides on RTR donor vehicles and I think they're the right length as supplied (at least, I don't remember having to do any trimming).

[St Enodoc]

10 hours ago, Coach bogie said:

Comet sides have been overlength from the start of Comet. I used to buy from Malcolm when he was alive and he told me it was deliberate as they were all originally intended only for RTR coaches which could vary in length. It gave the builder more options with donor bodies as there was not a huge range of rtr coaches available when they started. My first Comet sides went on BSL body kits as BSL were readily available from several retailers.

 

My last Comet was a K38  full brake which went on a Hornby suburban Collett. Took two evenings. Back when Comet started the only option would be what is now the Railroad Colletts which came with mk1 bogies at the time and would have taken a couple of weeks to convert.

 

Mike Wiltshire.

That's very interesting Mike, thanks. This might be a question too far but is there any simple way to tell where the extra length is, other than by comparing with drawings (where available)?

[chrisf]

16 hours ago, checkrail said:

Final comments on my experience with the D121 build.  First time I've used Comet parts and was a bit puzzled by a couple of things.  The first was the length of the etched sides, which I had to shorten quite a bit with razor saw, files etc.   I did this at the van end where there was enough blank space.  But why were they so long in the first place?  Russell has the D121 as 69 ft 11 1/4 inches (61 foot, near as dammit), and the C77 and E159 subjects of the Bachmann coaches exactly the same.  And the Bachmann models are exactly 244mm long. Don't quite understand.  Am I missing something here?

 

The Bachmann Collett bodies I have measure 242mm over corners with the rulers I have.

 

Chris

[Mark C]

Hello John 

 

Milliput is available in black. I haven't tried it but assume its' characteristics are the same...

 

Best regards 

Mark 

[checkrail]

6 hours ago, chrisf said:

The Bachmann Collett bodies I have measure 242mm over corners with the rulers I have.

You're right Chris.  I've just re-measured and the Bachmann Colletts are indeed 242 mm, not 244.  I should have picked this up when @The Fatadder mentioned them as being 60 1/2 feet.

[Coach bogie]

On 21/06/2020 at 00:13, St Enodoc said:

That's very interesting Mike, thanks. This might be a question too far but is there any simple way to tell where the extra length is, other than by comparing with drawings (where available)?

 

I have just a goo hunt and I have found the oldest set of unopened Comet sides, No tumblehome still with original price label of £3.25!

 

On an all third, line up the windows against the plan there is an extra 2 mm  at each end. 

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

 

Edited June 22, 2020 by Coach bogie

[St Enodoc]

34 minutes ago, Coach bogie said:

 

I have just a goo hunt and I have found the oldest set of unopened Comet sides, No tumblehome still with original price label of £3.25!

 

On an all third, line up the windows against the plan there is an extra 2 mm  at each end. 

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

 

Thanks Mike. I've still got a few like that too (plus some Tony Hammond sides and a set of Blacksmith etches for a K18 brake)! No price labels though

 

I'll save that tip for the all third. For the brake, if I match that at the compartment end and do whatever's needed at the brake end that will do for me too.

[Coach bogie]

Ah. Hammond sides. I used to buy these all the time as finances allowed. I dug out the ex Royal train linen van, a couple of weeks ago as a Summer project. I would not have been able to put together the Penzance TPO if it had not been for Hammond.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, Coach bogie said:

Ah. Hammond sides. I used to buy these all the time as finances allowed. I dug out the ex Royal train linen van, a couple of weeks ago as a Summer project. I would not have been able to put together the Penzance TPO if it had not been for Hammond.

 

Mike Wiltshire

If you're interested I can send you a list of what I've got. I'm highly unlikely to use them.

[Coach bogie]

1 hour ago, St Enodoc said:

If you're interested I can send you a list of what I've got. I'm highly unlikely to use them.

Thanks but I am overstocked myself. I have a five coach Royal Train to complete., That will take me a year.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[Neal Ball]

That carriage looks great John @checkrail. I’m not sure I would be confident about taking off 2mm from both ends on a brass side. Might need loads of filler!

[checkrail]

Thanks Neal.  Actually I took it all off the van end.  I reckoned that 2mm off the corridor end would bring me perilously close to the first door line!

[checkrail]

During a short break from coach building Stoke Courtenay's pond has acquired a couple of dozen reeds.  Who says I don't do grand scenic projects!  I bought them at the MMRS show in December, then forgot all about them until the other day. They're by Green Scene.

 

I don't think I've taken any pics of this corner since my pre-focus stacking days, so here are a few more.  The next one's my favourite. The drinker (the drunk?) leaning on the pub signpost has had his bike nicked, even though it was glued to the post.  You can see the glue mark.  Actually it disappeared into the vacuum cleaner the other day.  Perhaps I should take this as a prompt to obtain some better bike models than those old Modelscene (ex-Merit?) jobs.  

 

Next is a view of Church Lane and the church lych gate (Langley Models I think, or was it Dart Castings?)

 

Finally a pic of those two classic village institutions, local pub and parish church, taken from the embankment by the end of the loco spur.

 

John C. 

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by checkrail
add detail

[KNP]

Looks great and the pictures now to this area justice.

Forget the trains for now more scenic shots please.

You could always have a go at the bikes I posted the other day!

[checkrail]

3 hours ago, KNP said:

Forget the trains for now more scenic shots please.

Thanks Kevin, but there's not much more scenery to photograph - just a few bits of grass and trees. 

 

Regarding bikes , I bought some very nice laser cut ones a couple of years or so back (Scale Model Scenery maybe?), but somehow lost them within a  day or two of receipt.  I do remember unwrapping them and being rather impressed.  But because they were flat, fibrous and the colour of cardboard I think I might have thrown them away with the packaging. Might give them another go. 

[Neal Ball]

Looking great as ever John @checkrail.

 

Today I have been working on the scenic corner my Pendon pub sits in and you have given me a few ideas.... I need a horse trough. Is that a harburn model?

 

Thanks, Neal.

[KNP]

Apart from the Roxey Mouldings bikes I have also used the ScaleModelScenery laser cut bikes.

They make a good, very reasonably priced, alternatives.

I have used them straight from the sheet, a couple I have removed the bike racks then some I have changed the handlebars (bent wire) and added some pedals for extra effect.

 

These three down the side of the creamery are unaltered.

 

 

And these two by the Harbour Masters office have been 'tweaked'

 

 

Hope of use and you find that printed sheet.....

 

 

 

[A Murphy]

Those look terrific. I have no idea how you might finish wheel rims etc like that in 4mm!! It's the little touches (as well as the overall conception...) that make LM (and SC) so special. Top notch.  

 

Alastair M

Edited June 30, 2020 by A Murphy

[checkrail]

On 30/06/2020 at 07:54, KNP said:

I have also used the ScaleModelScenery laser cut bikes.

Gosh, you have as many bikes on your layout as locos!  They look very good Kevin, and I love the way you've customised and detailed them.  Will definitely get some more. Thanks.

[checkrail]

On 29/06/2020 at 22:18, Neal Ball said:

I need a horse trough. Is that a harburn model?

As far as I remember Neal the horse trough (plastic) was part of a Wills set of war memorial, bench and trough.  The bench too is now outside the pub.

 

[checkrail]

But it's not Stoke Courtenay's only horse trough!  Here's one that stands on the station forecourt, and actually has some water in it.

This one is white metal, from Dart Castings, and is a little bit shorter and narrower than the Wills offering.   Like the Wills one It comes as part of a set, along with a water fountain (seen in the pic below) so both human and equine thirsts are catered for. The water is just gloss varnish, dribbled in and left to set.

 Finally, here's a wider view of the horse trough in context, partly hidden behind the fence.

 

John C.

[checkrail]

Some trains seem to have crept into this further photo of the station horse trough.

John C.