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Billerbahn Oe tinplate


PaulRhB
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  • RMweb Gold

Some of you may have seen the DHL farce I had in getting this collection that bolstered my existing few items.

Anyway it safely arrived and the three locos dully tested performed well leading to the idea of a small setup to run them on.

 

Billerbahn was manufactured from the 50's to late 70's in Germany and they produced a range based on Feldbahn (field railway) or industrial stock. More info and catalogues can be found on this excellent site.

http://www.billerbahn.de/Englisch/Listing-eng.htm

 

This was the bundle I eventually got for a very reasonable price compared to the usual eBay offerings. The steam loco is missing its roof but apart from that it's all in lightly worn but good condition.

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This is the initial idea for an out and back circuit where they can do a couple of laps then return to the station for the clockwork to be wound.

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Here's some of the stock bolstered by a few items I already had.

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Two of the wagons were the later 70's rather garish plastic, see the top photo in yellow and blue, so they've been repainted to blend in better, Heresy to some but there you go ;)

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The steam loco also has been restored with a new roof made from scratch.

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  • RMweb Gold

I found this and just thought, Minions! ;) as it comes with a big hole with a lip where the floor should be I just cut a square of plastic and put on some Minions so they can all shout 'BANANA!'

 

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Yes the red coach and the named loco go for high prices. I've been paying around 10-15 for the small wagons and 30 for the bogie ones.

The bundle I bought above was a good saving on those sensible prices though ;)

Just made a replacement point lever for the missing one and been straightening out a few damaged track ends. It is tough stuff and bends back to shape well.

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Until I find a Billerbahn excavator at a reasonable price I picked these two up nice and cheap on ebay, I particularly like the grab bucket version but it needs a bit of restoration and I've sourced some replacement tracks that are on the way.

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • RMweb Gold

I added to the collection this week with a new van which came in a tatty old box. So a few minutes with Paint and I now have some artwork to create some repro boxes :)

 

Restored version on the left.

 

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  • RMweb Gold

Rather than big baseboards I decided to try a mini module approach using 12mm mdf board.

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Here are the trial modules, a 4mm overhang allows the track to join.

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The idea is for a sand dune scenery with a sand pit with excavators to fill the toppers

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I’m also trying out 1950’s Billerbahn vs 1970’s Fischertechnik Oe trains. The FT loco has been converted to battery power by swapping the wires to a longer lead that joins to 4 AA batteries in the wagon.

 

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The Black 1500 (electric) engine arrived and on testing runs well so very happy. I just need to make my own battery wagon now with a 3 AA battery holder.

 

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Edited by PaulRhB
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What’s the TCS? I hadn’t intended generally exhibiting it as I have other layouts and with shifts not a lot of free weekends ;) I might take it out if asked but, got to do the modules scenery yet and while I’ve proved the concept I’ve got more pressing deadlines in March and April for finishing the 009 module so probably a summer job for these.

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TCS ....... Train Collectors Society ...... a bunch of sad old blokes, myself included, who collect, discuss, and exhibit model trains of any make, age, or gauge. https://traincollectors.co.uk

 

The annual gathering is like a pop-up museum of the history of toy/model trains, with all sorts of things, many of which are very rare/unusual, being operated.

 

BB has been shown before, but not for a while, and I think that your way of using it makes for a much more interesting display than most.

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Thanks, I suspect I’d find it very tempting to diversify asi like all tinplate and I’ve already got some Hornby O and Marklin HO too ;) unfortunately the spring meet clashes with our club show.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...
  • RMweb Gold

Well it’s been a while but I’ve restarted on the boards and sometimes you just need to play ;) 

ballasted using plastikote spray stone paint. The green 500 loco will do about 6 circuits on one wind, they equates to around 34ft. 

 

 

Edited by PaulRhB
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It's the Plastikote stone effect paint range and it just gives a mottled textured paint a bit like putting the track on a photo track-mat. I didn't want to soak the tinplate in glue as it will rust so this will give the ballast effect and there will be some minimal scenery added further out.

 

I'll take some close ups tomorrow ;)

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