92220 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) There is a big fiddle yard to fill, eventually, and many different trains to represent passing Camden Shed in both directions. Most of them are passenger, with a few parcels and very few goods trains. I'm just beginning this bit of the journey so, as with the layout build and the detailing and modification of locos, expect some slow progress. How to turn this: which I've had for about 100 years and left it in a box, into something useful? Iain Edited February 3, 2023 by 92220 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 What is the parentage of that horrible thing? If you want to keep it and make a silk purse, I'd suggest replacing the sides with brass ones for another class of vehicle. Alternatively, invoke Chris's first law of marketing - some people will buy anything - and flog it. If you can persuade some silly bu99er that it is collectable you'll be laughing. Chris 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Hi Chris Indeed - the fictitious 64'6" BG with the wrong roof for anything at all, sides 3" thick and eccentric plastic wheels....... Step1 Accept it's totally useless and throw it away. Step 2 Retrieve it from the bin and measure the sides against some Comet etched ones (I'd added door hinges, stops and handles, then primed and painted these. Grab handles will go on after lining out). Get slightly more enthusiastic. Step 3 Attack it with a saw disc in the mini drill Step 4 Remove all useless ventilator detail and superfluous rain strips for a mk1 corridor second, Mark and drill new ventilator and toilet filler positions, then attach the skeletal sides to the roof. Step 5 Leave to dry and think about how much of the underframe needs butchery. Quick answer is all of it..... Iain Edited February 13, 2014 by 92220 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted February 13, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 13, 2014 I think a more positive approach is suggested by the OP? It's a Tri-ang 'too long' BG - I'm sure there were loads of articles in the day about cutting slices out of them to make them scale length. Not everyone can afford to go around buying brass sides to make better models especially when it's obvious he needs a lot of stock. Make do and mend sometimes has to suffice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 A bit more progress..... I decided that the old sides were brittle and useless so added strips of plasticard - 0.030" x 0.125" on the top edge and sides which will combine with the etched brass Comet sides to make the right thickness. Two strips of 0.060" x 0.188" and one of 0.030" x 0.125" to match the profile of the bottom of the old Hornby sides and how they locate into the underframe. I wish I'd done this to start with as it's a lot easier than messing around with the old sides. Lining by HMRS Pressfix, numbering by Modelmaster (I wish I could use a bowpen as well as Coachmann, but don't we all....): Leaving these to set completely before coating with Klear and then glazing. Then they will be attached to the rest of the coach Looked in this box: (big bargain, 60 interiors for 19p each....) And knocked up the right interior for an SK: More to follow.... Iain 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Also managed to get quite close to finishing my first ever full Comet kit - a BG, chosen for many reasons, a lack of interior being the least of them. I felt that weathering could disguise a number of minor ills, and I'd be able to weather vehicles in a rake of parcels stock much more. The kit itself was built over 2 years ago, and various jobs have taken a long while since then. Window bars - having glazed it without drawing these on, I needed to add the bars somehow. 0.33 nickel silver wire soldered into a grid and cut into units for each window. You can see these in the windows and they look better than I could have drawn them. Used Bachmann bogies in preference to the Comet ones, which I built but used the wrong wheels..... These needed levelling and fixing to the bolt soldered into the Comet underframe. It sits in a growing rake of parcels stock. A Replica BG, flush glazed, rewheeled, lowered and kleared A Bachmann one for comparison, as yet not modified except for the TW coupling. A Hornby Stanier 50' BG, and a Thompson BG (out of region like a lot of parcels vehicles), both kleared The whole rake needs weathering, and adding to. Is all this worth it, in terms of time? It doesn't make a great deal of sense, but I'm enjoying the process of making things. On another note - I picked 2 of these up in a job lot of Bachmann maroon mk1 coaches. The yellow stripe denoting 1st class is a couple of years too early for me. Short of a complete repaint, does anyone have any advice how to backdate it? Will the yellow stripe come off leaving maroon below? Iain 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidw Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 (edited) Also managed to get quite close to finishing my first ever full Comet kit - a BG, chosen for many reasons, a lack of interior being the least of them. I felt that weathering could disguise a number of minor ills, and I'd be able to weather vehicles in a rake of parcels stock much more. image.jpg The kit itself was built over 2 years ago, and various jobs have taken a long while since then. Window bars - having glazed it without drawing these on, I needed to add the bars somehow. 0.33 nickel silver wire soldered into a grid and cut into units for each window. image.jpg image.jpg You can see these in the windows and they look better than I could have drawn them. Used Bachmann bogies in preference to the Comet ones, which I built but used the wrong wheels..... These needed levelling and fixing to the bolt soldered into the Comet underframe. image.jpg image.jpg It sits in a growing rake of parcels stock. A Replica BG, flush glazed, rewheeled, lowered and kleared image.jpg A Bachmann one for comparison, as yet not modified except for the TW coupling. image.jpg A Hornby Stanier 50' BG, and a Thompson BG (out of region like a lot of parcels vehicles), both kleared image.jpg image.jpg The whole rake needs weathering, and adding to. Is all this worth it, in terms of time? It doesn't make a great deal of sense, but I'm enjoying the process of making things. On another note - I picked 2 of these up in a job lot of Bachmann maroon mk1 coaches. The yellow stripe denoting 1st class is a couple of years too early for me. Short of a complete repaint, does anyone have any advice how to backdate it? Will the yellow stripe come off leaving maroon below? image.jpg Iain Iain, If the Sleeper is anything to go by then yes the stripe will come off the earlier FK and Ck - and you will need to add the yellow black lining Edited March 11, 2014 by davidw 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Thanks David, I'll give it a go. Carefully.....! Iain 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidw Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I used model strip. Like you say carefully.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Do tell me more..... Brush on? Iain Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidw Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 yes it is brush on I had a pot from Cheltenham model centre. it's like a putty. Leae it on for half hour and remove with a cocktail stick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieS Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Also managed to get quite close to finishing my first ever full Comet kit - a BG, chosen for many reasons, a lack of interior being the least of them. I felt that weathering could disguise a number of minor ills, and I'd be able to weather vehicles in a rake of parcels stock much more. image.jpg The kit itself was built over 2 years ago, and various jobs have taken a long while since then. Window bars - having glazed it without drawing these on, I needed to add the bars somehow. 0.33 nickel silver wire soldered into a grid and cut into units for each window. image.jpg image.jpg You can see these in the windows and they look better than I could have drawn them. Used Bachmann bogies in preference to the Comet ones, which I built but used the wrong wheels..... These needed levelling and fixing to the bolt soldered into the Comet underframe. image.jpg image.jpg It sits in a growing rake of parcels stock. A Replica BG, flush glazed, rewheeled, lowered and kleared image.jpg A Bachmann one for comparison, as yet not modified except for the TW coupling. image.jpg A Hornby Stanier 50' BG, and a Thompson BG (out of region like a lot of parcels vehicles), both kleared image.jpg image.jpg The whole rake needs weathering, and adding to. Is all this worth it, in terms of time? It doesn't make a great deal of sense, but I'm enjoying the process of making things. On another note - I picked 2 of these up in a job lot of Bachmann maroon mk1 coaches. The yellow stripe denoting 1st class is a couple of years too early for me. Short of a complete repaint, does anyone have any advice how to backdate it? Will the yellow stripe come off leaving maroon below? image.jpg Iain The Yellow Stripe came to the LMR April '61 but the SR was earlier 'cos it's based on Continental practice. Use Micro sol to remove it. Derib the Roof! Painting the edge of the window apertures black helps lose the prisim effect. I am told painting the glazing with Humbrol Clear is even better! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted May 14, 2014 Author Share Posted May 14, 2014 Thanks Ronnie. I'm using Klear as I weather and finish them, and it does help the windows. I will try removing the stripe when I get a chance. SK with Comet sides complete except for weathering: Coopercraft underframe to replace the junk on the donor. Hornby bogies rewheeled. Next to a Bachmann SO Replica BG nearly completed save for a little more weathering: The SE finecast flush glazing was a bit of a pain to say the least. But it's not a bad likeness overall. Iain 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 (edited) All sorts going on here. LMS suburbans: I'm modifying 7 of these, picked up cheaply from various sources, and inspired by brossard Basic idea is to repaint (halfords spray can) Add a new underframe (hack out the battery box and other poorly moulded plastic and replace with Comet etched brass and white metal castings; add plastic strip to represent the missing cross truss. Comet have sadly run out of these cross trusses as separate items) Rewheel ( I thought this would be easy enough to replace the plastic Airfix wheels with Hornby or Bachmann items, but the Airfix ones have axles 25.8 mm long, and the replacements are too tight. Cue help from Colin Seymour, and I am now experimenting with the Gibson Lima replacement axles, which are way too short, but could possibly accommodate a waisted bearing, if I can melt these only slightly into the bogie plastic.......) Engineer a new bogie pivot, to eliminate wobble, which in itself might have been partly due to eccentric plastic wheels Redo the roof fittings New couplings (Tony Wright style with an extra bar to enable propelling) Laser glazing (Shawplan) I probably won't do a lot in the interiors. That could come later. Maybe.... Dismantled body shells ready for painting Underframes before and after removal of everything except the trussing Cross trussing added (2 different methods) The diagonals were added on both - it was a lot easier to get all of the angles consistent and correct by adding a horizontal cross piece to the underside of the floor before starting anything else. 1 coat added Bachmann BR mk1 suburbans All I'll do to these is laser glaze, Klear, couplings, renumber and weather. This is the first side of the first coach done: Ex LMS 12 wheel pd 3 dining car Pd 3? Doesn't look much like that? It will in a minute......... I have 3 LMS parcels vans on the go too: a 42' ex Lima, a Bachmann 50', and a Comet 50'. I've also just got totally engrossed in building an LMS 50' Kitchen Car Diag 1912. I'll make that, and the parcels vans, the subject of further posts. Iain Edited May 27, 2014 by 92220 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidw Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Iain, the Replica BG looks really good - am i right in thinking that you've removed the plastic pipe runs, and replaced with wire? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 Hi David, Yes, that's right. A bit of care and time, and they fit in much better with the rest. The flush glaze was a complete pain as every single aperture needed opening out, but worth it overall. The kleared sides camouflage some of the poor fit, but not all. My first experience with laser glazing is much more positive. When you look at that Replica BG: £10 for the coach £3? for the flushglaze £2-3 for the wheels Plus a whole lot of time to do the glazing and the pipes, and compare that to the very similar or even slightly lower cost of Bachmann BGs I've picked up secondhand, it doesn't make much sense really. But I did enjoy the process, and refining a slightly inferior model to bring it up to standard brings its own satisfaction. Would I go through that palaver again though? Hmmmmm.......not sure. Then again, I might well not build more than one Ivatt Coronation, hrp Caprotti Black 5 or LMS kitchen car either. Iain Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Those lavatory brake thirds as modelled by Dapol, nee Airfix, got to some strange places. I bought one donkey's years ago on the strength of finding a photograph of one at Taffs Well, north of Cardiff, in 1958. More recently I have found a shot of one on - roll of drums - Camden bank! A note in Railway Observer for 1958 suggests that it is M25268M. Many people have cut them up successfully to make other LMS prototypes. Tim of this parish has done several and there is Terry Tew's GEC electric MU on Earls Court which I had the pleasure of meeting on Sunday. Chris 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 (edited) Indeed, Chris. I ought probably to do some cut and shut non-lav LMS suburbans as well. More...... LMS kitchen car This is almost completely built now. Needs a roof. Obviously. Hinges are Larry's idea of 0.7 brass wire soldered, trimmed and then flattened with pliers. Door stops are 0.45 wire cut as close to the side as I could. Bachmann LMS bogies. I used the MJT etch of handles etc even though they aren't quite the right ones for these coaches. 42' parcels underframe and bogies: Adjustments and components: Bachmann LMS bogies (the originals were, I think, Lima BR mk1 approximations.....) Fret waste to make a pivot Heavy (M10? Can't remember) bolts, washers and nuts Assembled: New buffers: The production line is going slightly mad.....! Iain Edited May 27, 2014 by 92220 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Progress on the kitchen car: I had forgotten to add the solebar step boards, the ventilators and the corner ascending steps, so rectified the first two omissions. The corner steps will be added right at the end just because they are so delicate. Here it is in primer: And with the roof very loosely placed LMS suburbans: 2 chassis finished And with a body loosely placed. Yes, I should have primed the bodies before spraying..... But the finish does look really smooth.... I am pretty sure that I'm looking at lined maroon for 1960-62, but will happily be told otherwise - and one of the BTLs will be M25268M thanks to Chris. I'm going to cut and shut an all third (non-lav) from the final two CLs. If that goes well, I will probably breathe a sigh of relief and buy some more Comet sides to do any more..... Bogies: replacement wheels from Bachmann don't quite fit as I mentioned in a previous post. It is an option to ease the bogie sides out by cutting and re-gluing the bogie stretchers with extra plastic strip. The Lima rewheel option from Alan Gibson does work well - waisted bearings melted in with a soldering iron. Comparison here: 5 more chassis on the go: And another canine early morning meal: I've had this since 1982 or 83. Nice that it will play a part in my modelling present as well. Ends go from this: To this: Proper corridor connectors from Comet will be added in due course. Sides attacked with the cutting disc and filed flush: Moulded filler pipes on the roof removed and will be replaced with wire Amazingly, the roof is close to the right shape, and has ventilators and ribs in the right place. On we go! Iain Edited June 1, 2014 by 92220 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 Stanier BTK: Sides drilled to imitate woodworm And all the various hinges, handles, stops and rails added. I used the purpose-etched Comet hinges this time. Fiddly, but they look neater than the flattened wire option, which says more about my workmanship than the method. Primed Body with new filler pipes added Corridor connectors added Primed except for the area where the sides will be glued to the shell Kitchen car with 2 top coats A pile of paint shop work (i.e. In the garden...) One of the LMS suburban bodies. The old lining still just shows through the paint. I've browsed various pics and sources, and I'm now somewhat dubious whether these would all have been lined or not. I will line these as otherwise the lack of primer will let them down. At least I have a straight line to reference from! Iain 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidw Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Iain I love the re use of older models - inspiring stuff. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share Posted June 7, 2014 Thanks David, hopefully they will be acceptable when finished. There is something very satisfying about making something decent from unpromising beginnings. Even if it would make a lot more sense to start from a more sensible place...... So, errr....... guess who forgot the guards duckets and ventilators..... Ughhhh Kitchen car and 12 wheel dining car roof construction under way: Roof ribs added from 10 thou microstrip - spacings are as on the Comet drawings so they are not supposed to be even These may well be a fraction too prominent but the overall look of the layout needs to be consistent. I'm not planning on de-ribbing all the Bachmann mk1s I have, and the Stanier stock had much more prominent ribs than mk1s. Iain 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horfield Mob Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Thanks David, hopefully they will be acceptable when finished. There is something very satisfying about making something decent from unpromising beginnings. Even if it would make a lot more sense to start from a more sensible place...... So, errr....... guess who forgot the guards duckets and ventilators..... image.jpg Ughhhh Kitchen car and 12 wheel dining car roof construction under way: image.jpg image.jpg Roof ribs added from 10 thou microstrip - spacings are as on the Comet drawings so they are not supposed to be even image.jpg These may well be a fraction too prominent but the overall look of the layout needs to be consistent. I'm not planning on de-ribbing all the Bachmann mk1s I have, and the Stanier stock had much more prominent ribs than mk1s. Iain Comet do a self adhesive tape for ribs but you have made a great job. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
92220 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 A bit more done: 12 wheel dining car underframe altered and missing sections added. Comet etchings and castings. Comet sides added to shell Kitchen car roof ready to paint Ex LMS 42' GUV underframe modified to accept lowered Bachmann LMS bogies Ex Airfix LMS sub with laser glaze Stanier BTK (Hornby conversion) and Comet Kitchen car painted, lined and numbered. Klear applied too. There are some odd reflections - they look a bit better than this! I must admit I am tempted not to add hinges, handles and door stops for the hassle they create when trying to apply the lining. The BTK has had the ventilator hoods removed from above the doors as some apparently did. Ex LMS pd1 BG without underframe and before being taken for a good clean: And some of the stock I am accumulating! Iain 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidw Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Impressive collection!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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