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Nile's Mostly Freelance Bodging Bench - Pre-Grouping Locos


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Welcome to my workbench topic, where I will be mostly modifying RTR things.

This first post is now the index, the actual workbench now starts in the third post (first link in the index below).

 

Topic Index  [35 pages so far]

 

LMWR 0-6-0 from Bachmann SECR C class

C_T1.JPG.3ca8e088ce8062c8cb94ded6821a497e.JPG

 

Busch HOf Feldbahn Gmeinder into a Plymouth loco

B_6_T.jpg.328b880aa966ef28cd751896e18a8fc3.jpg

 

Back-dating a Bachmann Midland brake van (before Bachmann did)

M_8_T.jpg.8ec805c7f9541e1d7098ac0cfaf4042f.jpg

 

Bachmann Midland compound for LMWR

110_10_T.jpg.90140d1b0b20d76cc6a7007a86fe79b6.jpg

 

LMWR 2-4-2T from a Bachmann LYR 2-4-2T

34_18_T.jpg.07712050bfab1bc05f7875f99ab7b0fc.jpg

 

LMWR 4-4-0 from a Hornby T9 4-4-0

90_33_T.jpg.4e6dd25a2cb8d0c6a91b4b170866e6a2.jpg

 

LMWR 2-8-0 from a Bachmann S&DJR 2-8-0

T7.png.e1c82716a324c37ec60c55e2a4495b0b.png

 

HOn30 2-4-0 from a Minitrains Fiddletown & Copperopolis 0-4-0 with 3d printed parts

T8.png.f0cc599e734d8ad6a241bae51b515554.png

 

Midland 2P from an Airfix LMS 2P with a Comet chassis

T11.png.a7c744151de0f45ca2b3d76d7361648d.png

 

SECR C class repainted grey

T9.png.55c95f76e3e97705efd5fd45d20c2dc2.png

 

Trix brakevan detailed

T10.png.3223930b9d1d8d38800e05c2473019c0.png

 

Bogie coach from two Hornby 4-wheel coaches

T12.png.bb2201bd41aba914e506c2c4f3bf65de.png

 

Midland 1F from a Bachmann LMS/BR one

T13.png.585d3aefca18d2865b1aec19ac5e18b1.png

 

F.ROTH tanker  :D

T14.png.32309727d819434678d6b1502505d6ab.png

 

Hornby 'H&B' van on Bachmann chassis

T15.png.bd026ee0c8346eda244c657e66feb1f3.png

 

Hornby 'H&B' van to WMR

T16.png.5c1200bc7bacd9a2912597786f27b096.png

 

Mainline LMS coach cut'n'shut to WMR

T17.png.44cc44cf408e982549479a912edf7dae.png

 

Triang Polly + Electrotren chassis - LMWR

T21.png.5ddc4a9c514749dbfc8624e626257a14.png

 

The 'Shepton' Mallet - Micro-Ace HOn30 conversion

T19.png.6c51047405963b84da5b8722d313325f.png

 

Midland 3F, back-dating the Bachmann model

T20.png.7855d5781d5aa40a0301e713020ab9ef.png

 

GWR 9700 3d printed body + Bachmann chassis
T18.png.6b992b94dadbf8d80378b262042060e0.png

 

LMWR 4-4-2T from a Bachmann LYR 2-4-2T

T22.png.fabe57f12c0360d47c9691f5e77ea408.png

 

LSWR '700' no.316 - mainly repainting a Hornby model

T23.png.f81d6a5d5982376a6306b48237eb44f9.png

 

Converting a Beattie well tank to EM gauge

T24.png.594d060b893614d502e7c869a8620b55.png

 

Re-motoring an Oxford Rail Adams radial

T25.png.486a7c8f617e698e368f92ac042a14be.png

 

MiniTrains Porter 0-6-0T - adding a tender

T26.png.fb601759c69740870701e9af76bc88ec.png

 

MiniTrains Baldwin conversions

T27.png.4d30687c955fc3c3e6e953a7d60d2fa7.png

 

Triang clerestory coach conversions - 6 wheel and all third bogie

T28.png.bbc7f0d4b7e8212e081395d693190904.png

 

Oxford Rail LNER cattle wagon mods

T29.png.45e6b16635729808334aeb8a40dc0ee5.png

 

Oxford Rail LNER 6 plank open wagon

T30.png.b1fa89c19ba7b06bc204949edd717161.png

 

Triang vans for LMWR

T33.png.2babadc194686fdb3e1e5b2466efbfdc.png

 

Bachmann LMS cattle wagon for LMWR

T32.png.411555af79acef7a7394f7b3bfedd70b.png

 

Bachmann Wickham trolley to 009

T34.png.6b67521b9e13d17cce54174322d4bacc.png

 

Minitrains Bagnall wing-tank 009 loco

T35.png.9a263f2fb69b07d074f9aaddf9fdc6fe.png

 

Back-dating a Hornby LSWR 700 class

T36.png.7f7b5e99bac64596b3a519543df89762.png


Oxford's Adam's Radial - Reposition motor and add daylight under the boiler

T38.png.bda7744986aaa16d95d675c8f130308e.png

 

WMR 0-6-0 from SECR C class (static model)

T37.png.1e19de9ec56b566c098632c5682658fe.png


Repainting a Hornby SECR H class grey

H_16.JPG.1973973db74ce1a01c6f9bcb8042c0a1.JPG

 

 

Radio controlled van in 4mm scale

T39.png.24913cdb00ae039cdde0369c16d7c8ee.png

 

LMWR cattle wagons from Bachmann LMS ones

T40.png.f1323eed12c83c5e29d167263e12ab1c.png

 

LMWR large horsebox from Lima

T41.png.6a78ff6cf273b1800a2bbdf81dd47aaa.png

 

LMWR 6-wheel brake van from Oxford & Parkside parts

T42.png.967d745e2701b78b2eac4da100daa4de.png

 

WMR BG from Mainline coach parts

T43.png.6eff0be03d0bf334bd9ef89fdc2e9eb9.png

 

LMWR 4-wheel full brake from Hornby clerestory parts

12s.JPG.a53eaf18fe81f76937d09c7aea2e7029.JPG

 

WMR 4-4-0 with 3-D printed body and GBL tender

D_27s.JPG.63a735e196f1c2d52212c8802a09c3f6.JPG

 

LMWR small horsebox from modified Parkside kit

T50.png.e9350d8d5b3ecb0efd4fffb1b5f4d172.png

 

WMR small horseboxes from a GWR Beetle kit

T51.png.53ac7ede706accb6b5bf4a593f76ae5c.png

 

Repainting and Detailing the Hornby LSWR Brakevan

T52.png.e1ff2258197765ade0533d4ecbf431a8.png

 

A Triang TT tank wagon conversion

55s.JPG.58572ac73f70365e5efa4642538516e8.JPG

 

Hornby LSWR (and other) 3-plank wagon mods

62.JPG.c6b4774e177df71ede8245a60bddb5cb.JPG905.JPG.9423622eb635ca83e96b8e5149bdd97f.JPG908.JPG.47d66f52080ff9a6c431e21a49b45c97.JPG

 

 

More Hornby wagon mods

906.JPG.62d8255c700a0a5256de526e4ae0ac2a.JPG907.JPG.c5408cd53425a3ff107140887fbb5ebe.JPG

 

Edited by Nile
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I thought it was about time I started one of these workbench things. One of my interests is pre-grouping railways, but rather than model one of the real ones I've made up one of my own. The London and Mid Western Railway (LMWR) was a real proposal that was killed off by changing railway politics, it would have been a direct line from London to Oxford via Uxbridge. My chosen period is around 1920, the railway is still feeling the effects of war time austerity, so the livery is simplified rather than elegant and complicated. This topic will mostly be about me converting RTR models into something suitable for a small pre-grouping railway that didn't build its own locos.

First up, converting the Bachmann C class into a typical late Victorian / Edwardian 0-6-0 loco.
I started this project over a year ago, and didn't take many photos of the loco modification work at the time. Things have improved since then.
Part 1 - the Loco.
The main work was to the cab, extending the lower part of the front with bits of styrene, I also fitted separate handrails to the rear of the cab, after carefully carving away the moulded on parts. The whistle was moved from the cab roof.

C-1.jpg.1cbd9b7a5df2a427520cd0f889af09f8.jpg

 

The C class as built is right hand drive, I've decided the LMWR prefers left hand drive. I moved/removed some of the cab fittings and made a new reversing lever from plastic rod, painted red.

 

C-2.jpg.c55194dd8a1de48cf71b4ee0bd8dd16f.jpg

 

Other changes to the loco included:

 

removed the front footsteps.

replaced the chimney with a stove-pipe (Gibson, I think)

removed the extra Southern lamp irons.

C_3.jpg.6b8cb0dd1b645ed05ba05f62d62ebeb7.jpg

 

 

An internal mod., I removed the wires that go to the tender. They aren't really needed unless a DCC chip is used, and their absence makes handling much easier.  

Edited by Nile
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Part 2 - the tender

 

I removed the rear steps and handrails. This exposed a small hole in the frame (for the back of the buffer). This was covered with some black styrene. To make it look even older I added styrene strips around the edges of the side panels.

C_4.jpg.4a05cc194178ad6c901db9f717de36c3.jpg

 

 

The side sheets at the front were removed and replace with a handrail made from brass rod.

C_8.jpg.d02bbdc45b6ef5dc08f9fc7af635841e.jpg

 

 

Nice though this model is, it is let down by the tender brake gear. The brake shoes are molded into the frames. When the brake rigging is fitted it ends up between the wheels and the shoes! It looked horrible to me, so something had to be done.

I cut off the brake shoes, and used the rear ones as a pattern to make four new ones. A notch is needed in it to fit over the rod of the rigging.

C_5.jpg.be5173d3a04c2b9f9d746f13c58340b8.jpg

 

 

The hangers for the rear shoes need to be different length because there is a screw in the way of one of them. Some brass rod was used here, as I had removed the coupler socket.

C_6.jpg.94dc31522b1810d44c6f07c3fb684e07.jpg

 

 

With the brake rigging fitted, the brake shoes were glued into the correct positions Note the screw at bottom right is in the way of the brake hanger.

C_7.jpg.5590db92347a947799469f5ebcc3cbf5.jpg

 

 

The finished model.

C_9.jpg.b2e9b1b17a414d9e74c80aea19f9f8b4.jpg

 

 

 

Edited by Nile
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C_10.jpg.6d914fea6456394c9c38727e1da05f28.jpg

The completed model, along with some LMWR wagons. The goods livery is black with red lining, the opposite of the passenger livery. The lining, lettering and numbers are from Microscale decals, except on the buffer beam. The original number was 1256, I removed the 1, hence the loco became no. 256.

And this is how the loco stayed for about a year, while I got on with other things. But I wasn't entirely happy with it, something was nagging at me whenever I looked at it. So at the end of last year I decided to sort it out.......

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The thing that was bugging me was the sandbox on the centre splasher, it being a distinctive feature of the C class. I thought it would look better on the front splasher. As these are separate parts this should in theory be not too difficult.

 

After removing the chassis and body, the splashers came off with a bit of gentle persuasion.

C_11.jpg.bb14026bf8ab040942cb942c8aad03bd.jpg

 

 

The front ones have a little bit sticking out that needed to be removed.

C_12.jpg.01e5f63772b3a538eb194a5ac56fbda6.jpg

 

 

The middle ones have a notch in them which fits around parts of the gearbox casing. This needed to be filled on the original ones (with some styrene), and filed into the new ones.

C_13.jpg.24fff0d0dd18cbdebe8b3af48697e200.jpg

 

 

Some holes left in the footplate, where the sandboxes were, needed to be filled. Part of the sandboxes needed to be filed back, as they now fouled the smokebox. This took a while to get right.

C_14.jpg.b36fea227879bc553a857c3790a3ebe8.jpg

 

 

Test fitting the body onto the footplate.

C_15.jpg.2c5bfec710085f853c7e2641ac83c16e.jpg

 

 

The finished model. I removed the pipe on the front of the cab, another South Eastern thing I didn't want. Also visible on this side is the reversing lever, made from some fine square section nickel silver. The gearbox, which was hidden by the sandbox, is now visible. But as all the bits are black it's not that noticeable I'm now happy with its looks.

C_17.jpg.e8f15e8b91c678e9046f460ff5351253.jpg

Edited by Nile
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Hello Neil, very much enjoyed this thread, thats very usefull information about the splashers I didnt know they could be removed like that.

I was thinking of using a C class as a base to convert to a Caledonian Jumbo and some of the things you have done like the splashers and the stove pipe chimney woulld be some of the jobs required for that. Thanks Steve

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Hi Steve, thanks for your comments. I think the C class has the potential for conversion to several real prototypes, as well as my fictional take on a typical pre-grouping 0-6-0. If you have any questions about a conversion, just ask.

-----

And now for something completely different!

 

Converting a Busch HOf Feldbahn Gmeinder into a Plymouth loco.

What on earth does all that mean? Some explanation below.

 

Busch - a European model manufacturer.

HOf - HO (1:87) scale models running on Z gauge (6.5mm) track, representing narrow gauge prototypes that run on 600mm (2 feet-ish) track.

Feldbahn - German for field railway, a narrow gauge light or industrial railway.

Gmeinder - a German loco manufacturer.

Plymouth - an American loco manufacturer.

 

I had two of the Busch Gmeinder locos, a green one without a cab roof and a yellow one with a cab roof. I would have preferred a green one with roof, but that was only available in a set. I also had a need for a small American loco to operate a mine railway. So I decided to move the cab roof to the green loco and try to convert the yellow one into a Plymouth 2 foot gauge loco. A Google search found a few useful pictures to base the conversion on.

 

The first picture shows the green one, in original condition, alongside the modified yellow one. 

B_1.jpg.3dc5ab7c41b2ee77c1ae80d239a596c0.jpg

 

 

The rear part of the cab was removed.New cab sidesheets were made from black styrene. White styrene rod and sheet was used to make the framework and roof. I also added some bits to radiator guard to make it more Plymouth like.

B_2.jpg.4dae33654070bc5e9969d1ed8019c64a.jpg

 

 

The loco has to fit into this building.

B_3.jpg.9547e589ec1821f2e19e31e3745907c0.jpg

 

Edited by Nile
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Happy with the body, I got on with making the chassis look like a Plymouth. The Gmeinder chassis is bolted together, the Plymouth one is cast and machined. I made some side sheets from black plastic that were glued onto the chassis. The end sheets were cut and filed to match the new side sheets, to make the chassis look like a single lump.

B_4.jpg.95efa1e71bebf630671f9b82bf74b621.jpg

 

B_5.jpg.95381ee365da8fff7af867b1318dbdf8.jpg

 

 

After a bit of painting, the two modified models together.

B_6.jpg.b54558f73cd7d13f98667ae1dbac4878.jpg

 

 

 

It will be back to standard gauge next.

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I was going to do another loco next, but then these arrived.

M_1.jpg.26bad8554cc583e72601ca2cc6989503.jpg

 

 

The one on the left will stay as it is, but the other is going into the time machine back to its Midland origins.

Rather than a full repaint, I'll remove the black panels and touch up the paint before applying Midland decals.

The handrails are metal and can be prized out of their holes with some care.

M_2.jpg.3aa45765f4cbf6dff69030d9936fc1ea.jpg

 

 

This is the chassis, in case anyone is interested.

M_3.jpg.19e94c7c9b5455552d5372d9bb110b17.jpg

 

 

Using a curved scalpel blade, I carefully scraped the black panels off. I then tried some paints on the inside of the body, to see which best matched the paint on the body.

1 is Railmatch early BR grey , acrylic.

2 is the same , in enamel

3 is Precision Midland freight wagon grey.

M_4.jpg.81e48f237797554cbf9007ffd0626377.jpg

 

 

I thought the enamel paint was the closest, so that is what I used.

Edited by Nile
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I have some Slaters transfers from their Midland brake van kit, the water based press-fit type and meth-fix type. As I haven't used them before, I thought I would try the meth-fix ones on this brake.

One side done, all seems ok so far. I took the easy option of just adding 1 to the M.99 number on the sheet.

M_5.jpg.234371cd94fc459aa0820d9b2d7971fd.jpg

 

Edited by Nile
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While waiting for paint and transfers to dry I'll start the tale of the next loco.

Post war passenger traffic needed more powerful locos. These came in the form of Midland 4-4-0 compounds with some modifications (the Midland was a significant LMWR shareholder). This was achieved using the excellent Bachmann model of the LMS built compound.

The good news is that this model is left hand drive, which is what I want. But it needs some modifications to make it more Midland like.

What I was aiming for is a left hand drive version of this (public domain image).

Midland_Compound_1025_(Boys_Book_of_Locomotives_1907).jpg.88dc39465ab3180f33c5a852a7993e96.jpg

 

 

Loco body modifications.

110_1.jpg.d331ab850190dd6efa90f81d05a8e940.jpg

 

 

Left to right, the mods are:

 

New whistle. The Bachmann one is fragile and broke.I found one in the bits box, could be an old Hornby one.

 

Replace safety valves with Ramsbottom type, scratch built from bits and pieces.

 

Sand the dome into a rounder shape. I attached it to a mini-drill and used some sand paper to re-profile it.

 

I replaced the chimney with the one I'd removed from the C class earlier.

 

Moved the upper lamp iron from the smokebox door to the top of the smokebox.

 

Cut away the frame extensions in front of the smokebox saddle.

 

110_2.jpg.375676bba5f92e2f6ef7938444f47a2e.jpg

 

With the chassis and boiler removed, you can see where I've cut and filed the frame extensions. I've started re-painting the body into the passenger livery of red oxide with black lining.

 

110_3.jpg.cdab810b41d509d481b0414bd171fdf2.jpg

 

Cleaned up and painted. In the background is the boiler with its new rounded dome.

 

Putting the bits back together, this is what you get.

110_4.jpg.02a362280a7017df687f02dafff30525.jpg

 

Edited by Nile
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Thanks for all the likes, I shall continue with this malarkey.   :)

 

On to the tender. As the LMWR had no water troughs, there was no need for water collecting apparatus. The dome came off easily enough, but that left a hole with a rim and a line of rivets around it.

110_5.jpg.f573d752190e5ec47b8669096d665861.jpg

 

 

I carved away the unwanted raised detail and filled the hole with a disc of styrene. The green stuff is Squadron green putty, filling any gaps around the disc.

110_6.jpg.83ead50932555921d95c2449617250b9.jpg

 

 

After cleaning up and painting. I removed the filler cap as it was in the way. You can't tell from this angle, but I have also removed the water pick up operating handle from the front of the tender.

110_7.jpg.ed7d426ea4dce16d4fe93eadd9462568.jpg

 

 

Edited by Nile
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For the MR brake van. Seems a little odd that the lettering would be behind the handrails. Other than that, your conversion looks really nice. I recently built the parkside kit of the van with duckets. Now I kinda wish I waited to convert one of the RTRs. Haha

And the Compound is beautiful. Id be terrified to put a knife to a loco.

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Putting all the bits together makes this.

110_8.jpg.e017527d91360b811756474e5b32e5bb.jpg

 

 

So far so good. But there is something missing, a name. My original idea was to name all the passenger loco after towns served by the railway, much like the LTSR, amongst others. But I thought that by 1920 they might have ran out of names, so I thought of an alternative, rivers. Ones in the area served include Thames, Colne, Brent, Cherwell and Wye. Out of those I chose Wye simply because it's the shortest. Instead of trying to make nameplates I will use transfers to represent painted on names, like the LTSR, LBSCR and others.

Here I am trying the letters out on the front splasher.

110_9.jpg.f3c3859005af75ece7aa96d611432230.jpg

 

 

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I've finished applying transfers to the models above. I'm now waiting to spray varnish over them to finish them off.

Until then, here is some other transfer related work.

Last year I bought some Slaters coal wagons that had been built and painted, etc. That makes them RTR  :wink_mini: .

The only problem with them was the transfers hadn't been applied very well, particularly over the raised detail. However, I thought I may be able to fix that.

The first two photos are of an as bought wagon.

CC_1.jpg.4d4c39e44364f4115b8e370698ebd260.jpg

 

CC_2.jpg.1089dba8f714948ca4010831d5406f2a.jpg

 

 

 

Meet my weapons of mass distortion.

CC_3.jpg.9e8f06316c2a4a32277e3ad618f68720.jpg

 

 

I only needed to use the micro sol, the transfers are quite thin and responded well to the solution.

These are the after photos.

CC_4.jpg.d581654a623abedf16f6cecc71d2f366.jpg

 

CC_5.jpg.1236aa4b00b0820a92bf93c5b0456366.jpg

 

 

 

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Back to the compound. Various coats of Testors Dullcoat and Humbrol acrylic satin varnish have given me a finish I'm happy with. This is the result.

 

110_10.jpg.5fbb9dcfe6b1d09417a11c7655b2217d.jpg

 

Here it is joined by its Midland cousin.

110_11.jpg.f35c90e59c82cd83c2a80b5bb2345a77.jpg

 

 

That is all for now, I'm still faffing about with the brake van.

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Very nice finish on the loco. You decided to reuse the plastic coal load? Thats about the only negative thing I could say about this. You have done a beautiful job with the painting and lettering. I really like the finish on the smokebox.

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Nelson,

Yes, normally. Although I do carefully dab the transfer with the brush if it needs help conforming to the surface.

 

As for the coal load, as it's removable I can sort it out later. I've got some coal here, somewhere. 

Edited by Nile
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Nelson,

Yes, normally. Although I do carefully dab the transfer with the brush if it needs help conforming to the surface.

 

As for the coal load, as it's removable I can sort it out later. I've got some coal here, somewhere.

 

Haha. I know the feeling of losing something on the workbench.

The decal set. What kind of decals would it be best for?

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Micro-sol (and Micro-set) should work well with any water-slide decals. I've never had any problems, and I've built lots of model aircraft. Thicker, multi-colour ones may need something stronger, like the Daco solution in the photo (above).

The Decals I've used are by Microscale (same as the solution), they make lots of useful general sheets as well as ones for specific railroads.

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