pete_mcfarlane Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 This is one of my long term planned projects - a typical Southern branch train of the 1930s. A 2 coach set of Brighton coaches, not pull-push fitted, which started out as 3 coach sets rebuilt from earlier 6 wheelers. By the late 1930s some had lost a brake coach and were demoted to working on branches in Kent and Sussex. By this time they were electric lit and vacuum braked. There a quite a few photos of these sets working to New-Romney and Dungeness in volume 2 of 'Branch Lines of the Southern railway' from Wild Swan, although it's hard to actually work out which sets they are. So mine will probably be more generic rather than a model of a particular set. Anyway, I've had the kit for the brake third in my to do pile for a couple of years, and a burst of energy over the last couple of weeks has seen it assembled and ready for painting. It's a very nice etched kit and was pretty much built as intended. I replaced some of the ventilators with plastic strip to represent the later pressed steel type, and it's had some modifications to accept a Bill Bedford fixed coupler between the two coaches (a very nice lost-wax casting that represents the brake pipes and screw coupler). So having done that, I need the composite to run with it. this was ordered last weekend and came in a couple of days. This is what you get for your fifty quid. Annoying I then broke my last .5mm drill bit, so I can't start on the sides (which need some etched holes clearing). So I've made a start on the bogies - these are a simple fold up frame, with an etched overlay (with embossed bolt detail pushed out) soldered on to it. This is the current state of progress. I also have a Chivers D3 kit in the pile to pull the thing. But that will come later once I've finished the coaches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 A new pack of drill bits came in the post today, so I could press on with the coach body. First of all I finished soldering up the two bogies. Not much to comment on here. they were pretty straightforward soldered assemblies. Once cleaned up I'll attach the castings for the springs and axleboxes. The sides were then assembled. Again pretty straightforward, and the only fiddly bit was adding the lower door hinges - these are tidy bits of etched brass which are soldered in to place. Luckily there are plenty of spares for when they ping off in to the distance. The ends were equally straightforward, Sides assembled to ends - there are various instructions etched on the sides to make sure you get it all the right way round. And then the basic body was soldered together. Again the etched floor tells you which way round it needs to go. All in in, I'm slightly impressed with how quick it's gone together. It probably helps that this is the second time I've built one of these in the last few weeks, but the kit is very good. the only real issue I had was with a few of the tabs not quite fitting in slots and needing a touch of the file to make them fit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 This kit isn't the best in terms of modelling hours for your money as I'm speeding through it. I suspect I'll get my moneys worth when it comes to lining it out. Here's the preserved first at the Bluebell to show what I'm in for. First up tonight, the castings were superglued to the bogies. I did detect a slight drop in quality compared to the kit I bough a couple of years back, although nothing serious. I guess the moulds are a bit more worn. I also finished the detailing of the body and underframe. And I hit my first real snag - if you build the kit as intended you need to put a vacuum cylinder and battery box in the same location when building it with vac brake/electric light . I ended up arranging the underframe as per the brake third - I'm not sure how correct this as I've struggled to find any clear photos showing the underframe. The preserved ones are either air braked or on non-original underframes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbyhorse Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Nice work, you certainly build coaches quicker then me. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 19, 2015 Author Share Posted March 19, 2015 I'm actually quite surprised about how quickly these coaches have gone together - I normally take a lot longer to build brass coaches. My previous best was about 3 weeks for a Comet GWR coach. It does show how good these Roxey kits are. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Bel Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Hi Pete, The coaches look fantastic. Are the roofs vac formed plastic on these kits? Every time I go on the Roxey website I am tempted by a 2Nol! I am looking forward to seeing how they turn out. Cheers for now, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 They are vac formed. Now I'm not a fan of these vac formed roofs, but the roof on the brake took about 5 minutes to cut to shape and fit. I'm also tempted by the 2-Nol. I have a vague memory they used to do a 4-Lav but it's not on the website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I'm also tempted by the 2-Nol. I have a vague memory they used to do a 4-Lav but it's not on the website. Hi Pete, I have NOL nearing completion. (Ignore the underframe equipment - it is scratch built as this is an EE fitted unit - though Roxey do an additional kit for this) I am not aware that they have done any other EMU apart from this and the very similar 4 SUB unit. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your build! Best wishes, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Hi Pete Great work so far, I have a couple of the Roxey SECR Push pull coaches to build. I have built a loco (nearly) and a chassis for the Hornby Dublo R1 but am a bit nervous about building coaches, can I ask what you used for the tumble home ? All the bestChris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Chris, I used a length of broom handle to roll the tumblehome to roughly the right shape. The brass is quite thin, so I could tweak it with my fingers where the curve wasn't quite right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Not much progress over the last few days, but I did managed to spend a few hours on it tonight. Floor fitted, bogies and partitions attached and most of the casting superglued in place. There's just some minor detailing left, and the roof needs fitting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Thanks Pete for the info, I will build them one day soon hopefully, got to finish some other stuff first. Thanks again All the bestChris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torn-on-the-platform Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 This is coming together really nicely Pete. I've not dabbled much in kit building, certainly not brass, but I'm surprised at the speed with which you are able to put it together! I look forward to seeing pictures of the finished article. All the best! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 27, 2015 Author Share Posted March 27, 2015 Nearly there. It took a couple of hours tonight to get the Bill Bedford fixed coupling working, and the pair of coaches taking points without any problems. This is what it looks like in place. I've done a spot more detailing - ventilators and Queen posts are now in place. Another evening should see it ready for painting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 It's unlikely the Bluebell coaches are air-braked as they are unlikely to have any air-braked locos. (Terrier maybe, loco only)... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 The one on the Bluebell is vacuum braked, but it's on a replacement underframe - possibly LNWR, with different underframe equipment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Hi Pete, I have NOL nearing completion. 2 Nol DMBT.jpg (Ignore the underframe equipment - it is scratch built as this is an EE fitted unit - though Roxey do an additional kit for this) I am not aware that they have done any other EMU apart from this and the very similar 4 SUB unit. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your build! Best wishes, Very nice! Can I ask how the roof domes over the cabs are formed in these kits please? Is it a casting...? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 I had some fun today with the roof. The vacuum forming that came with the composite was different, and didn't fit. I suspect it was the one from the Roxey Chatham coaches, as it was narrower with a shallow profile. I suppose I could have got a new one off Roxey. but instead I had a bit of experimentation. After a couple of goes I managed to form a roof out of plasticard wrapped round a section of cardboard tube and heated in the over at 150 degree for a minute or so. I held in in place with masking tape. If you use elastic bands you end up with ridges in the plastic where they did in (hence why it took a couple of goes.....). This was then cut to shape (the distortion was only at the edges) and fitted in to place. I've also added the truss rods and the remaining detail, so the coach is now ready for a nice day so I can take it and the brake third outside and prime them. I may be waiting a while..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwich station Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 What thickness of plasticard did you use if you don't mind me asking? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 40 thou, to match the other roof. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Chris, I used a length of broom handle to roll the tumblehome to roughly the right shape. The brass is quite thin, so I could tweak it with my fingers where the curve wasn't quite right. Pete. What did you roll it on? I've some Bullied sides in the post? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Neoprene mouse mats seem to be the best thing to roll brass on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mcfarlane Posted April 12, 2016 Author Share Posted April 12, 2016 It took me about a year of on and off (mostly off) work to paint and finish the coaches. But they're finally done. Most of the pain was in lining them - I'm not the greatest at this, so it tends to be done in small increments (by hand using a bowpen and a fine brush for the corners). Transfers were from HMRS. I'm rather pleased with the result. I have a Chivers D3 under construction to go with them, which should make a typical Central/Eastern section branch train from the 1930s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodmin Bob Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 It took me about a year of on and off (mostly off) work to paint and finish the coaches. But they're finally done. Most of the pain was in lining them - I'm not the greatest at this, so it tends to be done in small increments (by hand using a bowpen and a fine brush for the corners). Transfers were from HMRS. 100_9165.JPG100_9162.JPG100_9164.JPG I'm rather pleased with the result. I have a Chivers D3 under construction to go with them, which should make a typical Central/Eastern section branch train from the 1930s. Read this with great interest - well done a fascinating read. . Roxey coaches are really enjoyable to build I think I have built about 9 over recent years. Unlike you I tend to take the rather easier option of building coaches in BR green livery or in blood and custard. The thought of lining all the individual panels in Southern livery would be a challenge too far for me I have attached a picture of a Roxey Non -Descrpt brake that I built last year Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Hi Pete Cracking work on the coaches, they look great. I still have to do mine and still have to finish my D3, but have not had much time to do anything. Have packed a lot of stuff away as hopefully starting the loft conversion soon. can't wait to see the D3 too. All the bestChris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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