ROSSPOP`S 7mm GWR kit built rolling stock

[ROSSPOP]

  I could never afford any 7mm model railway kits back in the 1980`s and I certainly had`nt aquired the knowledge and skills required to make a successfull build then anyway.  I did`nt earn enough filthy lucre then either.

 

I`m pretty sure these RJH coach kits were available then from Bournemouth Model Centre at the Christchurch end of Holdenhurst Road;  a long road that also had Bournemouth Book and Model Centre at the nearer Bournemouth end....... happy days

 

I finally snapped this two coach set at a reasonable price off ebay in 2012 , eight months prior to retirement !!!

 

Also.... my motto remains `why buy RTR when a  decent metal kit is available` and I also need to crack on with building coach kits rather than my addiction to locos.

 

I like what comes in these kits.

 

 

The pre-rolled brass coach sides are from quite thick material and the most problematic area for me was going to be shaping the recessed guards door sections supplied as a flat etch.

 

 

So I tackled these first and finished of with model filler.

 

 

Next was the recessed door handle parts.

 

 

 

I upgraded the door hinges with parts from CPL etchings which fitted well into the kits pre-etched hinge slots.

 

 

Overall the kits are composite white metal and brass parts with  pre-shaped tin roof section and a `hardboard` flooring which can be made removable.

 

 

The solebars and underframe can also be made as a seperate unit and is attached along with the hardboard flooring to the assembled body with nuts and bolts on the whitemetal coach ends.

 

It does , of course require, care with a combination of `proper` solder and quality low melt versions together with their relevent fluxes.

 

Although the solebars are also pre shaped they too need carefull soldering to the whitmetal bufferbeams at each end, they also have pre-etched riviting on their reverse sides.

 

The truss rods are pre- etched in the flat and require folding to shape. Far too troublesome for me, so I replaced with brass angle strips.

 

 

But I did manage to fold up the centre sections and framing.

 

 

I`m quite pleased with the upgrade.

 

 

 

now on to the second coach.........

 

[OnTheBranchline]

Great job so far!