Jules Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 Haven't posted a workbench topic for ages, so thought I would start with this one. As the title suggests this is an upgrade of the old Airfix autocoach using the Dart Castings kit. I am aware that although the model is mostly an A30 design, there are a few flaws with it. I know these can be rectified, but I am just going to apply the kit as supplied and see how that turns out. Anyway, here is the donor vehicle, complete with plastic wheels that have large amounts of flash on the flanges that causes 'interesting' running! The coach in bits : The kit : Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Bear Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 Hi Jules I'll follow your progress with great interest as this kit is on my shopping list. (But I need to get layout in a fit state first before contemplating such things.) Hope it goes well. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 Another interested follower. I have one of these on the todo shelf. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted April 17, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2011 Although I don't need an autocoach on my layout,I'd prefer a railmotor ,I'll be following this build as well Jules. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted April 17, 2011 Author Share Posted April 17, 2011 Thanks for the interest chaps Here's the first installment of actual work... I decided to tackle the body first, as it is the easiest part to do! All the molded hand rails are removed, as well as the lamp brackets. These came away very easily, almost as if they were added separately (which they obviously aren't). I think on two of them I did actually go a bit too deep, one of the drivers and one on the front. The kit doesn't include new door handles, but I think I might have some on another etch lying around. If not, I might attempt bending some out of wire, although my normal attempts at fiddly little things like that do not end well! I now need to paint the brake stand, hand brake and regulator to go inside the cab, and then paint the new bits on the outside. I am really hoping that I can get away with just touching in where necessary, but time will tell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted April 17, 2011 Author Share Posted April 17, 2011 Well I found some etched bits a could butcher and use for the door handles, so here is a pic! I'm slightly embarrassed to show it, as it also shows my ropey painting of the drop lights. They don't look to bad from normal viewing distances...honest! Also a shot of the inside. The partition between the driving area and saloon could really do with replacing with the two windows and a door, but as it is all part of the body molding I think that is a step too far at present. It will probably also be quite had to see once the room is on - hopefully. Further progress might be somewhat slower... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 A bit of progress...mainly in the bad painting dept.! I have touched in the chocolate (which is a reasonable match) and the cream (which is not quite as good). Once again the camera makes it look worse than it is, but it isn't too bad. I have left the door handles unpainted as I guess any paint would be rapidly worn away. Similarly, I didn't attempt to fully cover the hand rails for the same reason. Also added are the cab details, I think it is a little cramped due to the fixing screw collar. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the hand brake might be a little too tall. Fitting a driver could be challenging! Hope these are of minor interest. The chassis will take quite a bit longer I think! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Bear Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 The painted seats and cab detail makes a big difference already as the lack of these are obvious in the Airfix original, not least becuase of the open saloon layout and pretty large windows. I await more progress with interest, in particular how fiddly the chasis is to do. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mikkel Posted April 20, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 20, 2011 Hi Jules, only just found this thread. Amazing what a difference that detailing has made already. Many thanks for sharing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 Hi Jon The interior painting does make a big difference, it is probably more noticeable than the exterior mods! The underframe has the potential to be very fiddly. T here are a lot of potential bits to add, not all of which may be able to be added. There is quite a lot of auto gear at the end of the coach that might interfere with the bogies and coupling, so a lot of trial fitting will be in order, rather than fitting all the bit and then finding the bogies cannot be added! Anyway, should be fun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 Hi Mikkel I must have been typing at the same time as you! It does make a difference, although my efforts perhaps will not do the kit justice. However, as it my first attempt at coach detailing, I am quite pleased so far... Cheers Jules Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted May 1, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 1, 2011 Yet another person here with the detailing kit stashed away waiting to go on my autocoach. I had a "home made" go about 25 years ago at detailing it, nothing extravagant or as comprehensive as the Dart Casting kit though. Regards the coupling fouling the brake and auto gear, if you're not intending to tow an extra trailer or van behind your autotrailer, then simply cut the coupling off the bogie. I did a facsimile of the brake gear all those years ago, removed the coupling from the bogie and added a screw coupling to finish it off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted May 1, 2011 Author Share Posted May 1, 2011 Hi Ric The driving end will have no coupling (as you suggest) so hopefully will have the full detail. The locomotive end will require a coupling, so the detail might be limited, unless I take the plunge and use 3-links for this end! I have been doing some work on the underframe today, some pics will follow when there is something useful to show! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 Progress has been made on the underframe. This was actually done last Monday/Tuesday, but I have been without broadband since Tuesday am, then had a power cut all day today! The piccies show most of what has been done (apologies for the slightly dodgy focusing) : The battery boxes folded up and soldered; the drivers end brake and auto gear fitted...and those foot steps. These have to be the worst part of the kit. Why the vertical uprights are not part of the main etch I do not know. You have to fix them at 85deg, then everything else is attached (loose) by wire to these uprights and then glues to the chassis. The steps are then arranged in the correct postion and fixed in place. Very fiddly. I am not completely happy with the end result, but that's as good as it will get. They do look better now they are painted. These pics shows the battery boxes, brake cylinders and the steps These pics show the gubbins at the drivers end of the coach. I have decided to go down the screw link coupling route as the auto train will only be useing straight track, so seems like a good idea! I have done some more work today, the auto gear at the loco end, fitted the auto rod between the ends and put the first coat of paint on. Pictures should follow tomorrow when the light is better Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted May 8, 2011 Author Share Posted May 8, 2011 Another set of pics... Bogies in place (with new wheels) and the rodding between the auto connections added, along with the brake rod from the drivers end to one of the brake cylinders. That was such a fiddle I decided not to add the rods from the brake cylinders to the bogies - I don't think the absence will be noticed. The pics show a comparison between an original and the modified I hope that when I re-attach the body, all the glued on bits remain attached as the chassis is quite flexible... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Bear Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Looks good, Jules. Interesting to know how fiddly it has been, have just ordered this kit but can see it being in box for a while especially if there's lots of soldering in the underframe details. Hope it goes back together ok and look forward to seeing it at Mayshill with the 14xx... Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted May 8, 2011 Author Share Posted May 8, 2011 Hi Jon The only soldering I did was the battery boxes, and they could probably be glued. To be honest, the steps were the most fiddly and frustrating bits. Adding the rods underneath is a bit awkward, but if you can find a way to hold them steady it would be much easier. I have just re-attached the body - its looking quite good! I need to get a suitable driver and some passengers before clipping the roof back in, once it is re-assembled I want to minimise handling as some of the detail could be easily knocked off, which would be a bit irritating! Jules Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted May 8, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 8, 2011 That looks great Jules. What replacement wheels did you end up using? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted May 8, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 8, 2011 Just found this project, it looks great, thanks for sharing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Hi chaps Thanks for the complements Ric, the wheels are just Bachmann replacement wheels, nothing fancy! Chhers J Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 A few pics showing the almost completed article. Since the last ones, the underside rods have been painted, screw couplings added and the corner footsteps. I've just noticed that I have yet to attach the fairly obviously missing handrails for the doors/steps! The roof is just placed on (the wrong way round) until I source a driver and some passengers. Apologies for the picture quality, I had hoped they would the underframe detail better without having to turn the coach upside down, but I think it can be seen that there is a lot more gubbins underneath than the standard coach. They also show the body mods, which are probably more noticeable from most viewing angles. These last two show the auto on my layout, ready for running back and forth all of eight feet! Overall impressions of the kit - it's pretty good really. The white metal parts only had tiny amounts of flash, and the etched parts all seemed ok. As mentioned in a previous post, the worst part of the kit is assembling the footsteps, but others might find them really easy! The instructions are generally good, although it irritates me when a diagram is on the reverse of the words describing the steps related to the diagram! I think a couple of the diagrams could be clearer with regard to the auto equipment as it wasn't obvious how some of the parts fitted in relation to others. So apart from those minor criticisms, it was most enjoyable. Hope this has been of some interest... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Jules You've turned a toy into a prototype model, really enjoyed following you on this. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Thanks Mike Glad you enjoyed following it. It certainly has to be handled with a bit more care now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Bear Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 It looks great, Jules. The driving end with the screw coupling and seeing the cab controls is a big improvement. Notwithstanding your comments on the photos, the extra detail in the underframe is apparent too. A driver and a few passengers (and a lamp on the driving end?) will finish it off very nicely indeed. I'll bear in mind your comment about handling with care, think I'll defer constructing the one I've on order until I have layout tidy and settled. The 14xx looks good too with the Mainly Trains detailing kit. Thank you for for doing this thread, the good pics and the comments on the construction - I have bookmarked it for future reference! Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted May 12, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 12, 2011 Excellent results Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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