Class 319 Connex Express in OO

[Adam1701D]

I have been sent a part-built Bratchell Class 319 to vinyl up as a 319/2 in the Connex Express colour scheme. The vinyls are drawn up and with the printers, so the time has come to take a look at the kit.

 

First impressions are of a thing of beauty - the mouldings are a delight and shouldn't need much work to get ready for vinylling.

 

The plan is as follows:

 

1) Spray bodyshells white, masking around the flush glazed front windscreens.

 

2) mask and paint roof and inner ends black. Front end to be left white, with blue below solebar level. I've done a vinyl for the end panel. Not sure if I will use the whole thing, or just cut out the headlight clusters and Connex logo.

 

3) Mask and paint blue solebar stripe.

 

4) Fit vinyls - use a scalpel blade to remove clear film over window openings.

 

5) Varnish and fit glazing.

 

It's my first time building a Bratchell kit. I notice the glazing needs the frames picking out in silver. Is it better to do this before fitting or after?

 

I have decided not to modify the TS with the revised tolet windows, as it's not my kit and I'll probably make a pigs' ear of it...

 

 

[Adam1701D]

A couple of shots of the kit, as received...

 

[SRman]

Nice.

 

With Bratchell's liveried kits, they also offer the glazing with the silver frames already done. That has been the case on both the class 455 and the class 319 I built from them - both are in NSE liveries.

 

Edit: gratuitous (?) photo added to show the windows - these are as they came with the kit; I have not had to do anything to them t pick out the frames or vents.



It may be possible to buy the windows already done this way but I have not checked on Bratchell's website.

[piranha230]

You can buy the windows that already have the silver frames done, they are not listed on bratchells site though and they are double the cost.

[tomstaf]

I have been sent a part-built Bratchell Class 319 to vinyl up as a 319/2 in the Connex Express colour scheme. The vinyls are drawn up and with the printers, so the time has come to take a look at the kit.

 

First impressions are of a thing of beauty - the mouldings are a delight and shouldn't need much work to get ready for vinylling.

 

The plan is as follows:

 

1) Spray bodyshells white, masking around the flush glazed front windscreens.

 

2) mask and paint roof and inner ends black. Front end to be left white, with blue below solebar level. I've done a vinyl for the end panel. Not sure if I will use the whole thing, or just cut out the headlight clusters and Connex logo.

 

Hi Adam,

 

Their roofs and inner ends were grey not black. 319214

Revell 9 is a good match, and with a drop of white for the roof which is slightly lighter. HTH. 

 

Cheers

 

Tom

[Adam1701D]

Many thanks, Tom. I'll have to pop down to my local model shop to get a pot.

 

So far, I've just fitted the outer cab ends and painted the internal cab bulkheads grey ready for fitting. 

 

Hopefully, will spray tomorrow.

[Adam1701D]

The bodyshells have received a spray base coat of Citadel Skull White and a first coat of roof grey and paint on the ends. I need to do some tidying up tomorrow, with better light but really need to wait for the vinyls to get a better impression of the finished unit.

 

I've started picking out the individual window frames with a silver paint pen. Tedious but gives a good result.

[Adam1701D]

A little more work carried out - the windows have all been picked out in silver, using a felt-tipped paint pen and the front ends are now in Connnex livery.

 

Just need those vinyls to arrive now....

 

 

[Adam1701D]

Vinyls have now arrived.

 

[Adam1701D]

The first vinyls have been applied to the DTC - there is some tidying up to be done, particularly around the front end but, overall, I'm quite happy.