5Bel Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hi All, Looking for something to get my enthusiasm for modelling back, I chanced upon a Mainline Mk1 Buffet/Restuarant for £9 at the Spalding swapmeet. Those of us of a certain age will remember when this model came out it completely raised the bench mark for RTR coaches, (just checked, came out in 1981)!! Even the windows were good compared to other coaches around at the time. I decided to try and improve the coach a bit by flush glazing and changing the buffer heads. I had a Bachmann restaurant car that has been earmarked for conversion into a Bep buffet car so was interested to see if the glazing fitted the Mailine model. All that was required was to snip out the window vent mouldings and tidy up the window apertures. The Bachmann windows were from a maroon version so the vents were painted grey. The door droplights would not fit so I used Replica glazing from the spares box. The glazing was secured with canopy glue and the kitchen windows painted white. Bufferheads were replaced with brass items. Overall a quick, easy and effective conversion that has lifted my modelling Apathy and also lifted the model so it doesn't look out of place among more modern models. Now onto some Golden Arrow Pullmans from Hornby's latest offerings. Cheers for now, Ian. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
number6 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Grand. I also remember gazing longingly at the maroon one I had and amazing at the quality. Must be in a box still. They had a nice solid feel too. I may be way out on a limb here but found the Triang-like construction of Bachmann's Mk1s, their roof ribs and bogies with brake blocks in line with frames a slight backward step when they emerged... Look at the roof on the Mainline one that is a lovely job... for 1981. cheers 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I agree that the Mainline Restaurant Buffet set the standard only it was a shame that it was the only one produced and never became part of a range as it came just before Palitoy ceased trading! I remember them selling for £5.50 new! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Bel Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hi, Thanks for the comments. There are a number of things on todays modern coaches that were done better in the past. Think of Kitmaster glazing in the 60's, wire filler pipes on Hornby Dublo Mk1's. The early Replica Mk1's had roof ribs the same as the Mainline buffet car, they are still good on their latest versions of the FO, SO and BCK. Once again thanks. Cheers for now, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
drgj Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I like the old Mainline Buffet car. I have often wondered whether the old Replica FO was originally going to be part of the Mainline range but maybe taken over by Replica. What make of track are you using there? Is it C&L? it looks good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 5BEL, I like what you have done to this buffet car. If there is one thing I detest above all others it is supposedly flush glazed coaches with bl00dy great window sills! Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I have 4 of these hiding in a cupboard somewhere! Mainline B/G and maroon and Replica IC Charter and SR Green These were to me were the turning point at which model coaches became far more realistic. XF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Bel Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hi, Thanks for the comments. The Replica FO and BCK certainly look to be the same spec as the Buffet car but they were entirely Replica products. The track is exactoscale bases with steel rail. The bases are now made by C&L and do look good but I think they are currently unavailable in 00. Cheers for now, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted January 23, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2015 Are those buffers round headed? If so they should be oval. The Replica FO and BCK are very Mainline in appearance. Got some flush glazing for the BCK to do some time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Bel Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hi Martin, The buffers are oval. Though I admit it is not clear from the photos. ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ROSSPOP Posted January 24, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2015 Great work Ian......... so much so it reminded me of a love affair I had with this coach back in 2005 albeit one in green. I decided to use MJT parts and individually cut acrylic sheet for the windows. i wanted an earlier version with Mk1 Bogies but not sure whether its right as I think the earlier version either did or did`nt have a store cupboard somewhere. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Bel Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hi Rosspop, Your coach looks excellent, did you ever finish it. I wouldn't enjoy cutting all those window parts individually, would drive me nuts! Cheers for now,Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ROSSPOP Posted January 28, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks Ian She's still unpainted. Need to match up some green to touch up round the windows. Also considering replacing the vac cylinders perhaps. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 7, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 7, 2015 Has anyone looked at putting these bodies on to modern Bachmann Chassis to get the close coupling mechanisms? Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted February 9, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) Has anyone looked at putting these bodies on to modern Bachmann Chassis to get the close coupling mechanisms? Phil The shape of the Mainline under-floor area is such that the original Keen Systems CCU fits very easily (also applies to Replica BCK, FO, BG). It doesn't self centre as standard but if you leave your coaches in rakes (or only remarshall them in the privacy of a fiddle yard), that's not really important. John Edited February 9, 2015 by Dunsignalling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 9, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2015 Thanks John Does the Keen system have a NEM pocket and if so does it align with those on the Bachmann CCU? We have standardised on the Roco pattern Hornby close coupler and dont want to change them all!!! Cheers Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted February 9, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) Thanks John Does the Keen system have a NEM pocket and if so does it align with those on the Bachmann CCU? We have standardised on the Roco pattern Hornby close coupler and dont want to change them all!!! Cheers Phil Hi Phil, The Keen unit has a pocket that does conform to the NEM spec but is open at the bottom, I just glue in a bit of Evergreen channel to close it up once I am satisfied with the fitting. What can cause problems is that, whilst Keen CCUs fit the NEM Standard, Bachmann's don't, they are too high and too short (and insufficiently rigid IMHO). Mr Keen also produces resin replacement links for Bachmann coaches which remove the alignment problems. I am gradually fitting these to all my Mk1s to ensure interoperability with Hornby stock which generally conforms very well with the Standard. You might be able to adapt the Keen unit to make it align with the Bachmann links but I haven't tried it. Another option, if you want to run the RB in a fixed rake, would just be to fit a Keen link to the near end of each adjacent coach. When the Bachmann Mk1s first came out, I and a friend went to a lot of trouble to improve the performance of the standard CCU link in conjunction (mainly) with Kadee NEM heads. We managed to greatly reduce the problems we encountered in running trains of more than six coaches but it was a laborious process. The Keen links did more to improve matters in five minutes than we had been achieving with over an hour's work per coach, hence my regard for the product! A look round www.keen-systems.com will provide more enlightenment than I can. John Edited to improve clarity! Edited February 9, 2015 by Dunsignalling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 9, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2015 Thank you John Will be having a chat with Mr Keen! As I would ideally like to have a few RBRs and FOs and Mainline/Replica are the only current options and we don't run fixed rakes then I need a solution that will align with Bachmann's pockets - cant afford to replace CCUs on 60+ coaches ! Cheers Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Great job! I have just bought two of these RBRs (one in Mainline's Blue/Grey livery, and one in Replica's InterCity Exec livery). I was wanting to flush glaze them the same as you have done - where did you get the spare glazing from? Did you have it lying around or is it available from Bachmann? I'm tempted to rub down the window frames as well, and repaint the grey band. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Bel Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 Great job! I have just bought two of these RBRs (one in Mainline's Blue/Grey livery, and one in Replica's InterCity Exec livery). I was wanting to flush glaze them the same as you have done - where did you get the spare glazing from? Did you have it lying around or is it available from Bachmann? I'm tempted to rub down the window frames as well, and repaint the grey band. Hi, Thanks for the comments. The spare glazing came from some that Colin Parks kindly gave me, but there are plenty of cheap Bachmann MK1's out there for spares. I am not sure if Bachmann do the glazing as spares. Good luck with your two, be good to see them on here. Cheers for now, Ian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Replica Railways do some Mk.1 glazing units, RA34, but they don't feature the specialist restaurant car types. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 (edited) Haha I don't know where you're finding these cheap Bachmann Mk1s. Perhaps you would like to share! I've taken delivery of my two RBRs now and I'm massively impressed. You can certainly see the family resemblance between this and it's grandson - Bachmann's current Mk1. I read in a few places the profiles don't match and I was getting worried, but saying they don't match is picking nits as far as I'm concerned. I see that Southeastern Finecast have a glazing kit available for this coach which I might invest in. At £3 if it doesn't work it's hardly broken the bank! Edited February 26, 2015 by sub39h Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamperman36 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I think I'll have to get myself a couple of these coaches. I remember they were some of the best available when they originally came out and they still look just as good. The worst part is the moulded vac tank which I will have to remove and replace with some Southern Pride etches and seperate tanks. A little time and paint on the interior may also be an idea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Just before I bite the bullet and get some SE flush glazing, has anyone got photos of it fitted please? The attempts above are certainou excellent, but finding a cheap RU is not proving easy and I don't think I have it in me to cut custom ones neatly! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Hello 4sub You ask so I will post these links again. First a link to the Mainline RBR showing the recessed windows and the raised edging. Second a Replica RBR to which the previous owner had fitted Finecast Flush Glazing. Just before I bite the bullet and get some SE flush glazing, has anyone got photos of it fitted please? The attempts above are certainou excellent, but finding a cheap RU is not proving easy and I don't think I have it in me to cut custom ones neatly! Regards Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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