SimonME46

I’d like to work on this soonish. Getting the sound files seems to be a problem, however MSTS has kinda been replicated by OpenRails, and so we have open source sound files and quite good too. The issue will be workin* out the various triggers for the loco sounds, especially steam locomotives. I note your comment about the sound not varying as the loco moves, that will be something to watch out for..

Sorry for the loss of your mother. Layout coach is stunning. Love the details of the blinds.

That Fascia is stunning!

What length has your coach come out at? Just observing the end of the side hav8ng the gap to the end mounding?

I won’t, my eyes won’t handle anything smaller than 7mm.. Meanwhile here is an Aschurch, 13/5/1961, John Langford photo of what I think is an LMS Brake 3rd. It appears in "Steam Around the West Midlands" by Michael Welch, published by Rails Publishing 2015, To me it’s a fascinating study in how grime accumulated on what were nominally clean things. My previous observation has been minimal grime on the plain body panels, but around any raised areas, clearly a different story!

Ian Kirk designed kits are available in 4mm, I think. See http://shop.cooper-craft.co.uk/index.php?cPath=61

Excellent Fabrice!

Just found this thread. Brilliant modelling, you are an artist!

Thanks Bill, I’ll try to get some supplies and have a go at the hinges and steps. I’ve had a scout around for some prototype pics. I think the rain strips are feasible in that position. Sorry about the indirect link. http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/manchester_central/index28.shtml

Thanks Joseph and Bill. I agree, Ian is indeed a hero for affordable modelling. I think these have a lot of potential. The key is likely to be in the finishing. Bill, I’ve ended up with very similar measurements. I’m about 22-23mm from the edge. I think the difference is I have gone for ventilators 2’ either side of the centerline, I think Ian’s instructions were ‘about 10mm’. I’ve also noted your comments about hinges from 30thou rod, so I’ll chase some of that down whilst I am in Somerset from 30/11/17. Bill may I also ask how you did the end steps? I think Ian provides something for these, but I’d like the vertical plate as well. Your coaches show a high level of detail with all the handles, pipe work and hoses etc. I’d be very happy if I need up somewhere close.

And another one done, this time it’s the non-corridor composite. Quite a straightforward build. Ian provides some extra window panels for the 2 wider spaced 1st compartments and then the correspondingly 4 narrower spaced 3rd class compartments. You end up with a LOT of spare window panels out of this exercise! As usual, roof just sitting in place. According to the Comet instructions, they were used for urban and commuter trains, and likely formations were; BT/T (van inboard) BT/C/BT BT/C/T/BT BT/T/F/T/BT BT/C/BT/BT/T/BT BT/T/F/T/T/BT So for starters I need an all 1st if I want a longer rake, and/or I need more Brake Thirds. The further question is whether I should be using non-lavatory, non-corridor stock for Bradford (Exchange). Photos of coaches are hard to find, the focus is always on loco’s! The June 1954 working timetables show the following origins/departures for ‘B’ carriages, to which I have added a road distance; Penistone (38km) Lockwood (25km) Huddersfield (25km) Sowerby Bridge (18km) Halifax (14km) Manchester (60km) Thornhill (26km) Knottingley (45km) Holmfirth (32km) Wakefield (K) (32km) Clayton West (33km) Low Moor (6km) There was only 1 double set shown, the 12:10 to Huddersfield, which comprised the 7:23 and 9:40 ex-Penistone. Both of the incoming coaches depart as ECS to Broomfields carriage sidings, so the combining of the sets would be done there. I’m pretty sure the appendix to the WTT shows a max of 6 coaches at Bradford. I would imagine the Manchester and Knottingley rakes might have lavatory coaches? Both have outward workings to Penistone.

I’ve got serious doubts myself, Joseph. I got in another session last night. It’s very hard to take photos of white carriages with black underframes! Roof is just sitting in place. The end windows had to be cut by hand, started in the flat before glueing to the sides, then final filing of corners etc. I’m still pondering what to do about end steps, I think there are castingson the sprues, but they don’t have the vertical backplate element, only the foot step.

I really like the result Bill Campbell (66C) achieved from these kits, seen here And

Thanks for the kind words gents. I moved the rain strips, much happier now. I got cracking with the next coach, a.brake 3rd. First step was cutting down the plain window panels, per the instructions. I think there are handy ribs on the back of the panels to cut back to, I’m now just scraping the flash off the side of the panels with a knife, as I’d sanded them too accurately and lost the door gap. I am sanding the tops flat whilst held against the aluminum angle. All third in the background with revised rain strips. Well that took a lot less time than the first one. Just need another session and this one will be largely complete.

Almost ready for the paint shop. Side view, again, not at all sure about the rain strips..