madebymccoy

Looks really good... Any detail shots of the front and rear? I've got the 225 set from the 90's, with the original Class 91 and DVT in Intercity swallow livery. Tempted to at least detail them, but wary as to anything too significant... What couplings are you using on your NR fleet? I've been looking around for couplings to standardise on and I'm unsure whether to for for 3-link or buckeyes or a more prototypical hybrid of the two. Jon

Put me down for a pre-order!

Really helpful, thanks for that! I've not checked the coach on 100 or 75 track yet, there's lots of plastic seams on the chassis, bogies and wheels, so I'll see when all cleaned up how when they run - I don't really want to replace the bogies, but the wheels might be on the list... Working with the filler, what grade of glass paper/wet-and-dry are you using? I read earlier of your recommendation on paint stripper (Phoenix's Superstrip), I'm holding off buying until I know what paints/thinners etc I'll also need, as cost of shipping is prohibitive otherwise. If I plow straight into plastic work and filling now without stripping first, will things go bad when I come to strip later on? I'm just worried if it attacks the glue or filler. I've got a crappy air brush (can't find my old decent one, so barely trust it for weathering let alone top coats), so I might go for Phoenix's self-fill spray can - it saves me messing up the airbrush with enamel as well I guess. I was coming round to the realisation I'd have to go for an enamel or solvent based acrylic (Tamiya etc) for most of the conversion work at some point, using acrylics just for details and weathering. Thanks Jon

"Long time listen, first time caller" I've been following the thread for a while and been inspired enough to do my own conversions, especially given how bad many of the production departmentals are (not to mention the 12month lead times for most). What started with the plan to play around, has now loaded my workbench with four conversions. Talk about biting off more than you can chew. With me getting an Airfix Mk2 FO in the post first, looks like my first conversion is 99666... Suppose filling 16 windows is good practice I've stripped the carriage to bits, trimmed plastic tabs, removed the gangways and chopped the D couplings off... The bogie and underframe are made from awful plastic, think I'll have to reinforce the under frame and probably replace the bogies (or wheels at least). Any recommendations for a supplier of wheels? If I can get some advice; - what filler are you using? - what primer are you using? Do you strip the grey primer off before the paint job or just touch it up/cover it after final sanding? - what top coat are you using? I've looked at Phoenix enamels, but I have a background in acrylics and have zero experience with enamels... Plus, are you base acting with white or the grey primer? - is it easier to blank a window with plastic and fill the edges, or back the window with plastic and use filler to build it up? Keep up the good work! Jon