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!

Hi Jon,

Glad you like the thread.

The original wheels are OK for use with Peco Code 75, but if I have some spare, I replace with metal wheels. The last batch used 12mm plain disc wheels from Bachmann. I have used Romford-Jackson previously.

 

The filler is Squadron White Putty.

 

Primer is Halford's Acrylic - I use both white and grey - if only to create a different shades of yellow as the test trains seem to be, depending upon how long they've been in service. I will often use a "dusting" of primer to see if the surface needs more work.

 

Topcoat is Phoenix P310 Network yellow enamel. Others like enamel and can't do acrylics - As long as I leave plenty of time for the paint to harden fully between acrylic/enamel or enamel/acrylic, then I don't usually have problems.

 

Far better to fill the space as much as possible with plastic as filler tends to shrink over time - especially if it's a deep layer of filler. Minimal filler means minimal shrinkage. Look back in this thread for HSTRC 999550 to see how I've tried to fill as much space as possible with plastic offcuts before filling. It's also easier to create a flat surface with plastic than filler. I can take up to a week making sure that the filler has dried out as much as possible.

 

HTH,

Cheers,

Mick

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

Years of practice with plenty of error, blood, filler, paint, wheels, scrap bodies etc. I have a large supply of all of these after the years I've been modelling.

 

Find a cheap Airfix Mk2d BSO (£5 on ebay typically) or any other coach body from the scrap box under a second hand traders stall at an exhibition and have a go! Blank one window at a time, hopefully getting better with each one. Then when you're happy, go for a full blanked coach such as 99666 or 977986

 

Cheers,

Mick

"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