pdanny

Just going through my stock list of what I'm going to take to the Chiltern Model Railway's Modeller's Workshop this Saturday 20th July in Watford... My oldest and first ever unit build was an MTK Class 414 2HAP Conversion Kit. I gave it a makeover about 5 years ago addi g some MJT parts and replacing the original undercarriage components and it's not looking too bad. Also coming will be my latest build, Bratchell Models Class 455/8 which is still ongoing as I work through building the interiors. So you'll get to see the first and the last, and a fair bit of inbetween. Looking forward to seeing who comes along and please say hello if you've liked any of the units I've built or share an interest.

I've been invited to participate in the Chiltern Model Railway's Modeller's Workshop on 20th July in Watford if anyone is around? I will have some of my units with me so it would be great to see any other southern unit modellers or anyone that shares a passion in the Southern Region. Details below...

I've been invited to participate in the Chiltern Model Railway's Modeller's Workshop on 20th July in Watford if anyone is around? I will have some of my units with me so it would be great to see any other southern unit modellers or anyone that shares a passion in the Southern Region. Details below...

Thanks Will. Yes, from Express Models. The interior lighting comes in premade packs for Lima Mk1s and have super capacitors so the lights stay on for 2mins after the power drops.

4TC now also has lighting throughout. Next job will be to repaint both 4REP & 4TC undercarriage + bogies. All recent units will also have a test run tomorrow so will take pics...

Thanks Ryan. I've now added interior lighting to the 4REP and made some additions to the interior so the model looks more like the real thing...

Vestibule doors have been painted and weathered to be filthy like the real units were in their last months of service pending the late arrival of the Class 442s. Route blinds to follow with directional lighting and interiors.

All 4 fitted and undercoat applied.

When I first joined the RMWeb, I was building a 4REP/4TC from scratch using MJT kits, plasticard and lots of old spares from disguarded Lima stock I had as a kid. They've ran well together ever since but now it's time to bring them both in line with my more recent builds and will enable them to fit in with lighting, a more quiet and efficient motor and corrected detailing. First up, the MJT cabs. I find these far more realistic in their shape and style than the Hornby VEPs or Bachmann TCs but their biggest downside is the vestibule door being too short. I have a few spare doors from my Hornby VEP cab conversions and having obtained a few more from friends who have converted their Hornby VEPs too I have enough spares to retrofit my entire fleet now. By filing off the bottom but retaining the sides, you can gain an additional 2mm. Fix this to a piece of 1mm thick plasticard cut to the same width. Then score in the door edge with a sharp knife. After this, cut the removed vestibule door or spare across the bottom as if to create a vestibule rubbing plate and glue to the bottom. With some minor filling and filing/sanding, the finished door looks spot on

Absolutely!!! I'm at a wedding at some point then but I'm sure I'd be able to make one of those dates. I'd love to visit, for sure. Thanks

Running tests went well with 4CIG, 6REP 455 and some recent loco upgrades all running well...

Time to put some of my recent work to the test and give them some test runs on a layout. Taking my units to a friends layout to put them to work. Hope to share some pics later...

Hey Dave, Anytime. If you do find out, let me know as I could do with a few more, thanks. Wasnt aware of Paul's little do, lol. Sounds good though, have a good one. All the best Danny...

Not sure tbh as it doesn't have any details on it. I bought it off Ebay for £7 and it contained 2x Mk1 underframe trusses. The etchings came with hand drawn assembly instructions. I wish I knew who makes them as I need another pack.

DTC1 rebuilt now with replacement underframe, undercarriage components, bogies wired up, added inner end cable boxes, internal lighting, headlight and lit destination blinds. Southwestern division route 81 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour fast direct via Guildford.

Made some progress on 4CIG with lighting installed, DTC2 headcode blinds and headlight fitted, all bogie pickups fitted and the DTC2 inner end corrected. Some filling, detailing and paint job tweaking to follow this week. DTC1 up next.

Thanks its coming along well. I've got 3 interiors left to do and some bits of detailing and its finished. Going back to some of my earlier builds now and upgrading. I've since been tinkering with my MTK model 455 which I'm sure you would appreciate. I bought it from MTK at an open day in the mid eighties.

Well I'm currently working on upgrading a 4CIG and completing my first Bratchell 455 kit. I already have an MTK 455 which alongside the Bratchell one looks a bit wrong but I have ran them both together on a friends layout and its fair to say they run well together. I would love another 313 as it just seems right to have another but it wont be this year unfortunately given my planned agenda on builds and current stock waiting patiently for their turn on the workbench.

Thanks Rich, love a recommendation, ordered today. Will see how it goes. Appreciate the help. Danny...

While 455 interiors are in progress, I thought I'd also get started on a few earlier build upgrades. My first and oldest MJT build is 4CIG 1881 which I built around 15 years ago. I've never been happy with the finish as the vestibule doors on the cab are too short and because I converted it from Lima Mk1s, there were incorrect underframe components left on. So I'm pleased to be in a position to now be able to go back and correct what I'm not happy with. First up those cab fronts. I've rebuilt the vestibule doors using plasticard and some spares. Definately looks better. I've never understood how both Hornby and Bachmann got these fronts wrong. MJT have the cab correct but their doors are way too short so it just looks wrong. I was really pleased with 6REP as that was a combination of MJT cabs with corrected Hornby VEP doors so it was essential that 4CIG looked as close to that as possible. Having added them on and painted them, I'll weather them to match the cabs once a few more tweaks are done. Next up, those incorrect Lima Mk1 underframes. It was a challenge at the time to remove the moulded on battery boxes as that would've meant rebuilding the trussing which I wasn't equipped to do. So now I've removed the entire undercarriage with my trusty dremel and started from scratch using brass trussing and Southern Pride undercarriage components. The first DTC is almost done. I've also stripped back the inner ends so I can get onto those next... The cabs need the handrails replacing, repainting of the black window surrounds and the detailing added.

Had a test run on a friends layout and tweaked some running issues. Extra weight for the Hornby Class 153 motor added to give better adhesion and made some repairs to the pickup points on the bogies to reduce the friction and make them free rolling. Added bagpipes to both cabs so with all the exterior work complete, attention now moves over to the interiors. Started with seats made from Hornby Networker spares. Filed down the high backs to make them low backs as per the earlier 455 seating. Partitions were made from 3ply plasticard, one orange, one clear and one brown. Seating fixed onto a false floor enables all the wiring to be hidden underneath. It's a slow process so the MSO was done first to test the format and it all worked out well. Will paint the seating once all four are assembled. One down, 3 to go...

Now varnished with all decals on, I've been able to fit the windows having silvered all the frames and added the no smoking stickers in each one. Cab windows have been added along with wiper blades and destination blinds are now fixed in: Waterloo to Woking and the reverse at the other end. Made a start on the lighting with all interior lighting added, lights in the destination blinds and headlights in both cab fronts. The effect looks amazing when lit. Next job is jumper cables on the cabs and seating in the interiors...

So the paint job has neared completion and I'm now in a position where I can start adding on the detail. I've wired up all the bogies ready to power the internal lighting. I've painted in the white lining on the blue grey livery. Started to add all the detail such as handrails, horns, destination blinds and vestibule doors. Added on Railtec Transfers which are awesome and so much easier being unit specific. And suddenly you can see your model and it's like Oh there it is. There's my unit. There's my 455, it's real!

These will save so much time, effort and fiddling around chopping up numbers. Great result and stunning work Railtec Transfers, thank you. I also have your push door button transfers to use on this model so it will be a total Railtec unit.

With painting nearing completion, now turning attention towards detailing. Transfers have been recieved from Railtec Transfers and they're spot on, bespoke for my unit 5873. Printed off the destination blinds but undecided on final options yet. I'm pleased with them too. They'll look good with the lighting on. Once the final painted elements are done, focus will move to adding on all the pipes, handrails and wipers etc.