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...

On 06/07/2019 at 23:14, dj_crisp said:

Lovely EMUs.

Is that yellow leds you've used for the lighting?

Cheers

Will 

 

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...

On 30/06/2019 at 09:49, briantwigley said:

Beautiful models. You’ve done an excellent job, brings back some good memories of watching the various types running by when I lived daan saaf.

 

Ryan

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...

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

2 hours ago, Lyddrail said:

Danny,

I have been meaning to get in touch. My open weekend at home (Lydd Kent) is 26th, 27th & 28th July consisting of 10 layouts, demos, access to research material, bring & buy stand etc, food & strong drinks, plus much more. You would be welcome.

Or/and, I intend to put TWY up in the summer sometime for a few months and you would be welcome to run some of your trains and talk EMUs etc.

Cheers.

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

On 06/06/2019 at 22:43, dasatcopthorne said:

Thanks for that.

 

I think I recognise them as done by Alistair Rolfe who took over MTK.

 

I seem to remember they may have been in a kit he once gave me the check out for him.

 

Are you going to Paul Wade's little do this year?

 

 

Dave Smith

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...

22 hours ago, dasatcopthorne said:

Who's etch have you used for the u/f trussing please?

 

Dave.

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.

18 hours ago, Lyddrail said:

Danny,

Only just rediscovered your topic after the RMWeb change! Well done with the 455, looking good in blue/grey.

Cheers.

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. 

1 hour ago, Mersey507003 said:

Something I think would be effective if thats the right word would be say 2 x 6 car 313 sets and another 455 either running on its own service or potentially 3 x 4 car 455s to enable either 4 or 8 car running to show a busy scene during rush hour.

 

I realise these models are expensive that I'd probably be told where to go but its just something that ok I've never seen 6 car 313s or 8 car 455s in real life except on youtube as I have 507s and 508s where I live ( soon to be replaced by horrible articulated 777s ) but I have seen 6 car sets of the 507/508s running non atop as ecs , semi fast or express and when you see them belting through stations or over level crossings it stirs the thoughts of " whats the best way to model this ".

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,

On 17/05/2019 at 19:04, Rich Papper said:

Loving your work as ever. Just on the Lima conversions above and looking at the wheels, can I recommend these: 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peters-Spares-PS34-Lima-Replacement-12mm-Wagon-Coach-Wheels-x1-Pair/331646693786?hash=item4d37aef19a:g:xjcAAOSw04FbqnQ8

 

No connection, etc. Have used on various old Lima things I have and been quite happy. Right Lima axle length and much more sensible profile.

Looking forward to more.

Rich

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. 

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!

18 hours ago, railtec-models said:

Took quite a lot of searching to figure out the correct data panel data, but got there in the end (even if you might need a magnifying glass to read it in 4mm). For the benefit of others searching on the site for something similar, the cl455 unit was achieved via this versatile custom item here:

 

Pack 4mm-9091

http://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=2251

 

 

Spares of everything incl and all spot printed so there's no superfluous carrier film to worry about.  Pack is equally applicable to NSE / Stagecoach / Jaffa - the numbers are changed (incl prefix with or without a gap) and TOPS class / data panel depending on what's needed.

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.