dasatcopthorne

A small diversion.

Was this meant for the Eastern Region or an indication that the SR was thinking of putting overhead up.

Dave

Hi Dave,

 

Just seen your message before trudging off into the garden.  I have studied the first image at length it comes for 'A Southern Electric Story' .  I really don't  think it should be published here but thanks anyway. (Hope they are not owned by Getty Images, or someone will be getting a nasty bill!) 

 

The picture of shows in particular, a line of units headed by 2 BIL 2152 - as you know, the very last one.  It can be seen that the vents are just off-centre to the compartment side.  Behind that is a 2 HAL. It has its vents along the centre-line of the roof on the DMBS and centred over compartments on the DTC (nearer the camera).  the next two units are harder to make out, but appear to be 2 BILs in the series somewhere between 2011-2115.  the middle row is headed by another later unit, pity about that gantry obscuring the number!  Behind that, a  2 HAL, followed by a late series 2 BIL then another 2 HAL.  All this can be made out by knowing where the roof vents were positioned on particular types of unit.

 

The second picture shows  unit 2002 from the first ten 2 BILs which are 'pre-production' so to speak - as for differences between them and  the main batches, don't even go there!

 

All the best,

 

Colin

Colin.

Mmmm. Personal use only, as I said.

Anyway.

Here are a couple of things that may be of help.

The second I will re-post when you start the model.

Dave

Hi Dave,

 

Many thanks for posting those pictures.  I had not seen them before and they will be most useful for reference in the days ahead. 

 

While they show 2090, which has a different arrangement on the roof, the components are quite clear to be seen. The lamp tops are set lower in the row towards the centre, the water pipes do approach the tank by a series of right-angle bends and the DTC's cab vent is smack on the roof centre-line.  I suppose the differing water strips is down to how they were nailed on post re-canvassing of the roofs.  There seems to be a distinct lack of fixings showing on the window frames of 2090.  The frames appear to be Alpax ones.

 

All the best,

 

 

 

Hi Colin.

 

Sorry about that.

 

I've not modelled a 2Bil so have never needed to look into the various details on them.

 

Have you got the MRC drawing and the pictures that went with it. They're quite good.

 

Have had a look through my collection of books but only found the following 2 shots. One not very good at all.

 

I've scanned them (for personal use only).

 

I now note there were 4 different build batches for the 2Bil.

 

 

Dave

 

 

 

Colin

Colin.

Here's what I have of use.

I basically missed photographing the BILs so here is the NRM one.

My photography was not so good back then so I have fiddled about in Paintshop Pro to bring out some of the details.

Note the differing rainstrips.

Dave

Hostilities have really begun now, starting with the DTC's roof first:

 

 

The filler pipes are going to be replaced and also get in the way for the next process, so off they came.  The cap on the filler tank is just a press-fit and easily levered off.

 

IMG_6622.JPG

 

Next, the stand-alone conduit knobs are firmly pushed out from the inside (the same applies to removing the filler pipes from the inner ends).

 

IMG_6624.JPG

 

Just the gentlest of strokes with the knife blade held flat against the roof and the conduit etc. can be carefully shaved away.  The position of the DTC's cab vent can be seen just above my finger tip.   All 'production' 2 BILs, without exception, had their cab vents on, or just off, the centre-line on the DTC cab roof just to the fore of the roof/cab joint. (That statement could come back to haunt me!)

 

IMG_6627.JPG

 

The DTC's roof after a rub down with wet and dry paper (used wet).  To the left lay the tools of destruction.  The power line and control conduits could, in theory have been kept, but would have made the task of removing the vents etc. much harder to do neatly. I have left the round moulded-on conduit supports (between the holes), as they are just the same as shape as I have fitted to my scratch-built EMUs.  (Surely Hornby didn't take a peek at one of the topics did they?!)

 

IMG_6628 (1024x698).jpg

 

 

The inner end of the DTC.  The toilet water tank filler cap has been taken off.  A new one is going to be sited in line with the ventilators.  This avoids the r/h lighting conduit running straight though it, which could never have been the case.  The holes where the knobs were on the inner ends will be filled and new brackets made. 

 

IMG_6629.JPG

 

It should be noted that all these photos relate only to the work of replacing fittings as per the last batch of 2 BILs. (Edit: apart from that bit about the DTC cab ventilator.)

 

Colin

Hi Colin

Have I sent you my 2 Bil roof pictures.

Can't remember now.

Dave

Star Lane!!

Love it. Been down on the line there once and can remember the covered way.

Can't wait to see all those EMU's running.

Use to hear DEMUs on the Brighton line at Gatwick on a summer's Friday or Saturday night around midnight. Understood they were refuelling at Selhurst having come from Hastings.

Dave

Why not develop the free Semi detached house garage into a row of full, half & low relief.

Some more quick sales to boost the coffers to finance more kit development.

Dave

Interesting signs on your walls!!

Dave

May I make the following suggestion.

Build two small branchline termini, curtain them off around the front so as to hide them from view.

Then connect the two using an open fiddleyard with the backscene upto the same height as the curtain round the front of the stations

.

Pleanty of people ask to see how a fiddleyard works. This way they can enjoy the yard whilst you enjoy the termini.

I can remember seeing Norden. An 'N' gauge Morden.

Dave

Thanks for that Bernie,

We'd better just stick to calling them 12mm or 14mm wheels !

 

Was the DMU in P4 article, the infamous Lea Valley unit conversion ? The chap had trouble with the compartment spacing and ended up making the trailer about an inch longer than it should of been ! But he got the track gauge right. Think it was a copy of "Model Trains"? Shouldn't laugh really. BK

Oi!

That was my conversion.

Only joking :rolleyes:

Dave

Here's a couple of quickies to expand the range, John. (You may remember)

On TO21 Corner Shops.

Using the doorway 'on the angle' change this to an entrance to a hallway and make the upper floors a series of flats. Leaving the shops a lockups.

On TO20 Terraced Houses.

Supply windows on the front elevation behind the bay windows so you have a choice of bay or no-bay windows.

Use R006 'platform subway' for a London street 'Tube station entrance'.

A classic LT Tube/BR station entrance. For the High Street scene or to fit the viaduct arches.

A bus Garage and / or Bus station

Dave Smith