Taz

Wow, doesn't time fly. It had never registered before but RMWeb is exactly 31 years younger than me HAPPY birthday to us both.

Too late. I stripped it 2 weeks ago. Immediately washed in warm soapy water after. No adverse effects showing so far but I will keep my eye on it.

Unfortunately earlier this year longstanding DRAG member Allan Pulley passed away. However he was kind enough to leave his railway collection to the group. Amongst this was a Phoenix Coaches diag E128 bow ended composite brake coach. We decided this should be set aside for the Bodmin project where it would be used as a strengthening coach to the usual B Set consists. I volunteered to take on the renovation and repainting of this coach so it can join the Bodmin fleet. So this is it as it arrived: As it came it obviously would need a repaint to fit the time period of Bodmin. The glazing was loose but this wouldn't be an issue as I would need to strip it for repainting anyway. On closer inspection I realised there were a few other things I would need to address as well. The sides have very little relief. Thin wire had been used to represent door handles and grab rails but they were the wrong shape and way under scale. So these would need replacing. I also intend to add door hinges. I will probably skip on door bangers on this coach as being of aluminium construction I think it will be hard enough adding the hinges. The bogies are some sort of internal rocker set up which doesn't work very well and is overly complicated. So I shall replace with rigid Comet alternatives. I also noted that the underframe is laid out incorrectly. Allan followed the Phoenix instructions but they are incorrect, with both battery boxes under the guards compartment. Reference to prototype photos shows that E128s had the more traditional layout of battery boxes either end on the corridor side. Finally the sprung buffers are oval and not the correct round shape. So I will be looking at addressing all these issues. The first stage was to strip it all down which wasn't too difficult as it was either glued or screwed. So I currently have a pile of bits: It will be interesting to see how working with aluminium compares to the brass I am more used to. More to follow....

It's been a while since I updated this thread as my modelling has been sporadic over the past year or so. But I thought I should detail what has been taking up what time I have spent at the workbench. Some of you may be aware that DRAG salvaged the late Mike Casey's P4 Bodmin and we are slowly going through the process of turning it into an exhibition layout. We are also moving the time period to BR late 50s / early 60s and I have agreed to build a B set which were the staple passenger traffic on the line. So last year I bought a Comet E147 B set pair and made a start. The first job was to detail up the sides and solder all the hinges, drop lights and door bumpers. Unlike the K42 there were no half etched dimples for the bumpers so I had to measure these out. These sides were then soldered to the ends , and together to form a box section and joined to the (cut to size) roof with araldite. Unlike my 00 coaches where I use Hornby/Roco close couplers these P4 coaches will use screw links to couple to other stock and a rigid bar between each other. So I was able to build up the chassis as Comet designed without the modifications I made to the K42. More to follow...

Alas, not very quickly. Nothing much has moved on for 2 years now. Not sure what the problem is, other than work has been full on for a while now (I'm writing this from my work laptop whilst taking a break from writing a document and it's 9.45pm) and by the time I down tools I haven't got much more energy to do anything more than sit in front of the goggle box. I need a kick up the backside to get some modelling done.

To be fair, that was over 2 years ago. When I brought a test point into DRAG you commented on how the narrow gauge (at the V only) was unnoticeable but the 1mm check rail gaps were a visual improvement. You said you would consider it for your future 00 extension plans. Do I need to show you another crossing to jog your memory

You obviously haven't been frequenting the right sort of places then

Yes please!

Nick, I'm not 100% but wouldn't the V5 van have been modified with twin bonnet ventilators by your time period?

So eventually you will own the land where the new houses are being built then

Sorry, just realised my recommendations for a donor coach is incorrect for a H33. As the H33 was 57' you would need a Hornby Railroad Collet coach. Get a later buffet version with 7' bogies and your work is reduced further. I've had a conversion of these Hornby Collets on the go for a while now and really should pull them out to finish them off: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/68260-tazs-rtr-wb-improving-Hornby-collets/ The b set is 60' and is a suitable donor for your H39/H40 conversion. Not sure off hand without referring to my books on the design of the H36 but if it is a 60' bow end design you could use it for that as well.

Rick, For not much more you could pick up an Airfix b set coach for around a fiver and comet H33 etches for 10.50. This would give you a much better starting point for a conversion.

Thanks Tony. It had been puzzling me as I hadn't considered the simple expedient of reversing to get the trains out of the kick back sidings.

Happy New year Tony. Could you explain how the extra fiddle yard roads (kick back sidings?) visible in the overview pictures work from an operational point of view? Thanks

My guess would be a K41 or K42 Collet BG.

The H39/H40 combination was also the regular dining combination on the Cornish Riviera Express in the late 50s / very early 60s. the two pairings were (H39) 9618 or 9619 and (H40) 9623 or 9625. They were in chocolate and cream from 1956.

I seem to recall the first draft of the Western CAD suffered from the same issue but that was rectified in later iterations so I am confident that it will get sorted.

The comet code is W29b http://www.cometmodels.co.uk/modules/viewcatpic.php/8/640

Indeed. To quote Frank Skinner "I once knew a girl whose parents were killed in a car accident whilst swerving to avoid a chicken crossing the road" Where do you draw the line?

Summer Saturdays could turn up a 28xx on passenger duties. Later this role was taken over by the 9Fs. There is a picture on p26 of Stem around Devon and Cornwall of 3854 at Kingskerswell Station on just such a duty.

Tony also covered them in the Right Track 4 DVD which is still available from Activity Media. Clip on youtube here: http://youtu.be/5ECUZz9hnwc

Good luck finding that!

Nice trees

To expand on Phil's info. 25 were built (nos 7490-7514) under Lot 734 during 1934. 10 more (nos 7566-7575) under Lot 1187 were added in 1939. Nos 7507-7509 were modified for use in the Coronation Scot sets. It is these that had the roof layout as per your model (but was it for pressure ventilation rather than air conditioning?). The last one was withdrawn in 1965. (All info from Jenkinson and Essery). You can download the instructions from the Comet website which shows the more conventional roof layout.

Some nice purchases there. I don't think that ia a CK though. I believe it is a 65' restaurant open first to diag 1902. Not sure on the roof details but it does match the model on the Comet website.