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Hi All, Does anyone have a set of instructions for a Springside 7mm Manor Kit. I am looking to rebuild one after it fell apart whilst I was stripping the paint!! I am still awaiting a reply from Springside but thought I'd try you guys as well. Thanks in advance, Ian

Hi John, I had to search for it!! There is a pic in Southern Region Electrics in Colour by Bruce Oliver. I wanted something a bit different because SR Green can be much the same when you have a bit of it. Gareth, All the windows are glazed separately using OHP film, when I glazed my KIrk 2Bil I flush glazed the whole unit, took me quite a while!! Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi Nige, Thanks for the comment. New job still on hold while our employer sorts itself out!! I have glazed the unit and applied the transfers. Still to put on the no smoking signs when I can find them!! Hopefully should have the interiors and underframes finished in a week or two. Glazing was a real challenge of concentration and willpower, it took over 6 hours to complete. The rest of the build will be easy by comparison! I've also made the sides of a 6PUL trailer second, after saying that I wasn't going to get distracted!! Cheers for now, Ian.

HI Vivian, Thanks for the comments. I did thin down the Precision Green as it was the bottom of the tin. Couldn't tell you what ratios though, I just squeezed some thinner into it and mixed it! Same with the grey, this was nearly solid before I thinned it!! The EMU was sprayed in red oxide primer so the green took about 5 thin coats to cover it, the roof has had about 3 coats. I couldn't comment on the quality of the Humbrol paint as I can't remember how long I have had the tin, Could be years!! I've manage to source enough parts to have an attempt at a 6Pul trailer composite so may give that a go as well. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, Over a year since I posted anything in this thread. Where does the time go??? The painting of the bodies is now complete. All brush painted with Precision SR EMU stock green which is a good match for colour photos and also matches Humbrol Stock green which is no longer available. Roofs are Humbrol 32. I used Markits lamp tops for the TC and TCL in the absence of the Southern Pride ones. First time using the new format so hopefully pictures attached! Now on to glazing, transfers, underframe and interior. I have decided to only have one project on the go at one time as I think I have worked out a method of producing a 6PUL DMBS from Kirk parts. Don't need any more distractions!!! Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Nige, Very nice, I am amazed you can get a DCC chip in something that small. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, Recently I managed to purchase a cheap Dapol IoW Terrier with a view to converting it to one that ran on the KESR. I chose to model 32678 in the condition it was in 1949. I dismantled the loco and stuck it into a bath of Dettol to remove the paint. The beauty of the Dapol model is that it comes in many sections, which helps with painting and detailing. 32678 acquired a big chimney while on the Isle of Wight, this I have represented using a Roxey item from my spares box. I used a Satin black rattle can to paint the model and HRMS Pressfix transfers to finish it. It just needs a nice coat of grime to really finish it off. Because it was a quick conversion I didn't take any pics of the progress but here are some of the finished model. I also managed to pick up a really cheap Portishead from DCC supplies for another conversion. I really want to do this as 2636 as she was in 1949 in Maunsell black with the LBSCR gilt numbers but the only transfers I found are from EB models and are part of a large sheet of numbers and lining. As I can't see myself making any models in full LBSCR livery I can't justify the cost for just 8 numbers. If anyone has any suggestions as to where I could get the numbers I would be most grateful. If I can't find the transfers I will probably do it as 32644 in black with British Railways sunshine lettering. My KESR Terrier fleet is steadily growing, I now have 32655, 32670, 32678 and Portishead awaiting conversion. As I have set a time period of 1949/50 there are many detail and livery variations for me to replicate. No two Terriers were the same by the time they reached BR days. Just need a couple of coaches and wagons plus a layout to run them on!! Cheers for now, Ian

Looks like it'll be a scratch-build job grafted onto the Replica bogies, unless MJT release their shoebeams for the B5(S) in the meantime.... Hi Chris, Southern Pride do the shoe beams and dampers for the Replica bogie. I used them on my 4Cig many years ago. The part number is P358a, enough for a 4 car set. They have quite a few bits for EMU's, unfortunately I don't know how to do a link to their website. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Guys, Thanks for the replies. I will get on to Springside. This will be my first soldered white metal kit, I have done the footplate already and everything is OK so far. Thanks again, Ian

Hi All, I am in the process of rebuilding a Springside Manor and wondered if anyone has got the instructions for the kit. I put the model in paint stripper and the whole lot fell apart! I am ok for the bigger parts but some of the small bits seem quite complicated. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, Got mine yesterday, what a bargain. I am going to give it a new chimney and repaint it as 32678 in early BR black. Here it is on the beginnings of my layout. With it's KESR sisters. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, The South West trains 121 is now finished. It looks quite good in it's new livery. In fortunately I could not find any South West Trains branding so that will be one for the future if the transfers become available. I also finished the LMS diesel as 10001 as you don't see this one of the twins modelled much in 7mm. I have had a bit of a setback with the Springside Manor however. I sold it on ebay only to have it returned to me (quite rightly) because some parts had fallen off on delivery. When I got the loco back even more bits had come adrift. On further investigation, the model had been put together partly using superglue. It has now been fully dismantled ready for rebuilding. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Eric, The hinges are from a Southern Pride fret that I had in my spares box, The roof cowls are from Comet and the roof vents are DC Kits. As John rightly states Comet and NNK provide a lot of parts. As do Southern Pride. Once you start modelling SR EMU's you won.t be able to stop. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Eric, Welcome to the world of SR unit modelling. As I used the cheap MKI from the Your Model Railway series it was easy to dismantle the coach. The Bachmann Restaurant car is the same so should represent no problems. The 4Cep is constructed differently so I didn't use any of the coaches for modification. I try to use as many door lines as guides in my conversions. This makes hiding the joins a lot easier. I also use a dedicated fine razor saw blade for my coach conversions. This way I know that the blade is still true and sharp. Before you try the buffet car I would advise getting some cheap Triang Mk1's and practising on them. If you have any issues removing glazing try putting the body in the freezer for a while, this does something to the glue and makes pushing the glazing out a lot simpler. Hopefully this helps, anything else let me know. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi John, So far I have used Southern Pride lamp tops on all my SR Emu's but they are out of stock at the moment so I am going to give the Markits version a go for the TC and TCL. The other bits of wire are secured by loops of 3amp fusewire. This can be very tedious for a 4 car unit! My next 4mm model will be a BR pattern 4Epb so no roof conduit!! Cheers for now, Ian

Hi John, That's an interesting shot. I have got mine near enough to not move anything around! I have not been able to do much lately but have managed to get most of one power car finished. I have enough conduit boxes for the other DMBS but Southern Pride are showing out of stock so I will try the Markits ones. I had forgotten how tedious doing the rooves of Southern EMU's are. Still only three cars to go!! Hopefully I will get some more free time to do more in the next few weeks. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi John, I am getting my info from photos as I can't find any drawings either, though pictures of the 4Lavs aren't plentiful. I will be restarting the 4Lav soon after a short break from modelling, so hopefully there will be some photos soon. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi John, The buffer castings are the ones from the Roxey 2Bil detailing kit. As far as I am aware no-one manufactures the so called spindle buffers of the early generation SR Emu's. I have modified some generic brass buffers before but it's a lot of work! Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, Not a lot has happened to the Lav recently, a combination of night shifts and miserable weather putting pay to progress. I have fitted the motor coaches with vents and the cantrail guttering though. I think it is starting to capture the look of the real thing quite well though there is a long way to go. Just needs a couple of bright days so I can see all those tiny holes for the roof conduits etc. The project will be on hold now until December as I am flying out to Sri Lanka for a cricket tour on Friday. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, As promised a few photos of the reshaped driving end. I have put it up against the other end for comparison. There is quite a lot of plastic to remove from the original roof dome as the profile of the Lav is much flatter than the Bil. The narrower roof over the guards van is also quite apparent. I am getting on with reshaping the other end while I wait for some wire and microstrip to arrive. I have ordered the vents from Lanarkshire Model Supplies. I went in the loft and found enough seats to do the whole interior. God knows what I had them for originally, but my policy of never throwing anything away has come up trumps again. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, I haven't done a lot to the model for a bit due to work. It's an interesting point about motor bogies. I have powered my Blacksmith 4Sub with a single rewheeled old style 5pole Ringfield and that seems to cope OK. For the Lav I am using the new Hornby 2Bil bogie. These have enough power to move my powered/unpowered Bil formation around so should cope with the Lav. Brian, your 4Lav looks good. I didn't reuse the Bil sides because the Lavs have droplights in the doors and the new Kirk sides were really easy to chop about. I have reshaped and drilled the roof on one power car prior to fitting all the details and will post some photos tomorrow. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, Thanks for all the replies. I have looked at converting further units, the intermediate cars on the Cor/Pul/Pan shouldn't be too difficult. The Motor Cars will take a bit of doing though. The Pul may be able to be done with open second sides and a bit of scratch building. The Cor and Pan would be a bit more taxing. Colin, I have flush gazed a Kirk 2Bil in the past and if my sanity can take it I may flush glaze this one! Depends how I feel after all that roof detailing. Depending on how this unit goes I may have a go at a 1925 driving car, the flatish sides will aid scratchbuilding. The next EMU I am working on is a BR design 4Epb with Bulleid trailers, these will be converted from ExKirk Bulleid sides. I need to order some bits for the detailing of the Lav so progress may slow a little. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, Thanks for pressing the buttons. I have finally got all four cars finished to detailing level. The big lump of metal that houses the motor bogie itself has been pinned and glued into the chassis and luckily holds the bogie at the correct ride height. This weight was salvaged from my demotoring of a Hornby 2Bil. The trailing bogie is Bachmann that will have pickups fitted. The underframe bits are Roxey. It is now a case of final detailing and painting. Luckily there are loads of pictures of the roofs of these units, its just a case of threading all those lamps tops!! It is good to have it as a full four car unit finally, it's one of those models I thought would never get done. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, I now have a 4 car 4Lav after 4 years of trying! Wigwamcan thanks for sharing your memory. That is what I enjoy about this Forum, you never know what a model or picture can stir up in a person. I will be spending the afternoon cobbling together the underframes for the remaining three cars. I will be powering the model with a Hornby 2Bil motor bogie and the dummy power bogie will also be off a Hornby 2Bil. Both these bogies were saved when I converted a 2Bil to run unpowered. The driving cars need rubbing down to get the correct shape on the ends, then it will be on with the detailing. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, I have made a start on the Driving cars. The sides are a combintion of corridor 3rd and brake 3rd coaches cut and moved into place. The cab sides are from the Kirk 2Bil that have been slimmed down to the flat 4Lav profile. The cab ends a quite different to the Bil. The windows are closer to the headcode box, so I cut down the fold lines on the kit then shaved off a sliver next to the box. The windows were then stuck in place inboard of where they were. The sliver then goes on the outside of the windows when everything is reassembled. This makes quite a difference to the end and gives it the characteristic 4Lav front end. I have already assembled one driving car and will take some pics tomorrow. Cheers for now, Ian