YK 50A Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Hello all, Hopefully a quick and easy question for someone who owns similar. I've been on the lookout for a Bachmann standard 20T brake van, model number 37-537A for a while. Other than its "pristine" condition, it appears to be the one most suitable for a late 70s partially fitted ECS or freight train. I found a new one at a reasonable price on a certain well known on-line auction website, it's arrived and is in good nick, but while having the fittings for dummy train brake pipes on the buffer beams, none are in the box. Photographic evidence is inconclusive and those Bachmann brake vans that do have dummy pipes appear to have the wrong pattern. My questions are what should be in the box (it was purchased as unopened) and what might be the most realistic substitute? Thanks in anticipation, Alun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK 50A Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 I can answer my own question as Bachmann responded remarkably quickly: "The model is correct as vacuum pipes are not supplied with it - we haven't supplied them with wagons that had pipes that hung below the buffer beam that would have fouled the functional coupler." I'm not sure a pipe would get in the way of a coupler, but hey ho. Alun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 I can answer my own question as Bachmann responded remarkably quickly: "The model is correct as vacuum pipes are not supplied with it - we haven't supplied them with wagons that had pipes that hung below the buffer beam that would have fouled the functional coupler." I'm not sure a pipe would get in the way of a coupler, but hey ho. Alun Take a look at a few photos. The low slung pipes certainly will foul the coupler. I run some stock with 3 link or screw and others with the standard couplings. I fit a reduced length pipe to the ones with standard couplings. To be accurate you need to check the batch and running numbers against the details on the Bachmann van. A lot of Bachmann issues are wrong in one way or another. Nothing major I might add. Hardly surprising as some of the experts are uncertain as to just which batches had which variation of pipes and brakes at which time. There was a list giving a brief history published by a former member around 2007 that might be found in the archive. Bernard Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK 50A Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 Take a look at a few photos. The low slung pipes certainly will foul the coupler. I run some stock with 3 link or screw and others with the standard couplings. I fit a reduced length pipe to the ones with standard couplings. To be accurate you need to check the batch and running numbers against the details on the Bachmann van. A lot of Bachmann issues are wrong in one way or another. Nothing major I might add. Hardly surprising as some of the experts are uncertain as to just which batches had which variation of pipes and brakes at which time. There was a list giving a brief history published by a former member around 2007 that might be found in the archive. Bernard Bernard Hello Bernard, Yes, I did check photographs and the pipes mostly seem to be offset (as you would expect) and fairly tightly retained at or under the buffer beam. I've had a play around with some pipes I have from Bachmann 1-Co-Co-1 diesels and I can certainly get them to fit without fouling the coupling. That said, there is a reason why I don't use them on the diesels - they are over scale. It was just to see with a bit of Blu-Tack. It's a nice model and if I was to go through all the factory errors that I am aware of on my model locomotives and coaches we'd be here all day. I'm happy for now, although I will have a look out for some pipes when I'm next at a show. I've searched for that thread too, but I can't find it. Will be there somewhere I'm sure. Regards, Alun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Hi Alun, I have it in my mind that my long departed original Airfix brake vans came with under buffer vacuum pipes - maybe the Dapol kits are the same? Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Hi Alun, I have it in my mind that my long departed original Airfix brake vans came with under buffer vacuum pipes - maybe the Dapol kits are the same? Ray Yes, they did, and Dapol use the same tooling so this is perpetuated on current Dapol kits Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Alun, I take no credit for the idea but what I use for these pipes is short sections cut from paper clips. You can cut any length you need and bend them to clear the coupling. With luck you can cut them with the bend in the right place. When painted the lack of braiding does not show. You have reminded me that I have a box with one Hornby version , two Bachmann and two Dapol kits plus copious notes for when I get round to building a selection. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK 50A Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 Thank you all, I had a couple of Airfix brake vans but I sold them, probably decades ago. Apparently they are dimensionally pretty much spot on, much better than the Mainline and earlier Bachmann releases. There's a few threads around where people have detailed them. I'll have a look out and also have a play around with the (presumably thicker) paper-clip idea. I can think of a few areas where that might be useful. Alun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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