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Southern Electrics. A few of my models from the past


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A while back whilst helping others out on here with some EMU info, someone, (stupidly) asked/suggested that I post some pictures of my EMUs.

 

The shots are random and sometimes a bit poor. Mostly taken in the mid 70's using a reather indifferent camera.

 

All are built using Hornby Mk1 bodies with replacement sides of Perspex and card.

 

post-509-0-65916000-1419426204_thumb.jpg

 

 

Cheers

 

Dave

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Hi Dave,

 

Some super models I have to say once again!  I shall be away for two or three weeks now but hope to see some more pictures of your work as and when. 

 

You must have been a pioneer of Southern Electric modelling back in the seventies. Those Hornbys look very nice indeed.  Although I am not a great fan of the looks of latter one, 20003, it looks authentic.

 

All the best,

 

Colin

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Hi Dave,

 

Some super models I have to say once again!  I shall be away for two or three weeks now but hope to see some more pictures of your work as and when. 

 

You must have been a pioneer of Southern Electric modelling back in the seventies. Those Hornbys look very nice indeed.  Although I am not a great fan of the looks of latter one, 20003, it looks authentic.

 

All the best,

 

Colin

 

Thanks, m8.

 

Good to here from you again and trust you are well.

 

Thanks for the kind comments.

 

Dave

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Hi Dave,

 

This hospital has free wifi so I can keep up with things from here!

That latest photo of a stores unit is interesting. Is it one of the BR(S) units converted from withdrawn 4 SUB motor coaches? Did you construct the bodywork? It looks very neat work.

 

More photos please!

 

All the best Colin

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Hi Dave,

This hospital has free wifi so I can keep up with things from here!

That latest photo of a stores unit is interesting. Is it one of the BR(S) units converted from withdrawn 4 SUB motor coaches? Did you construct the bodywork? It looks very neat work.

More photos please!

All the best Colin

 

Are you actually in Hospital or is that a bit of a joke?

 

I hope you are at home, Colin.

 

Dave.

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Are you actually in Hospital or is that a bit of a joke?

I hope you are at home, Colin.

Dave.

Hi Dave,

No joke. I am in for a stem cell transplant. Plenty of time to browse through RMweb topics during my stay here.

Looking forward to seeing more pictures of your work.

 

Colin

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I won't bore you too much as some of you have heard this before.

 

All my EMUs are made is a similar way.

 

Take a coach body/chassis and roof, fit new Perspex sides (flat, curved in the oven or with a filed turn under) and cover the sides in painted card with cut-out windows. For a 4 Sub type body, the card sides meet along the roof centreline.

 

I've never used a cast cab end. All these ends are re-shaped from the end(s) that come as part of the donor coach chassis.

 

Other than the 'Hornbys' made using a Lima Mk1 chassis and roof, the others are made from Hornby Mk1s, shortened where necessary.

 

Nowadays those Hornby (DMU) motor bogies look very clumsy against modern offerings. Thing is, I laid in a stock when I was activelyl building and have about 20+ still. Also had the main sideframes copied to match and made into a little kit for non-powered ends on 4 car units and  DEMUs.

 

Against modern RTR stuff they are now looking a bit crude. It's not worth bothering to make what you can buy RTR these days.

 

Again, some of you will have seen this before but for a look at roughly how they are made, search RMweb for topic '68000'. Although on this occasion I used a 'Southern Pride' body as the domestic oven wasn't available to curve the sides.

 

 

Dave

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I won't bore you too much as some of you have heard this before.

 

All my EMUs are made is a similar way.

 

Take a coach body/chassis and roof, fit new Perspex sides (flat, curved in the oven or with a filed turn under) and cover the sides in painted card with cut-out windows. For a 4 Sub type body, the card sides meet along the roof centreline.

 

I've never used a cast cab end. All these ends are re-shaped from the end(s) that come as part of the donor coach chassis.

 

Other than the 'Hornbys' made using a Lima Mk1 chassis and roof, the others are made from Hornby Mk1s, shortened where necessary.

 

Nowadays those Hornby (DMU) motor bogies look very clumsy against modern offerings. Thing is, I laid in a stock when I was activelyl building and have about 20+ still. Also had the main sideframes copied to match and made into a little kit for non-powered ends on 4 car units and  DEMUs.

 

Against modern RTR stuff they are now looking a bit crude. It's not worth bothering to make what you can buy RTR these days.

 

Again, some of you will have seen this before but for a look at roughly how they are made, search RMweb for topic '68000'. Although on this occasion I used a 'Southern Pride' body as the domestic oven wasn't available to curve the sides.

 

 

Dave

Hi Dave 

 

Your models are inspirational. I have never copied you methods, but your modelling gave me the encouragement to build what I wanted.  You were among those few who were making models that I could relate to, diesel and electric modelling was not the done thing even in the 1980s.  I still want to know what size paint tin you used to form the Mk1 and Bullied perspex sides on. I hope those who have never tried to build their own models take note and have a go. 

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Hi Dave 

 

Your models are inspirational. I have never copied you methods, but your modelling gave me the encouragement to build what I wanted.  You were among those few who were making models that I could relate to, diesel and electric modelling was not the done thing even in the 1980s.  I still want to know what size paint tin you used to form the Mk1 and Bullied perspex sides on. I hope those who have never tried to build their own models take note and have a go. 

 

Blimey, Clive. Calm down, calm down!! :no:

 

I'm pleased whatever I did then, spurred you on. I got the idea from someone else who used a solid block of Perspex for his bodies.

 

My very first EMU was an MLV, built in 1972. I filed the curve on the sides with a Surform and files, then re-polished it with wet & dry, Brasso, tooth paste and silver polish in that order. Never again. Being the first one, I also needed to find out how to glue the hand painted card sides to Perspex. I picked Dunlop ThixoFix. I still have the MLV in perfect working order.

 

 

As for bending the Perspex, I first bent mine on a piece of thin'ish aluminium that I bent round a paint tin. Later, when I was in a model shop that used to be in Wimbledon Broadway, I was describing my method to one of their customers when another said he fancied having a go and said he could get a piece of sheet metal rolled so he could try it. In return he rolled me a piece as well. It turned out to be 3 or 4mm think stainless steel. Fantastic. The radius is around 5". I think.

 

If I was ever doing a demo and someone asked how to bend the Perspex, my best advice would be to obtain a short length of stainless tubing used in chimney lining. This being something anyone would be likely to be able to get their hands on.

 

Thanks for your comments, Clive.

 

I loved that Depot layout you had in those days and the locos on it. Still go pics somewhere. It used to make me think of having something similar but I didn't have the wonga.

 

 

 

Dave

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Hi Dave,

 

An excellent photo to end the old year!

 

Where did you find the drawings for 20001/2?

 

All the best,

 

Colin

 

I think that was one I got from a microfiche in the drawings records at 'Southern House' in Croydon. A BR(S) office block. Somehow I got an invite to go in and have a look through what they had. I think it was because I had got to know the shed Supervisor at Selhurst Depot and he gave me an intro. Might be wrong on that. Got 2003 as well but they are not fully dimensioned by any means. Only got two visits. Could have spent a year there.

 

Funny what you gather over the years from differing sources.

 

Like what stock had what shoebeams. You'd have thought there might be, maybe, 3 or 4 different types. But No.

 

2014 is not over yet! don't rush it, Colin!

 

Dave.

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