Noel

Hi Jim. I've been using Humbrol model filler, but it dries far too fast during application. By chance I gave it a second treatment last night. I need to thin it with some poly liquid so I can spread thiner quantities slowly with precision before it starts to get sticky. That's the plan, use the plastic sides from both BCK donors to make up one plastic GSV (BCK derivative like 3173), and use either Mousa or SSMs brass sides with the other donor (i.e. which had its sides robbed), but still has chassis, ends and roof. Does anybody have an interior layout diagram or drawing of either GSV derivative?

Super photo. Tralee used to be a major railway station and significant junction with Fenit, Dingle, Listowel, etc. The OSI map viewer is great when viewing the "historic 25 inch" maps. Shows every single piece of railway track in detail when the railways were at their zenith, especially for goods traffic.

Hi Jim. Thanks, yes on the brass sides I had noticed the extra double doors to the right of the guards door on the lower etch which should be just a single door. As I have two BCK donors I may try plastic cut'n'glue using the sides from both for the first 3173, and then use the brass sides with the 2nd Bachmann chassis and roof. Or alternatively if Des has his brass sides available in the near future I could try those instead, especially if they have relief features such as window frames, door hinges and handles, etc. Then find an eBay home for the spare as I won't need more that one 3173. I'm just loving this learning curve and all the experimentation. Takes lots of time but that's half the leisure and relaxation benefit. Noel

2nd hand Bachmann BCK for £16 arrived from Hattons today as a donor for another GSV conversion, this time RPSI 3173 in maroon. I am tempted to spray the current Lima BSK GSV conversion in the RPSI blue livery planned for 3185 when its overhauled is completed. Current Lima BSK project on top. Planned Bachmann BSK below, with option for cut'n'shut plastic mods or optionally brass sides from Bill Bedford (Mousa Models) seen below. The brass sides looks rather flat, whereas the Bachmann plastic has a lot of relief detail as well as flush glaze windows.

Just discovered this superb instructional thread. Don't know how I missed it first time around. Richie's photo instructions are so good I could almost be converted brass!!! Very impressive and informative thread especially as it was the maestros first attempt at brass.

That's great news. Dave, your thread has been one of the best resources on the forum and it would have been a great shame to loose it. Well done and thanks for taking the time to reinstate the lost photo treasure trove from "Middle Brackenville".

Roof primed for first sand'n'fill. Trying to get the roof 'gubbins' looking vaguely similar to pics I have of actual GSV roofs. First prime coat before the vent and other roof bits are added New diesel tank, battery box, and louvers primed. Holes drilled for door grab rails. Every time I think I getting closer to the finish line I see more that needs to be done. At some stage I'll have to call a halt and be content with the Lima conversion. Louvers and water fillers need framing, and the twiddley bits for the roof need adding (air intake, exhaust, boiler overflow vent, etc).

One of the down sides to converting a Lima mk1 is the roof is made of plastic glazing and its a pig to cut compared to plastic. The photo is self explanatory. Taking a break, had enough of GSV, going to watch a movie. Lots more to do but there's no grass to cut this time of year.

Started on the other side. Some bits to add, surrounds, then more filling and sanding. Still to fit buffers and gangways.

Progress on GSV conversion is slow but on going. A bit of work on battery box, diesel tank and steps. Got the B5 bogie kits made up and new bogie swivel mounts made at the correct ride height. Finding this chipping away with plastic quite therapeutic. Holes drilled for wire hand rails at guards door. The lima bogie mount had to be drilled out and new swivel mounts added so the B5 bogies can easily snap fit in place for easy removal.

Went to see this movie yesterday. Despite being warned beforehand by some relatives it wasn't great, we both quite enjoyed it. Forgettable perhaps but great entertainment and stunning cinematography. Stellar cast and in particular Michelle Pfeiffer was superb. The fact the movie was filmed on a choo-choo train was an added bonus.

Some fabulous photos in your album Ernie. A treasure trove.

I recently joined Wexford model railway club. They seem to have a really friendly and active community down there in the sunny south east, and a fabulous club house right in the centre of Wexford. It's a bit far from me here in Co Wicklow to visit regularly, but hope to get down the odd Saturday. They are very active on the layout building front, have huge space, and build to a high standard. Their Easter layout exhibition is a seriously impressive event. Looking forward to hitching up with folk down there and learning from them.

Just Amazerballs. Eoin you should be heading up the engineering division of the next SST project. Your engineering talents, design intelligence and resourcefulness know no bounds.

Hi Seamus. Eoin @murrayec can supply superbly detailed white metal bogie sides for A class. Noel See here:

Resent? - Me too Jim. Thanks to Eoin's powers of persuasion @murrayec I have removed the ugly moulded plastic door grab rails, and drilled holes for proper wire ones. Fiddle, faddle, file'n'cut, fettle, fattle, cut'n'file, sand'n'paint, go back to go, do not pass go, be traped here for eternity. Or as Spook once said: "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it" Back working on the roof and under frame tweaks.

Hi Tony. Are you considering switching to N gauge for the layout?

Oh yes, we are very much on the same page JB

Very impressive so far Gerry. Will follow with keen interest. Very neat electrics too.

Hi Paul. Weight isn't a problem, the skeletal wagons run really well and never derail, even when running just the wagons without the containers on board. But your right I may add weight to the containers to make the rake heavier and run with less coupler snatching. The C-Rail container floors are snap fit and pop off easily, so adding a bit of weight is easy. The reason for my original post was to explain how I stopped the containers falling off the flats. Noel C-Rail container floors are snap-fit and come off easily.

Beet production. In the middle of other concurrent projects I've started on the first half of a rake of single beet wagons. Primed today prior to tweaking, painting and fitting to chassis. Having a few small projects on the go at the same time can be very productive because while you are waiting for bits, or glue, paints to cure, etc, you can swap between projects and keep things moving along. I understand CIE had over 2000 of these wagons in their 'heyday' when they were used as both general purpose open goods wagons as well as for beat traffic. They were also used instead of flats to transport CIE containers as well as transport agri machinery, tractors, cars, cable drums, etc.

Well spotted. I remember a few shamrock 747 skippers had number plates with 747 on them back in the old days pre year plates (e.g. wicklow had NI plates, etc)

These are the brass sides I'm using with a Bachmann BCK donor, rather than the Triang-Hornby in the pic (£12 from Mousa). They are for RPSI maroon 3173 GSV. They seem accurate but I'm just disappointed they lack any relief for the window frames, door hinges, handles, etc. I can stick that stuff on with plastic. One clever feature of these sides is they have multiple horizontal channels etched behind tumblehome to make bending into shape easy without need for specialist tools. Des will your sides have separate window frames or will you etch those in relief, etc?

It does indeed. I'm currently converting two Bachmann BCKs, one using brass sides and the other with plastic. Wish I'd knew this before I started. The brass sides I have are rather low on detail (i.e. flat), I suspect yours would be much better with relief for window frames, vent frames, hinges and door handles, etc.

Thanks. Hmmm! I might paint the GSV conversion RPSI blue instead of B&T and run it with the RPSI cravens.