Darius’ Workbench

Darius43 · November 20

Bodyshells assembled and joints filled.

I’ll let the filler set overnight. Sanding and priming tomorrow.

Cheers

Darius

Darius43 · November 21

Bodies sanded and primed.

I removed the rather coarse cast window bars. The plan is to replace these with finer bars pre-painted onto clear acetate sheet. This will be cut to size to flush glaze each window.

Cheers

Darius

Darius43 · November 21

Hornby chassis modified to fit.

Cheers

Darius

Darius43 · November 23

Primary painting completed.

I went with the BR blue and grey livery that the Class 140 was finished in. The Class 142’s were never finished in this livery as far as I am aware, but I like it.

Cheers

Darius

Robert Shrives · November 23

A great recovery on what looks to be variable castings. The weight will help traction I am sure. Agree on blue grey but looks the part. Reminds me of a long ago attempt with Thameshead N gauge leyland bus kit to make a 140- roof was right -narrow width but failed on narrow chassis a 142 would have been easier by far.

Have fun lining out.

Robert

Darius43 · November 23

Additional painting to the cab area and back end.

Cheers

Darius

Darius43 · November 24

Had a go at improving the Hornby interior.

Cheers

Darius

Mol_PMB · November 24

That’s a bit too accurate for comfort. It’s making my knees and back hurt just looking at those ‘seats’.

Darius43 · Wednesday at 16:26

Glazing fitted to cab and one side.

Cheers

Darius

Darius43 · Friday at 10:51

I have always been fascinated by the RTC fleet of locomotives, coaches and wagons. When Rails announced that they had commissioned Bachmann to produce Test Unit Gemini, I duly placed an order.

The unit is nicely finished but a major issue is that the standard diesel traction undergibbons remain beneath the units as per the standard Bachmann Derby Lightweight unit where there should be the batteries that give rise to the unit’s BEMU description.

To rectify this, I first removed the standard undergibbons, which became useful additions to the spares box.

Using reference photos I made a card template for the battery box and framing that is a major feature of these units. This was tacked to the model and tweaked to make sure it looked right.

The template was then used to make model battery boxes and frames using plasticard.

Once assembled, these were primed, glued to the model and painted black.

There are more undergibbon bits to fit and the motor coach needs a replacement bogie frame - I have a spare one from a GWR railcar somewhere.

Cheers

Darius

Blaine · Friday at 13:05

2 hours ago, Darius43 said:

I have always been fascinated by the RTC fleet of locomotives, coaches and wagons. When Rails announced that they had commissioned Bachmann to produce Test Unit Gemini, I duly placed an order.

The unit is nicely finished but a major issue is that the standard diesel traction undergibbons remain beneath the units as per the standard Bachmann Derby Lightweight unit where there should be the batteries that give rise to the unit’s BEMU description.

There are more undergibbon bits to fit and the motor coach needs a replacement bogie frame - I have a spare one from a GWR railcar somewhere.

Cheers

Darius

Thats nice, surprised they did it as the BEMU and not the 2 car 'Ultrasonic Test Train' which was diesel powered with the ultrasonic trolley under the trailer car. Bachmann tooled a few variants of the Derby Lightweight too so the 'green' livery was the correct one to use for the Ultrasonic one. Im sure one of the 3D printing firms will make the parts for Gemini in time, or Rails will heavily discount it as it is not selling......

Darius43 · Friday at 13:53

I suspect the Ultrasonic Test Train would have been more of a challenge with respect to the undergibbons and more obviously incorrect if Bachman left the standard DMU kit in place as they have done with Gemini.

I built the MTK version of the Ultrasonic Test Train earlier this year.

Cheers

Darius