Darius43 Posted November 20 Author Posted November 20 Bodyshells assembled and joints filled. I’ll let the filler set overnight. Sanding and priming tomorrow. Cheers Darius 5 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 21 Author Posted 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 3 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 21 Author Posted November 21 Hornby chassis modified to fit. Cheers Darius 2 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 23 Author Posted 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 4 Quote
Robert Shrives Posted November 23 Posted 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 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 23 Author Posted November 23 Additional painting to the cab area and back end. Cheers Darius 2 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 24 Author Posted November 24 Had a go at improving the Hornby interior. Cheers Darius 4 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted November 24 Posted November 24 That’s a bit too accurate for comfort. It’s making my knees and back hurt just looking at those ‘seats’. 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 27 Author Posted November 27 Glazing fitted to cab and one side. Cheers Darius 3 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 29 Author Posted November 29 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 5 Quote
Blaine Posted November 29 Posted November 29 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...... Quote
Darius43 Posted November 29 Author Posted November 29 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 2 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 29 Author Posted November 29 Battery boxes fabricated and fitted to the motor coach. Roofs repainted. Cheers Darius 4 3 Quote
Darius43 Posted November 30 Author Posted November 30 Hornby GWR railcar bogie side frames fitted to Bachmann motor bogie assembly. Modified bogie assembly re-fitted and scratch built plasticard undergibbon parts fitted. Cheers Darius 6 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 1 Author Posted December 1 (edited) Finishing touches… …and light weathering to finish. Passing the test… Cheers Darius Edited December 1 by Darius43 11 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 3 Author Posted December 3 (edited) I spotted this Class 56 body on eBay. It looks like an MTK product and has been quite well put together, if in need of some tlc. So, with that in mind, it was duly acquired along with a Mainline/Dapol chassis and an A1 Models detailing set. The MTK buffer beams are pretty good representations but the side valences are not. The beams were cut away and put to one side. Thus enabled the valance pares to be easily detached. The assembly was pretty good but the cab fronts lacked the distinctive inwards sloping profile. To correct this cut were sawn into the cab side walls and the front bent back to the desired profile. The cuts were backed with plasticard and filled, along with a few other visible joints. The “face” didn’t look quite right so I carved off the moulded on details and reprofiled the main windows. Cheers Darius Edited December 3 by Darius43 2 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 3 Author Posted December 3 Rooftop fan vents stitch drilled away to enable the fitting of the A1 Models etched grilles. Etched roofside grilles also fitted. The large bodyside grilles will be fitted after the body has been painted. Cheers Darius 3 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 3 Author Posted December 3 Cab front details fitted. Handrails and jumper cables will be added after painting. Test fit to Dapol chassis. Cheers Darius 7 Quote
Tullygrainey Posted December 4 Posted December 4 18 hours ago, Darius43 said: Rooftop fan vents stitch drilled away to enable the fitting of the A1 Models etched grilles. Etched roofside grilles also fitted. The large bodyside grilles will be fitted after the body has been painted. Cheers Darius Some delicate surgery there. Great work. 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 4 Author Posted December 4 Primer on. Roof fan installation fabricated from plasticard and A1 Models etched parts. Temporarily held in place with black tack. It will be painted and glued in place after the body has been painted. Cheers Darius 5 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 5 Author Posted December 5 Primary painting completed. Cheers Darius 5 1 Quote
Horsetan Posted December 6 Posted December 6 1 hour ago, Darius43 said: Cab front details fitted. Cheers Darius I think I need another sight test anyway, but there's definitely something going on with the two cab fronts; they look different to each other. Quote
Darius43 Posted December 6 Author Posted December 6 39 minutes ago, Horsetan said: I think I need another sight test anyway, but there's definitely something going on with the two cab fronts; they look different to each other. Of course they do. It’s a Modern Traction Kit (MTK). Cheers Darius 1 2 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 7 Author Posted December 7 Cab door handrails and bodyside grilles fitted. Cheers Darius 1 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 8 Author Posted December 8 Cab glazing fitted and decals applied. Cheers Darius 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 9 Author Posted December 9 Further details added and light weathering to finish. Cheers Darius 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 9 Author Posted December 9 Sittin' in the mornin' sun… Cheers Darius 7 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 11 Author Posted December 11 I found this somewhat distressed MTK Class 50 body on eBay and thought it deserved a second chance. An offer was put in and accepted and here it is. It is definitely in need of some tlc. Its builder had soldered it together - unfortunately with a banana-shaped footprint. Some serious surgery was needed to straighten it out. This was done by making two cuts across the roof and the inside curve sidewall using a razor saw. Once cut the body was carefully straightened out and the sides reprofiled using judicious finger and thumb pressing. The soft white metal construction makes this quite easy. The inside surfaces will be cleaned up using a Dremel and plasticard backing pieces glued behind the cuts to strengthen them before filling and sanding. The plan is to mount the completed body on a re-wheeled Lima chassis. Cheers Darius 2 Quote
David Holman Posted December 11 Posted December 11 Brave man! Looks like a complete basket case to me, but if anyone has the skills, it's you. 2 Quote
Horsetan Posted December 11 Posted December 11 47 minutes ago, David Holman said: Brave man! Looks like a complete basket case to me, but if anyone has the skills, it's you. I wonder if he's tried a Jidenco Class 50....? Quote
Darius43 Posted December 11 Author Posted December 11 I’ve seen those built - no thank-you. Cheers Darius Quote
Darius43 Posted December 14 Author Posted December 14 Primary painting completed. Cheers Darius 1 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted December 15 Author Posted December 15 Cab handrails and hosiery fitted. Cheers Darius Quote
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