Tri-ang

I have a few Triang items, in various conditions, mainly for nostalgic value. A few have been 'upgraded slightly, including a Southern Electric EMU motor coach recently re-wheeled with much finer wheels. Others are not going to be modified at all.

The steeple cab reminds me of my first set, which was from the Primary series of the time, and included a maroon steeple cab with plastic pantograph and three rather continental-looking wagons in green (van) and grey (open wagons), plus a circle of Series 3 track.

One of my favourite acquisitions as a young teenager was an EM2 electric loco in BR blue. I currently have a green version, just for the display case.

I also have two Brush type 2 locos in electric blue, a livery not actually carried in the style Triang used, although D5578 was, indeed, in blue for visual warning tests.





There is a certain charm to the early models, regardless of accuracy, although I think the EM2 and Brush type 2 are both reasonably accurate (certainly for their time).

 

Thanks Toto.

Ian, I often used a pair of flat-bladed screwdrivers to lever the wheels outwards slightly on their axles, to increase the back to back measurements. This was particularly effective on the larger steam locomotive wheels.

My gauge was very crude ... push the locomotive by hand through a Peco code 100 diamond crossing. If the wheels caught or bound, lever them out a little more, until the locomotive glided freely through the crossing.

In the case of the Southern EMU, the wheels were so coarse they wouldn't go through the crossing at all, so I have now bought some much finer, relatively modern wheels from an eBay dealer and used those, with great success. There is a whole story behind why I could not simply turn or file the flanges down - I may relate the full tale later.

 

Hiya Ian , Srman they put my wrecks to shame. . . but there is something about getting a battered and beaten up old engine to actually move !
Welcome aboard Srman great to see you here looking forward to seeing your future work http://www.click
Cheers
Matt

 

There were a couple of locomotives I bought in very battered and beaten condition with super-detailing projects in mind.
One was a Triang-Hornby pannier tank which, at the time, was the only OO pannier tank available. It was missing its copper chimney cap and had a triangular chunk missing from the rear bunker/buffer beam. I replaced the chimney cap using two cut-down and filled shoe eyelets, and rebuilt the bunker rear and buffer beam with plasticard and filler, then replaced the wheels with Romfords, re-using the original coupling rods. I also cut down and modified the cab to the earlier style and painted and lined the whole thing as a London Transport example.

I did something similar with a standard class 3 tank, but didn't replace the wheels. That also had a chunk missing from the rear bunker and buffer beam. Of course, the newer Bachmann model puts my efforts to shame, but it was fun to do.

Another detailing and repainting project was a King Arthur (the 'Sir Dinadan' one). Again, it is put to shame by the newer Hornby models but that was another one I thoroughly enjoyed doing.
I did consider doing the EM2 and a Brush type 2 with separate handrails but decided to leave them in original condition. These two types were really very good models for the time.

 

I'll have to dig them out to photograph them. Give me a little time and I'll oblige.

 

I have dug out a few that were in the stock drawers or display cabinet, but there are a few more that are in storage boxes and are not so easily reached for now. Those include the standard 3MT 2-6-2T (although I have an older photo to post), a Triang R157 Metro-Cammell DMU which I refurbished with flush glazing and painted white with blue bands), an original condition 'Arthur', ' Sir Dinadan', and more of the Southern EMUs.

I'll start with the unadulterated ones:

The EM2 Co-Co



The Southern EMU with finer wheels



Now for the modified ones:

The London Transport pannier undergoing a repaint. I did have it fully lined out (and didn't do a bad job, if I say so myself) but used too light a red, so it has now been repainted but awaits lining out and numbering again. Separate handrails and Romford wheels fitted. (The 'Nellie' is described shortly).



The 3MT tank loco on my old layout - it's towards the rear of this shot of all of my model BR standard types at the time. This one has separate handrails, glazed cab windows (although you can't see that in the photo) and is fully repainted and lined out in BR mixed traffic black.



Two more projects still in progress are the old 'Nellie/Polly/Connie' 0-4-0 tank and the ex-SR L1 4-4-0. Both have separate handrails and other fittings, with Romford wheels fitted, and are in the process of being painted and lined (the 'Nellie' will be fictional as it is only vaguely like the real SR class it was based on).





The 'Arthurs': the first one, 30799 'Sir Ironside', was also the first attempt at repainting and was lined by hand (so not brilliant!). The second one, 30453 'King Arthur' (himself!), has separate handrails, a rebuilt cab to Urie style, and a shortened front overhang and deflectors, beefed-up cylinders, plus a Wills 'water cart' white metal tender. Both have finer bogie wheels fitted but I couldn't get the wheels with the correct number of spokes at the time. Both have been renumbered and have etched nameplates fitted.





Edit: note that with the L1, I used correctly sized driving wheels. Unfortunately, they make the whole locomotive sit 2mm too high - it was already a little over-height before that. I am considering replacing the wheels with some slightly undersized ones - a 2mm reduction in diameter will lower the loco by 1mm, but I don't think I should go any smaller than that.

 

Some great re builds there SRman, just shows what can be done to re vitalize some old locos
Cheers
Matt