GWR Express Parcels Railcar Resurection.

Discussion in 'Workshop Benches' started by Rob_B, Dec 10, 2016.

  1. Rob_B

    Rob_B Full Member

    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2016
    Lima GWR Express Parcels Railcar Resurrection (Winter fix-up project).
    A couple of weekends ago I picked up a boxed Lima express Parcels Railcar (No.34) from a jumble stall at a local(ish) animal charity open day, it was priced at £5.00 and labelled not working. Being as it was for a good cause I gave a tenner and brought it home.
    Taking the body off, which was in good shape by the way, I soon found the reason for it not running, the motor stator was missing from from the power bogie! OK simple fix add a Su-Su style CD motor and off we go, but somewhere in one of my boxes of bits is a High-Level “Low Rider” power bogie kit with a Mashima motor, so I am going to try and use that to get rid of the big lump visible through the doors. While I am at it I am also going to do a DCC conversion and add some lighting. On second thoughts perhaps I should have only paid a fiver after all as this could soon get expensive!
    Pictures coming soon if I can find a camera.

    Rob.
     
  2. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,446
    Likes Received:
    2,902
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2015
    Sounds an interesting project Rob. The Lima 'Pancake' motors were never very good in my opinion, slow to move initially, then taking off like a racehorse when you gave it a bit more 'ooomph'.....not exactly controllable! Although I've seen a few of the various types of motor bogie, I've never actually used one, but I have an old Triang 2 car EMU that could benefit from trying one of these bogies, so I'll be watching with interest on this thread.
    Keith.
     
  3. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    9,848
    Likes Received:
    5,902
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    Hi Rob

    With DCC you may be able to get the original Lima Pancake to behave a bit better.

    South eastern Finecast do flush glazing for the Lima GWR Railcar (SE41) @ approx £2.50.

    Don't forget to post piccies of your progress.

    Paul
     
  4. Rob_B2805

    Rob_B2805 Intermittent mad modeller! [M4705] Full Member

    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    7
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2016
    I agree as I have a couple of Lima motored loco's that once fettled behave OK with DCC ( Digitrax decoders and NCE controller, or Sprog/DCC++ via JMRI), but in this case most of the motor is missing!
    Rob
     
  5. Rob_B

    Rob_B Full Member

    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2016
    So I have the thing stripped down and the issues are:
    1 No securing screws, and one of the securing towers id split, but thats ok the buffers fix the body to the chassis.
    2 No only is the pancake motor stator missing, but so are the bushes and pressure springs, yet the front plate screws are present.
    3 The plan to use a High-Level Kits power bogie is on hold for the moment as I will need to reduce the wheelbase by a couple of mm. The GWR Railcars has a 8' 6" rather than the more than the more modern/usual 9' wheelbase.
    4 Brass wheels!

    I would post an image or two but I can't get it to work, they are jpg's less than the max size but once chosen nothing happens! Not even an error! As for inserting a URL I don't use picture hosting services, I don't trust them:headbanger:
    Issue one is a non issue really, the buffers will hold the body shell in place nicely, and I can sort out a nut and bolt arrangement to secure the ballast weight fixing plate in position.
    Issue three is the big one, and I am going to have to think about it. Can I live with the wheelbase error (probably not as it will annoy me as I know its there), or can I modify the power bogie kit? Looking in my box of bits I think I may have enough spares to rebuild the existing motor short term. If I decide not to chop up the High-Level Kit I'll retro fit a SU-SU style (CD) motor such as the ones used by Kieth. I have had success with these in the past, hence the spares.
    If I staying with the Lima power-train than those wheels are going to have to go, so I need to decide what I am doing fairly quickly.
    In the meantime I am starting on the lighting and flush glazing, I had a glazing pack from a fleabay job-lot I picked up last year.
     
  6. Rob_B

    Rob_B Full Member

    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2016
    I have relented, I work in IT and IT security and don't therefore trust social media et-al with very much.
    So some images:
    [​IMG]

    The remains of the motor.
    [​IMG]

    The bodyshell interior.
    I have now detached the cabs from the chassis, to sort out the exterior lighting. I have also rebuilt the motor using bits from my spares box and fettled and lubricated the drive chain, I didn't run! Then I found that the power bogie base plate was on back to front so both wheel sets were picking up from the same side! All now sorted. I have also made a start on the internal lighting bus as can be seen in the second image.
    Still thinking about what to do about using the replacement bogie kit.
    Rob.
     
  7. Rob_B2805

    Rob_B2805 Intermittent mad modeller! [M4705] Full Member

    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    7
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2016
    Well I hope the Christmas weekend went well for you all and that the New Year will too. I didn't get much modelling done but I did get the thing running with a cobbled together motor whilst waiting for the replacement CD type motor, and I got the decoder fitted. I also made up the roof lighting board and did a test fit, plus the a start on the ballast resistor board. So all I have to do now is drill out the body for the running lights, add pick-ups to the trailing bogie, and solder up the led's and basalt resistors. (I decided to keep the High Level kits lo-rider chassis for a replacement job where I won't need to shorten it.)

    All the best to everyone for 2017.

    The Decoder Fit
    [​IMG]

    The Lighting Board Test Fit[​IMG]
     

Share This Page