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Park Royal Railbus Kit - How Would I Motorise & Detail?

Discussion in 'Kits, Kit bashes & Scratch builds' started by Graham K, Sep 4, 2021.

  1. Sep 4, 2021 #1
    Graham K

    Graham K Full Member

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    Just really liking the look of it and the fact that if I can motorise it, it'd be ideal for service on my little plank, has today led me to purchase a Dapol kit of a Park Royal Railbus. ( https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/park-royal-railbus/ )

    This'd be a first for me, so I'm wondering if anyone has in fact motorised such a kit and if so, might you be able to point me in the right direction of how to go about it? I suppose the most obvious question being - is there a motorised rtr chassis I could fairly easily use without having to get overly technical or do too much butchery to either the chassis or kit itself? Accuracy of chassis detail would be secondary to my desire just to get the thing moving.

    I'll know for sure when it arrives in the mail, but suspect the kit is just the basic shell, without interior detail, so that's something else I'd like to tackle to at least give an impression of there being seats, if nothing else.

    Thanks All
     
  2. Sep 4, 2021 #2
    Moxy

    Moxy Full Member

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    Hi Graham

    I've not done the motorisation myself, but the only RTR chassis that I know of that is likely to fit the Dapol Park Royal Railbus is the Heljan one, but if you go down that route, you may as well buy the whole RTR Park Royal Railbus they make.

    There is a motorising kit by Branchlines. He doesn't have a website as such, you will need to ring or email him for availability and current prices.

    https://branchlines.blogspot.com/

    Although not specifically designed for the Park Royal Railbus, High Level Kits do a 'Pacemaker' gearbox unit designed for a Hornby Pacer, that may be adaptable to the Dapol kit.

    https://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/product-page/pacemaker-power-car

    There is a link here showing what you get in the Branchlines motorising kit.

    https://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2010/04/park-royal-railbus.html

    The kit is just a basic shell, floor, sides, end & roof, there are no seats. Southern Pride Models make coach seats, there may be something in their range that is usable.

    http://www.southernpridemodels.co.uk/

    Hope this helps
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2021
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  3. Sep 4, 2021 #3
    paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    I used a etched compensated wagon etched W iron set, a worm gearset and the smallest motor I could get at the time (over 25 years ago), the compensated W iron was used at the other end, and wiper pick-ups on all wheels

    [​IMG]

    Paul
     
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  4. Sep 5, 2021 #4
    gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Graham,
    I saw somebody years ago........too far back to have any specific pics or details......motorized one of those kits with the chassis and motor removed from a Lima Shunter,
    something similar to the pic below.

    Lima-SO-CentreCabDiesel-BR-Green.jpg
    From what I can recall, it was not an absolutely perfect conversion, but was good enough to give a reasonable representation of the real thing.
    Hope this helps
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  5. Sep 6, 2021 #5
    Graham K

    Graham K Full Member

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    Thanks v much @Moxy , @paul_l and @gormo - all very helpful.

    Must admit I had no idea until now that there even was/is a Heljan rtr model :whatever:

    But I'm intrigued to see what I can manage with the kit - hopefully something worthy of posting about :scratchchin:
     
  6. Sep 6, 2021 #6
    paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    It's certainly doable, forgot to mention, mine was built for P4, and ran quite reliably, considering my track building ability (rough, actually very rough) that was some achievement :avatar:

    Looking forward to seeing the results

    Paul
     
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  7. Sep 10, 2021 #7
    Bernie

    Bernie Full Member

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    Hi Graham, I recalled this article using a Hollywood Foundry ready made chassis, https://georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.com/2011/08/powering-park-royal-railbus.html the article contains pictures that may help with ideas. Unfortunately Hollywood Foundry has closed down (just selling left over parts). The other option may be a Black Beetle ready made chassis http://steameramodels.com/bbeetle.htm this product seems to have several wheel base and wheel size options that may suit. They also have a single axle black bug product that may be better. I have never used these products, so cannot commend them, just recalled the articles.
     
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  8. Sep 10, 2021 #8
    jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    I may be wrong but I think I have seen an advert in Railway Modeller for a motorising kit for the Dapol railbus, with a complete package of body chassis and wheels. Unfortunately I threw out my latest mag with the recycling.............

    Pete.
     
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  9. Sep 10, 2021 #9
    Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    Last edited: Sep 10, 2021
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  10. Sep 12, 2021 #10
    Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    I found one of those old Lima diesels that Gormo posted a pic of above. From what I remember, the wheel base is slightly shorter than that of the Dapol rail bus, by approximately 5mm. Alterations can be made to the model by re-seating the axle boxes in alignment with the powered Lima chassis.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  11. Sep 12, 2021 #11
    Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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  12. Sep 12, 2021 #12
    Graham K

    Graham K Full Member

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    Again, thanks v much everyone for your interest, pointers and links :thumbup:.

    I found another article in the Feb 1961 Railway Modeller in which one B V Cole used a (likely long-since discontinued) Perfecta Kit No.1 to motorise the railbus http://www.kitmaster.org.uk/PerfectaKits.htm . I'm not sure how much use the article will be now, but have bought a copy anyway as I always enjoy reading those old issues (I was 15months when that one was published :D).
     

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