A trio of LMS coaches

Today I decided to revisit these Sidelines non corridor coaches which have been a back burner project for far too long now, The coaches are LMS Period 3 Brake Third to D1906, Period 3 nine Compartment Third to D1964 and Period 2 Composite to D1734. The first two are not far complete externally but need interiors and the focus of today was to punch a hole in the building of the Period 2 bodysides to form a complete bodshell.





The bodyside of the Period 2 Composite, the second side has been formed to shape today and the window frame inserts soldered in along with the door droplights, next job is to fit 18 door handles, 18 grab handles and 36 bump stops.




And here is the overhead view showing the Stanier 2-6-4 tank build undr construction along with some other stuff lurking in the background.

 

Here is the first completed bogie for the LMS Period 2 suburban Composite coach to diagram 1734... the bogie build instructions are a little scant to say the least and as such the brake pull rod between both harnesses will have to be cut off over the bolster beam, this won't matter that much as such for it will never be seen being under the coach floor.

 

Sticking with the Diagram 1734 Period 2 Suburban Composite build I've detailed one of the bogies, its not a perfect job as the brake yoke straps are made from pieces of very thin scrap etch and the brake pull harness is made from 0.5mm wire which proved to be a bit tricky to get aligned flat over the bogie centtre stretcher beam. Anyway that's a days work and will probably never be seen ... only another five bogies to finish on the Brake Third and Third vehicles.




Here is the underside of the bogie showing the yoke safety straps made from scrap etch, the yoke adjustment bar is a temporary fit as I have a few small castings on order from CPL which consist of turnbuckes and clevis fittings on the adjustment bars and pull rods to the brake shafts.





With both bogies under the carriage frame the next job will be to fit the buffer beams and vacuum tanks.

 

Some of the scratch work is not brilliant Stan but it won't really been seen... but thanks for the nice comment.
cheers Yorkie

 

Thanks Andy, I really need to complete these three coaches to make the local Churnet Line set along with either the Stanier tank or the Fowler tank and then these will form the focal point with Leek's Down platform shelter and water tank as a diorama. Problem is everything takes such a long time to do, for example the vacuum tell tale arms and associate fittings are on order from CPL so I cannot make up the bulkhead ends of this coach until I have drilled for the location points. Spoke to Paul Bambrick and he is despatching them this week... so that job will happen but the other two coaches have already been assembled so I'll have to deal with fitting tell tales on them in a different way. I only recently discovered these fittings from CPL otherwise I would have had to scratch them from scrap etch.

 

On a small production line this morning making the U shape cradles for the remaining LMS bogies, these cradles are a safety feature on the real coaches and helped prevent any brake rigging components falling onto the track when the train was in motion, these U shape straps fir under the bogie frame near the wheel sets and catch the yokes should they become displaced. I also have to make the forward and inner straps which fit near the brake hangers and these prevent the yoke ends by the brake blocks. So here are twenty straps ready to be fitted onto five bogies... I formed these from thin scrap etch this morning. The two buffing beams and cast collars can be seen also ready for fitting.

 

A bit more work done to the bulkhead end of the LMS Period 2 Composite coach, the kit is by Sidelines and as with all stuff I build its always a joy to super detail all the little bits which don't come with the kit, the next job is to mark, drill and fit the vacuum tell tales and pipework which is a casting by CPL. The jumper connector pockets were scratch made from thin strips of scrap etch and the grab handrails will need to have their tail end fixing tabs fitted which is another micro job which will no doubt test the old eyesight.

 

Hi there Jim,
That's a good enough reason to stay with 4mm I'd certainly agree... however 7mm is very compelling Thing is 4mm may be half the size of 7mm and its a quarter the size in volume, so that's a great time saving advantage... oh if only I'd have recognised that little mathematical conundrum a few years earlier.

cheers Paul

 

Finally got chance this week to complete detailing to the bulkhead end on this diagram 1734 Period 2 Composite non corridor suburban, the tell tales fitted today are CPL castings.




The other bulkhead end is a simpler prospect, I just have to fix two scratch made jumper pockets and the grab handrails which will have their fixing tails attached... and of course the lamp brackets. Currently both the bulkhead end pieces are just placed on the coach frames for this photograph.




Both side panels were formed to shape ages ago with window frame detailing added along with door furniture, brackets for destination boards were also scratch made. I'm in two minds as to whether to make the door vent covers, these seem to have been removed by BR in the later years.




This is the frame for the coach, bogies are complete but the dynamo and vacuum cylinders with brake pull rods have yet to be installed. In the background are the two Period 3 suburbans which will complete the runnning set.