Westdale Coaches - 7mm

These two kits from "Westdale" models where purchased in the Uk during my xmas trip.The kits are :- LMS 57' Suburban Third Brake (6 compartment) Dia. D1907 dated 1934/35 Lot. 744/5, 850 and a LMS 57' Suburban 1st /3rd (9 compartment) Dia. ???? unknown
As the new extension to my previous layout will have a small station halt, I thought these would be ideal models to attempt my first ever coach builds. I've been told that they are not the easiest kits to start off with but they are here so let battle commence.


On checking the contents it seems there are a few small detailing parts missing, but nothing that I have not got or that can not be made up. Body and roof are one assembly and the chassis base is a strip of wood.First thing to change was the way the very basic instructions suggest fixing the chassis to the body. The kit includes two sections of wooden angled dowel which are to be glued to the end panels and then the chassis can be screwed into them with a supplied brass wood screw, this I felt would cause problems at each end of the coach when fitting the seating detailing parts that I have purchased from another supplier. So I have used aluminium angle brackets into which I will tap a couple of holes and then use a couple of micro bolts to attach the two assemblies together...easier to understand by looking at the pictures.. 1st using the suggested method....wood.


And my chosen method, aluminium angle.....the seats I have will need the thickness of the angle ground off them and then they will sit on top of the angle brackets...



From the underside the angle is positioned so that the wooden chassi fits flush with the body sides.


Loose fit of the wood to check levels....and I've also spent time drilling out all the roof vent holes plus the door handles and latches. The single sheet of instructions in the back ground are VERY basic.

Brake end panel fitted, there will be some filling to do around the roof edge.

Plain ends fitted as well, just need to clean up the joints. These will need detailing once I've sorted out what I need.

All the vent holes now drilled and the the roofs cleaned up.


............to be continued.http://www.click Kim

 

hi Pete, thanks for the info Yes the under frame detailing does look basic, Ill fit the items with some small screws first to see how it looks then make a decision as to a replacement set. The bogies I have are from Easy Build, they have gone together really easy and just need the axle box;s packed to stop the side play.




All assembled ready for some small bits of rod to be pushed into the axle box which in turn pushes the bearing onto the wheel axle. The instruction suggest using a piece of paper between side frame and wheels to set up the bearings then once cemented in position remove the paper to give a nice smooth running wheel set

Bit more on the coach bodies today, buffers and couplings.....



This shows the fixing positions for joining the chassis to the body though the buffer beam assembly. Just need to replace these small screws with slightly longer ones.



getting there..... Kim

 

Hi Pete, I Paid 27.50 a pair including bearings and a set of wheels. Really easy to assemble and even with out adjustment they run very smooth over the new junction.
Kim