Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
I'll come up with a better thread title at some point.
After the tale of three Colletts, I have a pair of LNWR third class coaches on my bench.
They have an interesting life story. Chowbent Castings produced the LNWR M57 motor driving trailer in both 4mm and 7mm scales (I have the 4mm one unbuilt as a shelf queen), and also made a matching all-third trailer. The 7mm scale pair, having been acquired by Best Beloved back in the mists of time, were destined to run the pull-and-push motor train on one of our Linfords layouts, coupled to an ex-LNWR 0-6-2T Coal Tank. BB made a valiant start on the kits, but for some reason put them aside while another project came to the fore. Before he had the chance to return and complete them, health issues intervened, and the partially-constructed coaches languished in their boxes.
Eventually, it was decided we should liquidate our stocks of kits and models that were otherwise never going to be completed, and we had a fairly massive sale through the ScaleSeven Group. Monies raised went on other hobbies, and a lot of interesting kits and bits found new homes, including the LNWR pair.
While visiting this year's RailEx, I was showing progress on the Colletts, when the LNWR pair's new owner asked if I might consider completing the part-built coaches. We agreed a price, and there we are: the world turns in mysterious ways.
So, what have I in store with this pair?
Well, as you can see, they're both almost there. The underframes have been built, the bogies are virtually complete, the bodies are constructed with most details added. I need to work on the interiors, repair and replace the odd bit here and there, fit and detail the roofs, and paint them.
Unlike the GWR triplets just completed, railway interests in this house encompass the LNWR, LMS and BR periods, with special attention on the railways around North Buckinghamshire. From our library, you can see I have some driving cab interior detail, some reasonable detail shots of exteriors, and plenty of information about the parent company, especially about the LNWR coach livery of the pre-Grouping period.
Having assessed the box contents, I made a list of bits that were obviously needed. Many of the detail castings had become lost, for example, so they need to be replaced.
One thing I will have to do is remove all the commode handles which Best Beloved diligently fitted to each compartment. The client would like these coaches finished in LNWR "plum and spilt milk" livery, which includes a fair degree of panel lining. Fitting that round the handles will be impossible, so off they must come.
I'm hoping to start work on these in the next week or so, once the package from Gladiator arrives. This ought to be an interesting build.
After the tale of three Colletts, I have a pair of LNWR third class coaches on my bench.
They have an interesting life story. Chowbent Castings produced the LNWR M57 motor driving trailer in both 4mm and 7mm scales (I have the 4mm one unbuilt as a shelf queen), and also made a matching all-third trailer. The 7mm scale pair, having been acquired by Best Beloved back in the mists of time, were destined to run the pull-and-push motor train on one of our Linfords layouts, coupled to an ex-LNWR 0-6-2T Coal Tank. BB made a valiant start on the kits, but for some reason put them aside while another project came to the fore. Before he had the chance to return and complete them, health issues intervened, and the partially-constructed coaches languished in their boxes.
Eventually, it was decided we should liquidate our stocks of kits and models that were otherwise never going to be completed, and we had a fairly massive sale through the ScaleSeven Group. Monies raised went on other hobbies, and a lot of interesting kits and bits found new homes, including the LNWR pair.
While visiting this year's RailEx, I was showing progress on the Colletts, when the LNWR pair's new owner asked if I might consider completing the part-built coaches. We agreed a price, and there we are: the world turns in mysterious ways.
So, what have I in store with this pair?
Well, as you can see, they're both almost there. The underframes have been built, the bogies are virtually complete, the bodies are constructed with most details added. I need to work on the interiors, repair and replace the odd bit here and there, fit and detail the roofs, and paint them.
Unlike the GWR triplets just completed, railway interests in this house encompass the LNWR, LMS and BR periods, with special attention on the railways around North Buckinghamshire. From our library, you can see I have some driving cab interior detail, some reasonable detail shots of exteriors, and plenty of information about the parent company, especially about the LNWR coach livery of the pre-Grouping period.
Having assessed the box contents, I made a list of bits that were obviously needed. Many of the detail castings had become lost, for example, so they need to be replaced.
- Today, I ordered from Gladiator Models the following:
- Two pairs lost wax brass screw couplings
- Two sets of lost wax brass LNWR coach buffers
- Two sets of low vacuum pipes, which can be modified for steam heat pipes
- Four sets of high vacuum pipes, for the motor fitting gear
One thing I will have to do is remove all the commode handles which Best Beloved diligently fitted to each compartment. The client would like these coaches finished in LNWR "plum and spilt milk" livery, which includes a fair degree of panel lining. Fitting that round the handles will be impossible, so off they must come.
I'm hoping to start work on these in the next week or so, once the package from Gladiator arrives. This ought to be an interesting build.