Building an MMP RMB - a box of delights

[Heather Kay]

Progress today. I've also built the propane tank cupboards, the regulator cradle and the fuse box. The refrigerator compressor cabinet needs looking at, though. The brackets in the kit don't match with the photos, so I think there'll be a little bit fabrication going on tomorrow.

 

[Dog Star]

I hope that I can pop over for a lesson when we get round to our RMB (circa 1988, dual heat, dual brake).

 

[Heather Kay]

I hope that I can pop over for a lesson when we get round to our RMB (circa 1988, dual heat, dual brake).

You're always welcome, Graham.

 

[john lewsey]

Heather you just get better and better

 

[lancer1027]

Excellent work Heather

Rob

 

[Heather Kay]

Thanks, everyone! Please bear in mind, while I am happy bimbling along in my own little miniature world, you lot have encouraged me to try harder. Thank you all for the encouragement and technical backup that helps me push my own personal envelope.

 

[dibateg]

Lovely work Heather - the detail puts the prototype to shame!

 

[tomstaf]

A couple of battery boxes. Lots of parts, fragile overlays, and some RSU work. A little untidy, but I think it'll look fine painted and grubby.

Looking good Heather. Here's some weathering inspiration for you

Cheers

Tom

 

[Heather Kay]

Tom, perfect.

Today, despite a change of plan this morning that saw me out longer than was anticipated, I have been trying to finish off the bogies. Using Tom's superb B4 step etches, I've been fettling things to add the steps to the JLTRT bogies.



I've been following the photos I took at the Kent & East Sussex. The only step in evidence on the preserved RMB was at the short saloon end, on the opposite side to the kitchen. Looking at the photos shared by other peeps in this thread, it seems the steps were repeated on the opposite corner, as well as a step under the toilet end.



Obviously, Tom's etch is intended for the B4/B5 bogie, where the steps were only fitted to the left hand (outer) end of each bogie. Some cutting about and new brackets have been fitted to make things work on the Commonwealth.



Now, from what I can glean, there's a pair of steps under the lav end on both sides of the bogie. At the other end, only the non-kitchen side appears to have the full set, with just a single short step on the other.



Despite having to chop them about, the etches make life so much easier.

 

[tomstaf]

Glad they've made things easier for you Heather. They look the part on the Commonwealths.

Cheers

Tom

 

[tomstaf]

Rob -

We used to + body fittings/gangways - but hardly anyone bought them!

I could use several sets David. Would you interested in r-running some?

Cheers

Tom

 

[alcazar]

Probably more call for them now, what with the upturn in coach building and the number of coach kits around?

 

[djparkins]

Probably more call for them now, what with the upturn in coach building and the number of coach kits around?

I don't think there are any more Mk.1 coach kits around then there were 2-3 years ago when we did those sets. They were only 'sections' from our complete kits anyway.

Also - not sure what you mean by the upturn in coach building! How do you make that out Jeff? I don't think there is too much evidence of an upturn in kit building generally!

Regards,

DJP

 

[richard carr]

More like a downturn now there is all this ready to run stuff, although when I spoke to Laurie at JLTRT before christmas he said was the busiest he had been for a few years.

 

[alcazar]

My comment was based on the number of threads where folk are building 7mm coaches.

There seem to be a few about at the mo, last year there was one. Unless I missed some?

 

[Heather Kay]

I think perhaps I've skewed the count. In the past year I have built at least nine coaches and documented them here.

Final underfloor details today, and then I'll get some primer on things this afternoon.



It's all upside down, but then that's the way I've been working for the past few days. The propane cabinets, refrigeration unit and the air brake cylinder bits. These are still separate units for ease of painting.



I think this is the ETH fuse box. You just see it peeping below the solebar. There's still a socket, which I think is for plugging the coach into the mains, that goes between the emergency lighting socket and the battery box on this side. I'm not sure how common a feature that is at the period (early 1980s), or whether it's something fitted more recently for powering the vehicle when not in a train. Perhaps Bob might be able to clarify.

 

[djparkins]

My comment was based on the number of threads where folk are building 7mm coaches.

There seem to be a few about at the mo, last year there was one. Unless I missed some?

Half a dozen or so. Stealing from the swallows - half a dozen online coach builds does not an upturn make!

 

[Dog Star]

Final underfloor details today, and then I'll get some primer on things this afternoon.

Please excuse me asking... somewhere in the first five pages Bob R noted running numbers of suitable candidates and all are (were for 1814) dual heat / dual brake in the mid-1980s. When are you going to add the main steam heat pipe and the Sheep's Head?

regards, Graham

 

[Heather Kay]

When are you going to add the main steam heat pipe and the Sheep's Head?

That's a very good question. It kind of depends on just how visible such things really are. With everything going on under the floor of this vehicle, I have my doubts you'd see it.

Now, if someone commissioned a scratch built 1/24th scale Mk1, I could even put a corrugated floor in, and make the brakes work.

 

[Steph Dale]

And deliver it in approximately forty-seven years time...

Steph