richard carr
Western Thunderer
I have just put one of the maroon coaches on my DCC test track and the lights all come on, it doesn't have to have a decoder fitted.
Richard
Richard
Dapol BR Mark 1 Coach
- Thread starter richard carr
- Start date
I asked Lionheart about the extra-charge DCC option and that does include a decoder to allow the coach lighting to be turned on/off from a DCC handset using F0 (just like a loco). If a rake of coaches all share the same decoder address, F0 will switch the lighting for the entire rake simultaneously.
Ian
richard carr
Western Thunderer
For those contemplating converting these to S7, I decided to convert the 2 maroon BCKs by adjusting the back to backs and retaining the existing wheels. This is how to do it.
I couldn't move the wheels while still in the bogie so I had to take off the bogies and remove the wheels
The first thing to do is to remove the 2 nuts holding the electrical contacts in place.
Then remove the big screw and you can take out the bogie, the brake wire will pull out of its location hole with a gentle tug.
Then remove the screw on bolster that is holding the sideframe in place and the wheels will then drop out.
Once you have the wheels out use a decent sized pair of pliers to hold the axle and the wheels can be pulled further apart. I prefer to over do it and then use a back to back gauge to set the correct back to back distance.
I like to put everything in a vice and and press the wheels firmly together to get the correct back to back.
I then tried running these on my layout through a cross over with a single slip in it. Both coaches ran through OK a little bit jumpy in a few places and not as smoothly as the green BCK which has slaters S7 wheels fitted, nothing derailed either being pulled through or pushed through.
The lights of course still work if you do this, but they did flicker on and off a great deal.
Richard
I couldn't move the wheels while still in the bogie so I had to take off the bogies and remove the wheels
The first thing to do is to remove the 2 nuts holding the electrical contacts in place.
Then remove the big screw and you can take out the bogie, the brake wire will pull out of its location hole with a gentle tug.
Then remove the screw on bolster that is holding the sideframe in place and the wheels will then drop out.
Once you have the wheels out use a decent sized pair of pliers to hold the axle and the wheels can be pulled further apart. I prefer to over do it and then use a back to back gauge to set the correct back to back distance.
I like to put everything in a vice and and press the wheels firmly together to get the correct back to back.
I then tried running these on my layout through a cross over with a single slip in it. Both coaches ran through OK a little bit jumpy in a few places and not as smoothly as the green BCK which has slaters S7 wheels fitted, nothing derailed either being pulled through or pushed through.
The lights of course still work if you do this, but they did flicker on and off a great deal.
Richard
Last edited:
daifly
Western Thunderer
Hi Richard
I’m puzzled. If you could move the wheels whilst still in the bogies, why did you remove them?
Dave
richard carr
Western Thunderer
Dave
Sorry I should have said couldn't and I have now edited the post to say that.
Personally though, fitting replacement Slaters wheels is the best option, the green BCK did run noticeably better then retaining the finescale wheels.
Richard
Sorry I should have said couldn't and I have now edited the post to say that.
Personally though, fitting replacement Slaters wheels is the best option, the green BCK did run noticeably better then retaining the finescale wheels.
Richard
Ressaldar
Western Thunderer
Just received my initial Mk1s and very pleased with them.
they will be numbered with a W prefix for a cross country set with an additional CK (when they arrive) & SK (additional order placed) + a Darstead RMB in chocolate and cream - will be interesting to see how they line up and what I will need to do coupling wise - pictures will follow.
The Hymek is still awaiting weathering, not long now hopefully with some warmer weather on its way.
regards
Mike
they will be numbered with a W prefix for a cross country set with an additional CK (when they arrive) & SK (additional order placed) + a Darstead RMB in chocolate and cream - will be interesting to see how they line up and what I will need to do coupling wise - pictures will follow.
The Hymek is still awaiting weathering, not long now hopefully with some warmer weather on its way.
regards
Mike
richard carr
Western Thunderer
Fox transfers do lots of MK numbering options for each region.
Mike it will be very interesting to see how your Darsted RMB matches up against these coaches, when do you expect to get it ?
Richard
Mike it will be very interesting to see how your Darsted RMB matches up against these coaches, when do you expect to get it ?
Richard
Ressaldar
Western Thunderer
Hi Richard,
hopefully by Thursday, I will post pictures as and when.
regards
Mike
Tim Humphreys ex Mudhen
Western Thunderer
I've just received a couple of these coaches, very pleased with them.
Here's another approach to converting to S7 using Peartree wheels and bearings.
File the top hat bearings already fitted to the bogies sides flush with the frames. A Peartree top hat bearing will fit into the hole but before fixing shorten the length so that the top hat is flat against the bogie frame. Do this for all four and then glues them in, I use Locktite retainer fluid. The Peartree axles are a little wide, I removed about a millimetre from each side so that when inserted into the bearing the hub of the wheel just makes contact with it. Reassemble and check for free running, you may need to shorten the axles a little more.
Done!
Tim
Here's another approach to converting to S7 using Peartree wheels and bearings.
File the top hat bearings already fitted to the bogies sides flush with the frames. A Peartree top hat bearing will fit into the hole but before fixing shorten the length so that the top hat is flat against the bogie frame. Do this for all four and then glues them in, I use Locktite retainer fluid. The Peartree axles are a little wide, I removed about a millimetre from each side so that when inserted into the bearing the hub of the wheel just makes contact with it. Reassemble and check for free running, you may need to shorten the axles a little more.
Done!
Tim
Ressaldar
Western Thunderer
The postie must have skates on as the two coaches ordered yesterday ( from two different sources) arrived just after lunch today, so it was straight out to the workshop to see if/how they married up.............................
well as you can clearly see, there is no match up as regards roofline, the RMB is a good 3mm higher and the bottom of the side is 1mm higher, the buffers line up pretty well aligned and the couplings are way out - one mounted on the buffer beam, the other on the bogie. Solution is to return the RMB to Ellis Clark and be patient for the Suez Canal to re-open and hope that Dapol are not to slow in doing the RMB themselves. In the meantime I have a four coach set about to be numbered in the W xxxxx series (as appropriate) and share the hauling duties between Class 33 and Class 35 green liveried SYP diesels - when I can get down to the Club!
regards
Mike
well as you can clearly see, there is no match up as regards roofline, the RMB is a good 3mm higher and the bottom of the side is 1mm higher, the buffers line up pretty well aligned and the couplings are way out - one mounted on the buffer beam, the other on the bogie. Solution is to return the RMB to Ellis Clark and be patient for the Suez Canal to re-open and hope that Dapol are not to slow in doing the RMB themselves. In the meantime I have a four coach set about to be numbered in the W xxxxx series (as appropriate) and share the hauling duties between Class 33 and Class 35 green liveried SYP diesels - when I can get down to the Club!
regards
Mike
Focalplane
Western Thunderer
Well, I am glad I waited so long for the Dapol coaches. I have been a fan of their RTR vans and wagons for some time. I am still waiting for my bogie bolster. It will arrive “soon”.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
I knew the Southern Region marshalled their Mk1s into 4 coach numbered sets following Southern Railway practice with a brake coach at each end.
However, I was unaware the Western Region followed suit. I thought all the other regions just threw their Mk1s together willy-nilly to form a train.
Pencarrow
Western Thunderer
Definitely confirms my findings. The coach is notably too high and the ends are not a patch on the Dapol version.
Ressaldar
Western Thunderer
Hi Dave,
they will only be running as a four care set until Dapol bring out the SK and eventually the RMB to make up a ‘cross country’ set Cardiff - Portsmouth as indicated in Hugh Longworth’s Mk1/Mk2 book. I have a Green syp 33 to share the duties with the Hymek.
regards
Mike
Overseer
Western Thunderer
richard carr
Western Thunderer
Mike
Sadly that is what I expected to see. Hopefully Dapol will do a catering vehicle to run with the rest of the coaches and hopefully a full brake too.
Richard
Sadly that is what I expected to see. Hopefully Dapol will do a catering vehicle to run with the rest of the coaches and hopefully a full brake too.
Richard