HO East German coaches

[Tim Hale]

Over 50 years ago Schicht VEB In Dresden introduced examples of some of the most iconic passenger coaches of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, the Doppelstockwagen or dostos. Currently there is a 2-car set in the original livery on the workbench being restored and a discrete upgrade.

 

[Chas Levin]

I have some Schicht Czech CSD coaches and I agree they have a wonderful look to them, especially the lighting, which has a lovely vintage look to it!

 

[Tim Hale]

Currently waiting to be allowed back in the workshop, Tuesday at the earliest, which means no Sunday morning working on this:-

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It is one of three sets of Doppelstockwagen or Dostos for those who care, introduced in ‘51, they remained in service until the ‘90s withdrawn due to asbestos issues. They were equally happy on suburban and branchline services, a few were upgraded with p+p gear.

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The model is from Schicht, I need to rebuild them, the main issue are wheel standards and couplings, a quick wipe with a duster with a smidgin of Pledge will help. Rivarossi offered similar but I prefer the original.
Tim

 

[Chas Levin]

Nice looking carriages! Do they have lighting too? I wondered whether Schicht fitted lighting as standard or whether it was an after-market upgrade? I have several Schicht coaches and have looked at a few more and all had lighting fitted...

 

[Tim Hale]

The first set is lit, must check on the other two, I will post images of the rebuild.

Tim

 

[cloggydog]

Nice looking carriages! Do they have lighting too? I wondered whether Schicht fitted lighting as standard or whether it was an after-market upgrade? I have several Schicht coaches and have looked at a few more and all had lighting fitted...

Most/all of the Schicht coaches I have (or had), including my dosto sets, were lit as standard. Rudimentary pcb up in the roofline with a couple of 12v incandescent bulbs. I have got a bunch of the lighting sets salvaged out of various coaches which I'm unlikely to use, if they are of use to anyone.

The Schicht dostos, despite being over-width and with moulded-on lining guides, do capture the character of the real thing very nicely. I did take the moulded lines off a 2-car to see what effect it had, but wasn't convinced it was worth the effort.

Decals for the dostos (Epoch IV) came from Andreas Nothaft, paint was Humbrol 195, from memory, a close-enough match to DR green.

 

[Chas Levin]

Hello Alan & Tim, are the bulbs Schicht used definitely 12V and do you know where we can find replacements? The ones I've found so far that look the right shape & size are Marklin 19V ones, which I assume would be too dim on the 6-12V range I generally operate within, Chas

 

[Tim Hale]

A few more images of dostos in their natural habitat, CLICK HERE

Tim

 

[Roger Pound]

A very long time ago when I used to sell Schicht coaches along with other East German products under the Piko Kombinat name, I seem to recall the majority were light fitted as described in post#7 by Mr Levin. Such bulbs were then available as spares and I stocked them but that was over nearly thirty years ago. These bulbs were also used in other accessories such as street and yard lamps, but the name of their manufacturer escapes me. It may be worth pursuing a line of invesigation of the Piko Kombinat in pre-reunification days to see if a link could be ascertained.

Roger

 

[Chas Levin]

A very long time ago when I used to sell Schicht coaches along with other East German products under the Piko Kombinat name, I seem to recall the majority were light fitted as described in post#7 by Mr Levin. Such bulbs were then available as spares and I stocked them but that was over nearly thirty years ago. These bulbs were also used in other accessories such as street and yard lamps, but the name of their manufacturer escapes me. It may be worth pursuing a line of invesigation of the Piko Kombinat in pre-reunification days to see if a link could be ascertained.

Roger

Thanks Roger, I'll investigate that further... I use different types of lighting in different types of vehicles, sometimes filament bulbs, sometimes warm white LEDs, but for 20th century East European stock, dimly illuminated filament bulbs seem to look right.