LarryG's loco & coach WB (4mm/00)

[Heather Kay]

That weld seam is very effective.

 

[LarryG]

Thanks Heather. At the grey primer stage there is still time to add more relief if it is needed. Three pass-overs looks to be adequate though. Red oxide next followed by midday butties, then crimson lake...

 

[Deano747]

....and I thought you had retired, Larry?! Some remarkable coaches coming from the 'Coachman' assembly plant.

Regards, Rob.

 

[simond]

Yeah, I wish I could do it in 7mm,

 

[LarryG]

....and I thought you had retired, Larry?! Some remarkable coaches coming from the 'Coachman' assembly plant.

Regards, Rob.

Thanks Rob. I retired in 2018. What I build now is merely to keep me occupied.

 

[LarryG]

Odds & Sods.....

The window in the ducket is Humbrol 27003 MetalCote buffed up when dry to give a mirror efect...


I wasn't satisfied with my own LMS bogies and so purchased some MJT cosmetic LMS bogie sideframes to solder to my etched top plates. The holes were drilled deeper and countersunk to take brass bearings...


I'm happy with these bogies to the extent that I'll order more and my own can sit in the drawer...


The all important bogie mounted footboard below the guards compartment...

 

[LarryG]

Another coach completed for an LMR excursion to Llanfair. I have referred to it as D1916 whereas it is a D1946. There was no visual difference...

 

[LarryG]

A pair of bogies were converted from Hornby to Gibson plastic-centre wheels this morning. The coaches are lighter and quieter running...

 

[LarryG]

A second ex.LMS coach is being built for the excursion train. This time I chose a post-war variant of the Period III corridor second with extra doors on the corridor side and welded solebars...


Detailed ready for painting...

 

[LarryG]

More MJT LMS Rivetted bogies arrived today as did Gibson coach wheels from CM3 Models, both of whom did a quick turn round. This is the state of play as I type :- Painted and weathered awaiting welded type bogies....


Welded bogies built tonight. They had longer springs than pre-war and had LNWR style tie rods...

Interior sprayed gloss light fawn and stippled with dark brown to create varnished wood effect. Seats bufferbeam red to show up in 4mm...

 

[LarryG]

D2119 corridor third ready for action (next spring!).

 

[LarryG]

I chose a Period II Open Second as the fourth LMS coach for the excursion train. Only four coaches were needed and I have yet to build a corridor brake second for the other end. But it means I can ring the changes with this and any other spare coaches. It is intended to give this one mucky blood & custard.

Finished ready for paintshop. Interior to be sorted tomorrow...




PS: (13.11.21) Use of tape on the tumblehome was experimental. If it lifts, it is a nuisance to glue down again ~ if it keeps on lifting. Loctite leaves a blemish which shows up at the primer stage. It's removal merely involves more wasted time. It is far easier to rule such beading on using a bow-pen and thick-ish cellulose paint.

 

[LarryG]

Painted and weathered. The LMS Period II coach design spanned less than four years, but it produced some handsome vehicles and covered the transition from Period I high-waist fully panelled coaches to low-waist flush exteriors coaches of Period III design...

 

[LarryG]

I must resist attempting flash photography on the WB at night! Outdoor shots even in poor light usually produce better results. I travelled in ex.LMS blood & custard open coaches from Bangor to Afon Wen in the very early 1960's when this livery was looking rather work-worn...


I have a simple technique for colouring coach interiors using Halford rattle cans. No primer is required. They are sprayed Ford Tuscan Beige and while wet are lightly sprayed from distance with Ford Roman Bronze. This produces an acceptable stippled wood effect. For darker wood, I spray on more of the Bronze as below. Then the seats are picked out with matt enamels. Job done...

 

[Pencarrow]

Excellent work as usual Larry. I do wonder sometimes what we'd do without Halfords.

 

[LarryG]

The final 'necessary' coach for the London Midland rake is a Stanier Period III brake second to DS1968. I presume the 'S' is for Special, for these coaches were built stronger than other Period III coaches. All except those built at Wolverton had sides welded to the floor with the idea of giving greater protection to trains in the event of a mishap.

As far as I am aware, no other model coach producer tackled this variant, so I just had to build the last one from the 2008 batch for myself. For those who haven't read this before, the coach sides are deeper than other coaches and have to be soldered a millimetre below the floor...



The end view shows the side overlapping the solebar...


Needless to say, they had welded (rivet less) underframes. WB shot...

 

[ullypug]

Very inspirational Larry
Makes me want to do something about my unbuilt coach kit stash!

 

[LarryG]

It's a branch of the hobby I like best. It also means I can have almost any coach I want.

I look back with nostalgia on the LMS Stanier coaches and night journeys in particular between Wales and Manchester snug in those Empire veneer third class compartments with the steam heating turned up.

 

[LarryG]

DS1968 ready for the paintshop...

 

[simond]

Funny, isn’t it. I loathe building coaches, they’re fiddly, they need a really good paint job, there’s lots of repetitive detail, and they’re large & fragile. And you need between 1 & 6 times as many as you need locos…

I suppose if I could somehow contrive to acquire Larry’s skills, knowledge & experience, but I think I’ve left it a bit late…