7mm On Heather's workbench - a trio of JLTRT Mk2s

[Heather Kay]

I have been in communication with Richard. This side will be stripped, and I plan on reverting to the Phoenix enamels for the blue.

I've also decided to do a Beeson. As Bob noted, the grey panel is too high, so I plan on extending it down to the bottom of the commode handle. Obviously this will mean the windows will appear too high, but there's nothing I can do about that.

I'd like to take the opportunity of thanking everyone for their comments and input in this thread. It's been very helpful being able to share some of the frustrations and working out solutions.

So, the part-painted BSO side will take a cellulose thinners bath while I fill in those naughty guard's comp windows that shouldn't be there. If, by some miracle, the missing air brake parts appear in the post, I can complete the underframes. The roofs have their first coat of paint drying as I type, and I still have some detailing to add to the bogies. Plenty to keep me occupied while I work through this damned head cold that reappeared last night. I don't fancy wearing the face mask in this condition.

there are a few omissions it looks like from the kit, the emergency coupling should be under the big grey cabinet on the wall between the office and the corridor and it should be painted red and depending on when it is being modelled the PA equipment.

There are some spare screw coupling bits, so this will be fairly easy to replicate. How was the coupling stowed? My reference photos come from the Parkin Mk1 books - showing the original guard's compartment with the periscopes, and a vac brake pipe hanging on the wall. They don't show the emergency coupling, sadly.

Onwards and sideways!

 

[dibateg]

I'm enjoying the thread Heather, I'm so glad my coaches are maroon...

 

[Heather Kay]

I'm enjoying the thread Heather, I'm so glad my coaches are maroon...

I knew there was a reason I personally prefer to model the late 1950s.

 

[Dog Star]

... I personally prefer to model the late 1950s.

What with all this attention to detail in the guard's compartment, for your forthcoming essay into the world of maroon, just been built, MK.1s now might be the time to do the usual WT thing and ask a question.

I have recollections of tables being stored in the end vestibules - how common was this feature? (there is a chance that this feature was pure Mk.1)

regards, Graham

 

[Heather Kay]

Graham, I think the stored tables was a Mk1 feature. It was part of the original spec for the corridor coaches, I think. It was a way of squeezing extra seats in, but allowing passengers to have a table if they wanted one, though it was probably a bit of a squeeze with the table in place.

 

[Heather Kay]

When I get to work I will look in my locker and see if the diagrams are in there.

That's very useful, and kind of you. Thank you.

Just to confirm, the coupling is on the wall opposite the guard's outer door, below the fire extinguisher box? That would make sense as that's where the spare vac pipe lived from what I gather. If that's the case, I probably won't add it as it's effectively hidden behind the handbrake stand and seat.

Incidentally, the JLTRT fire cubby hole is only large enough for two extinguishers, or one extinguisher and a sand bucket. I went with that combo because it looked more interesting.

I will plan on compiling this information into a drawing we can put in the Mk2 resources thread.

The partition for the full brake makes sense. The laser-cut sheet is definitely labelled up for Mk2 brake open C and D, so I think that's an error. I'll fill the errant holes with plastic sheet of similar thickness and make good.

 

[Heather Kay]

Thanks Ian!

In other news, a load of missing bits turned up in the post today, so I can now complete the underframes.

 

[Dog Star]

In other news, a load of missing bits turned up in the post today, so I can now complete the underframes.

You are assuming that what was sent is what you requested....

 

[Heather Kay]

You are assuming that what was sent is what you requested....

I checked. It's all there.

 

[lancer1027]

Thats good news Heather. As you say you can now continue. I know of several people that had to wait ages for parts that had been missing from their kits. Most annoying.

Im looking forward to the progress. It is or should i say they are coming together nicely

Rob

 

[tomstaf]

Hi Heather,

This should help you with the emergency coupling;




Cheers

Tom

 

[Heather Kay]

Tom, that's fantastic. Thank you.

It looks like an ETH only coach, so the opportunity was taken to move elements about. The coupling is taking space that would have had the steam heat radiator and pressure valve. These details are worth knowing.

 

[tomstaf]

Tom, that's fantastic. Thank you.

It looks like an ETH only coach, so the opportunity was taken to move elements about. The coupling is taking space that would have had the steam heat radiator and pressure valve. These details are worth knowing.

I didn't know MK2s ever had any steam heat stuff Here are 3 more piccies which show the heater, and some strange clip things and a big ship like wheel (handbrake). Amazing how mechanical things were back then.



Cheers

Tom

 

[Heather Kay]

I didn't know MK2s ever had any steam heat stuff Here are 3 more piccies which show the heater, and some strange clip things and a big ship like wheel (handbrake). Amazing how mechanical things were back then.

The clips are to put across the rails to make the track circuit in the event of accident. This will show the section is occupied and throw the signals to danger.

The handwheel is the hand brake, and it is amazing to think it's not unlike something you'd have seen in the 19th century, let alone halfway through the 2oth! A series of good clear photos showing the handbrake linkage below the floor, and how it fitted into the automatic brake system (if at all), would be another useful addition to the Resources thread.

From what I can glean from the Harris book, the Mk2s were dual heated until air conditioning was standardised with the 2D and beyond. Don't forget, the prototype Mk2 was built in the early 1960s, with the first production vehicles entering normal passenger service in 1964/5. The early production runs were dual heated and dual braked (though details about exactly how the vacuum brake system was fitted are like hen's teeth or unicorn dung). As time passed, steam heating and vacuum brakes were removed from older coaches, so any 2As, 2Bs and 2Cs that remained in service into the late 1980s and into the private charter services of today won't show some of those details any more.

I've said to Graham several times that building accurate model coaches is harder than locomotives or freight stock. So many detail variations can be found depending on batch, modifications in service, and so on, being a passenger coach gricer can make your average "engine picker" appear as a rank amateur by comparison!

 

[Dog Star]

I've said to Graham several times that building accurate model coaches is harder than locomotives or freight stock. So many detail variations can be found depending on batch, modifications in service, and so on, being a passenger coach gricer can make your average "engine picker" appear as a rank amateur by comparison!

And I have agreed with you on each and every occasion!

 

[Stu Fox]

On the TCOC's (jargon there... ..showing off ) - the track circuit clips shown are the hand applied type suitable for use on 'third rail' lines. Before the mid 80's IIRC the clips issued on stock not on the Southern et.al were of the stamp on (with your foot) variety... ...S7ner's take note.......

Great job Heather - your work is capturing 'the look' of a Mk2a/b very well.

Regards

Stu

 

[Heather Kay]

Great job Heather - your work is capturing 'the look' of a Mk2a/b very well.

One does one's best. It is in my nature to understand how or why something was built or put together. If I have some understanding of such things, I can model it happily. Having seen Tom's photos above, there's a ton of further detail I'm itching to include, but I have to be realistic about what can actually be seen through the small door window!

 

[Stu Fox]

Heather,

IMHO looking at the interior of the guards section that you state shows up dust etc... actually adds to the realism of the thing. In my experience 'staff areas' of BR stock was rarely clean, rarely smart and very rarely had straight, clean walls (the guards compartments 'suffered' from graffitti on the walls). I used to see painted over cigarette stubs on driving cab walls - clearly little preparatory work was carried out by some depot staff!.

Regards

Stu

 

[Bob Reid]

Too Many questions to answer all at one go but I'll make a start....

1. All of the non-air conditioned Mk2's from the original design (z) thru' a to c were equipped with pressure-ventilation equipment (PV) supplied by J.Stone's & Co. of Deptford

2. All of them supplied the "hot air" (like forums at times) via underfloor ducts with outlets in the passenger compartments & saloons, and guards compartment... they were not (with the exception of 20 FK's) fitted with the traditional radiant heating panels or elements under the seats or in the Guards Compt. as seen in the majority of Mk1's in either steam or electric heating modes.

3. The pressure ventilation (PV) unit was underframe mounted - the box JLTRT show with a motor sticking out of one end - and which supplied all of the hot & cold air to the vehicle via the ducts. The "hot" air was made (for want of a better word) by passing air - a combination of fresh air (from the outside) and/or recirculated air (from inside the vehicle) over a series of elements - that could be of either steam or electric (dual heat vehicles having both) into these ducts.

4. Almost all of the original Mk2's (later 'z') and Mk2a,b, & c's were dual heated except that the first 18 FK's were steam heat only, 20 more FK's for the SR were built without any kind of PV - but had Dual Heat but with the old Mk1 style radiant underseat heaters and the WR also picked up a couple that were PV but Steam Heat only. When get time later I tabulate all the build differences.

5. Paul - the location of the emergency screw coupling in Toms photo is as they were built - though I can't say for certain that the position on some vehicles wasn't moved in later life.

6. Heather... There shouldn't be a tubular steam heater or the associated pressure gauge running up the inside of the guards van partition - on any Mk2! the picture with the pink arrow shows what replaced it - an air outlet from the PV duct.... As far as removal of the steam heating facility later - all they could do was remove the Steam Heat Valve and coupling from the ends - nowt else to remove.

7. Brakes - where to start? I could probably sketch up a diagram or 3 but I'm run off my feet at the mo....

8. Not a lot of people know that moment. That Stone's PV unit lasted (in various models) all the way from the 2(z)'s to even supplying the heating part of the air conditioning on the 2e's only to disappear altogether with the introduction of the 2f's.

(edit) I should have added 9....

9.! On the model as built (apart from the steam heating issues above) - the Guards sliding door is on the wrong side - it should be on the left - JLTRT have copied incorrectly a Mk1 Van arrangement - I've a Mk2f BSO they supplied exactly the same - a case of generic part usage that is unfortunately wrong. Similarly the wee box (meant to be for storing the "sawdust" for doggie poo etc.) on the partition that the Food Warmer & Switch is on shouldn't be fitted - again a Mk1s only part and also a PV control box as seen in Toms photo's needs to be fitted. Also a pair of (vertical) window bars on the larger of the two windows in the van partition (on the cage side) to stop those who might want to from breaking into the luggage/parcels area from the Guards compartment! Finally the handbrake needs to move over in front of the partition where the wrong guards sliding door presently sits.....

 

[Bob Reid]

Heather,

IMHO looking at the interior of the guards section that you state shows up dust etc... actually adds to the realism of the thing. In my experience 'staff areas' of BR stock was rarely clean, rarely smart and very rarely had straight, clean walls (the guards compartments 'suffered' from graffitti on the walls). I used to see painted over cigarette stubs on driving cab walls - clearly little preparatory work was carried out by some depot staff!.

Regards

Stu

Staff areas on loco's shouldn't be confused with vans on passenger stock - they were never as bad - save for a pile "luckies" (all the newspapers picked off the train) and a pile of last weeks STN's they were considerably cleaner... Graffiti wasn't too bad either....