Thompson Coaches - a Question of grain

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Could anyone direct me towards a suitable reference tome for these? I took a few Triang one up to the club, fitted with decent wheels, to give 4470 something reasonable to pull and we had a mind bending discussion about what they were. I was under the impression that they were based on the Post War Flying Scotsman set but that one side was OK, the other a mirror image but it wasn't that simple.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

Such are the problems of being a "loco man."

[robertcwp]

The old Tri-ang coaches were actually their BR Mark I models with different sides and are not accurate models. Bachmann have produced much better 00 models of Thompson coaches, though still not right (especially the roof) and not up to current standards. There is no book on the stock as such but it is covered in Michael Harris's LNER Carriages book, recently reprinted in paperback. There was also an article in Steam Days December 2001 by the same author.

Post-war stock was built for the Flying Scotsman and for general service. The Scotsman sets were pressure-ventilated and these vehicles could be distinguished by valances covering the solebars.

[MikeTrice]

There also some nice drawings in Nick Campling's Historic Carriage Drawings

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

I had some of these as a kid, hence my desire for some more now. The body side profile is definitely wrong, more Mk1 than Thompson, but I was wondering about window arrangements and suchlike. In fact, from what I've seen of the Bachy ones, they need as much work on 'em as the Triang ones do but at least they have the correct body profile.

Anybody got any photos? Also what about interior colours, seats etc?

[jwealleans]

Have a look in the early pages of my workbench. I tarted some of these up a couple of year sago and we occasionally run them on Thurston. From memory they're about 4mm too long against the Isinglass drawing, but they're stretched all along their length so you can't just cut them down.

I made new underframes and ends as well as interiors and they don't scrub up too badly, IMO.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up jwelleans!

Hmm. They don't look bad at all! Personally, I'm not too bothered about the underframe details - they're "generic" even for Mk1s - and I can live with the body profile.

Pass the card kits and glue! Oh, and some Gresley bogies.....

[Diamond Gaz]

So, if I wanted a decent model (either 4mm or 7mm) of a Thompson TK (Dia 329), with the later rounded window edges, what are the options / best choice? Having spent a bit of time working on the sole surviving real one at Pickering, I'm thinking a model of it would be nice.

[jwealleans]

Comet Models do a kit in 4mm. That's the best option available at the moment. John Fozard is also doing some Thompsons but I don't know whether he intends to cover that one.

http://www.cometmodels.co.uk/modules/vi ... .php/9/999

[4493]

Sidelines do a good model of the dia 329 TK in 7mm, unfortunatley its the earlier square cornered window version. I suspect it would be a real pain to try and fill the corners.
You havent time to be making models theres a 12" to 1' scale CK for you to do next!

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

A question regarding colour now.

I've just exhausted my stock of Peco card coach interiors which improve Hornby Mk1s no end! They have raised a question in my mind, however. The brake ends are printed with a bright red interior.

Having spent a considerable time in the brake ends of Mk1 coaches on railtours (the bar tends to be there!) I always remember them to be a sort of dirty grey colour. None of the many chips in the paint showed any red in them as I remember, so what colour were they originally?

Is the red an attempt by Peco to make the brake end fittings stand out?

[mick b]

Bill Bedford has free downloads for coach interiors on his site.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

I'll be experimenting with these (thanks Bill, they're great!) for the compartment stock, plus I've found a downloadable Peco interior for an SK. Sadly, nothing for a brake as yet.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Is there anyone out there who knows roughly in what proportion open carriages were built compared with compartment stock in the Gresley and Thompson eras?

I've just realised all my Thompson interiors so far have been compo stock and this may not be right....

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Didn't brake vans used to be painted in a cream color, then in the late 70's everything, (brake vans, loco cabs, etc) were painted in matt grey' everything became duller, when the bean counters took over.

manna

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up, Manna!

The only ones I've seen have been grey but that's the Rail Blue era. Come to think of it, the Guard's compos on the Peco kits are cream inside so it makes sense.

Cheers, Manna.