New Bachmann V2 Modifications, Step by Step

[S.A.C. Martin]

Was detailing the original B'mann V2 ever discussed in detail on the forum? One of our club members has just bought the new V2 and is offloading one of his old ones (Durham LI) for a fair price, the running of the older chassis doesn't compare with the new, but apart from mods to the cartazzi truck the body actually looked better i.e the moulding looks a bit tired.

See previous page. All of the mods more or less covered by Tom and I over the last page. Throw in Ivan's V2 which is getting the A3 smokebox and boiler from a Hornby A3 margate built body, and you can see the more radical surgery required to get an accurate V2 shape.

The problem is; if you want to go there, I wouldn't start here...sort of applies. The Bachmann V2 as proven can make a very passable representation of a V2, and if well weathered, a very convincing representation. But line it up to a Hornby L1 or B1 and its age and inaccuracy shows through.

Personally, I think there's not much more than can be done than has been done on Tom's model, because then we are more or less arguing with ourselves to replace 90% of the Bachmann moulding.

It has to be said, a like for like replacement of the Bachmann V2 bodyshell to the correct proportions might be viable if you wanted something truly accurate. I'm a lot happier, however, with the Bachmann V2 after the mods I did to mine. It's "acceptable" not "perfect" if you get my drift.

[Atlantic 3279]

Should you wish to go in for so much transplant surgery on a Bachmann V2 body that little of the original remains, here's a reminder of what can result if you get rid of all of the boiler ahead of the firebox shoulders and replace it with an old Margate example with correctly coned middle portion and true smaller-diameter parallel front section. Apart from the blobbiness of cab and running plate that remain, it's several steps in the right direction, but still let down by the original Bachmann firebox top which doesn't slope back enough (if at all) towards the cab. In that sense it recalls the notoriety of the one-time ProScale kit or a DJH A1 built with badly or inadequately fettled firebox casting:


Because of those lingering faults, and one or two nudges that I've had from others, I'm hoping to find an even better way to create a good V2 body, on a budget, without use of exotic metal working skills, possibly using the shortened boiler, the firebox, AND part of the running plate of a Margate pacific body along with a resin cab and (eventually) a resin front section for the running plate. ALSO, I've more recently realised that for my personal amusement I do now have an interesting combination of spares from which another Frankenstein V2 might emerge. See:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2443&start=2115

[S.A.C. Martin]

I had completely forgot you had done this one Graeme. Strewth, that looks excellent. I wish I had waited to see your post edit first - that second V2 of yours will be a right Frankenstein certainly but will look so right when finished I suspect!

[Horsetan]

Hybrids are the future.

[Atlantic 3279]

Another look at that Bachmann running plate suggests yet another lingering fault even with the Hornby boiler graft - there's rather a lot of depth in the S-curve above the slidebar area.....

[Horsetan]

Another look at that Bachmann running plate suggests yet another lingering fault even with the Hornby boiler graft - there's rather a lot of depth in the S-curve above the slidebar area.....

There's another one: the smokebox saddle. Radius of the curved seat is too big. Not easy to correct, unless you have a new casting or moulding to replace the original.

[60526]

Personally, I think there's not much more than can be done than has been done on Tom's model, because then we are more or less arguing with ourselves to replace 90% of the Bachmann moulding.

It has to be said, a like for like replacement of the Bachmann V2 bodyshell to the correct proportions might be viable if you wanted something truly accurate. I'm a lot happier, however, with the Bachmann V2 after the mods I did to mine. It's "acceptable" not "perfect" if you get my drift.[/quote]

Simon,
Your right, took your advise and didn't take up the option of the older B'mann V2, after a bit of running the chassis seemed a bit long in the tooth as well. I notice that you've used the Hornby A3 buffers on your model, from photos I can see differences in buffers used on V2's, some look shorter than the A3?
Behind part of my original question was the use of the etch for the cartezzi truck that I think came out last year.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Simon,
Your right, took your advise and didn't take up the option of the older B'mann V2, after a bit of running the chassis seemed a bit long in the tooth as well. I notice that you've used the Hornby A3 buffers on your model, from photos I can see differences in buffers used on V2's, some look shorter than the A3?
Behind part of my original question was the use of the etch for the cartezzi truck that I think came out last year.

There's definitely different buffer types in use across the whole range of V2s. Looking at my photographs of 60903 I worked from, the A3 buffers from Hornby are a better match than the Bachmann ones, but still not perfect by any means. Lesser of two emails in quest for accuracy I guess!

[Horsetan]

Here's a bigger one....

[Pebbles]

Are the V2's Martin Finney's kits?

[Horsetan]

They couldn't really be anything else