Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[Atlantic 3279]

DRM - Ta for the method, that undoubtedly produces a more faithfully detailed appearance than mine, but speed has to rule in this case.

Whilst it is only a small point rather than a killer-concern, I've stumbled upon an area of doubt regarding vacuum reserve cylinder location (and numbers) for the vehicles I'm modelling as Howlden types. The Gresley gangwayed brake end vehicle looks easy enough to get "about right" as standard MJT vacuum sets with the reserve tanks in the group-standard position appear to be correct on most of the various photos I've seen of Gresleys. But photos of some Howlden vehicles, and one of Nick Camplings drawings of a Gresley non-corridor GN coach appear to reveal only one vacuum reserve, probably a smaller version, almost directly alongside on the V hangers. It won't bother me too much if I get it slightly wrong on the models as they are all nothing but "suggestions" of GN coaches anyway, but it would be nice to have correct features where possible. Any ideas anbody, please?

[Atlantic 3279]

Work on the coaches has not progressed like lightning this week. I've been busy for some of the time trying to remember and do the many things of both a modelling and non-modelling nature that I am supposed to do this week. That hasn't entirely stopped progress, and after much production of pieces of plastic waste and dust (yes Dear, I'll get the vacuum cleaner out...) my underframes were cleared of all the wrong fittings that Hornby thoughtfully supplied on their first generation "Gresley" coaches. As you can see in the pictures below, once the old battery boxes are fully chopped out (side cutters take out chunks and a half-inch wood chisel nicely pares the remnants away to a smooth bed) MJT vacuum sets fit nicely in the recess, in almost the right place, without hanging down too low beneath the coach. I'm waiting for more vacuum sets from Dart at present, and I haven't fitted the more vulnerable dynamos to the electrically lit coaches yet.

The gas tanks are cut and shut from pieces of moulding supplied for unknown purposes in the SRG-Phoenix kits that I used when building my 1935 steel semi-artic set. Waste not want not - and I had nothing else anyway. I imagine there should be more gas tanks, but I've fitted the most visible ones using as much material as I had.
Further "mess" for vacuuming was created as I sorted out a couple of interiors too. I've produced a version of a semi open (inspired by Rob Pulham's dia 114) for the appropriate coach, and cobbled together some bits that were spare to supply the interior for the Gresley brake-end vehicle for which I had no original moulding. I'd already done some work on the interior for the other brake end vehicle, swapping compartments around to get alignment with the revised window/door layout. Pictures should follow shortly...

[Atlantic 3279]

[LNER4479]

Excellent We are heading for an 'embarrassment of riches' for Barrow Hill, which is a pleasant place to be.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all from the quiet of a sunny morning in Chilly Surrey
I like the conversion and reuse of the Hornby interiors.
I am a great believer in not throwing anything away, as it may come in useful some day.
Are the coaches going to have the gas lamp tops on the roofs of the carriages?

Earlswood nob

[Atlantic 3279]

I think I'll have to provide at least some rudimentary suggestions of gas lamp tops on the gas lit coaches, providing I can find convincing evidence of what is required quickly enough. Piping runs however are a detail too many at present given the limited time I'm allowing myself to get these coaches into an acceptable state for layout service.

Whilst I've no time at present to experiment, develop and produce the idea in final form, it did occur to me that there is in principle an "elegant" way in which to create the pre-group GN window details for these old Gresley coaches, given that there are not many different sizes of window (although I've already discovered that one of the corridor windows in the original BCK moulding is longer than all others). Clear plastic (or very clear resin) moulded window inserts complete with glazing bars requiring only to be ruled-in using a bow (or other) pen and teak brown paint would provide "unbreakable" glazing bars in accurate repeatable positions along with a welcome reduction in the inset of the glazing. Besides catering for standard corridor windows with (and possibly without) opening top vents (plus that one of an odd length) a moulding for a door droplight with integral door top frame and fanlight would be needed. For the compartment side the whole group of windows for each compartment could be formed on a single moulding that would allow one to just cut out the upper half of the the door and ventilator hood entirely and stick in a simple new rectangular moulding piece. These pieces would have to come in both first and third class compartment sizes of course. Maybe somebody else would care to steal this idea and have a go at producing it as my urge to take the plan any further will be much diluted once I've added the necessary glazing bars to these few coaches by the one-piece-at-a-time method.

[Atso]

Funnily enough Graeme, this is exactly how Dapol did the toilet windows on their N gauge Gresleys to great effect. I can't see any reason why this wouldn't work in 4mm thus providing an easier route for any future conversions.

[Atlantic 3279]

Provision for various couplings on coaches I've been concocting for Grantham. Besides remaining suitable for my own layout, I've had to provide for "instant but reversible" fitment of Kadees to some end-of-rake or adaptor vehicles, and despite the need having been removed, or so I'm told, I've endeavoured to provide for coupling to a vehicle carrying a Bill Bedford etched fixed-rake coupling in one case.
It's all pretty self explanatory in the pictures, but in case of doubt I've catered for attachment of NEM pockets by folding up a tight channel from thin brass, to be fitted vertically to the vehicle, into which the wedge shape at the inner end of an NEM pocket can slide very firmly. By using a tall channel, plenty of height adjustment can be provided. In each case so far I've soldered the upright channel to an L-shaped strip of brass for fixing to either a floor (6 wheeled van) or the frame of a bogie. As you can see, I've had to cut a deep slot into the outer end of an old style Hornby Gresly bogie in order to accommodate the NEM pocket with a little side-swing of the coupling still available.

Will this work for a Bedford coupling if necessary Jonathan?

Transmission ends. Festive season declared.
Have a good one everybody!

[jwealleans]

Will this work for a Bedford coupling if necessary Jonathan?

Looks like it, but you'll have to reverse the bogie in case that coupling mounting fouls the underside of the BB.

[LNER4479]

Nice going batman - loving the folded-up channel for the NEM coupling box

[manna]

G'Day Gents

That little channel, reminds me of a fishplate.

Merry Christmas everybody.

manna

[Atlantic 3279]

Here I am again, after lying low for a few days with a festive cold, and spending what time I could whilst properly awake yesterday doing some vastly overdue tidying of files on our computer.

No pretty pictures to show just yet, but progress has been made with the coaches. I've made and fitted some suggestions of gas lamp tops, but after seriously entertaining the idea at one stage I decided against gas pipes too in the end. I felt that in several photographs their presence was so faintly visible owing to the slimness of the pipes, that in order to produce a representation that did not grossly exaggerate things, I would have to do work that involved far more time and care than is available for this particular coach conversion exercise. On one coach I've replaced all of the ventilators as the moulded layout conflicted too much with the visible layout of the compartments and the necessary new gas lamp positions. Fortunately, a few added ventilators in one case, and a couple removed in the other were sufficient for overall effect on two of the coaches. The first phase of filling and smoothing down joints is now accomplished too. I still have a second phase to do, alarm gear then to complete, basic representations of turnbuckles to add to the truss rods, and STILL the extra glazing bars to fit to three iof the coaches, but I'm getting there now.

I understand the above comment about the similarity between my NEM pocket mounting channel and a fishplate. Whether some modelling scale or other offers a fishplate that is cheap, readily available and easy to cut / solder I have no idea, but if it did that might be convenient if one had a lot of vehicles requiring NEM coupling adaptation.

[mick b]

Are you aware of the Parkside Dundas Plastic NEM Coupler bases ?

[earlswood nob]

G'day all
Well I hope you recover soon, GK, it must come from being exposed to those NE winds.
I've always had the theory that germs can't swim very well when they're under the influence of alcohol.
Luckily, I haven't had a cold since I retired. I don't know if that's connected with the theory mentioned above or not.
Get well soon

Earlswood nob

[Atlantic 3279]

Recovery well under way.....


Mick: I hadn't really been aware of those plastic mouldings nor thought about looking for some, so thanks for pointing them out. Handy to know they are available and nothing wrong with using them if they happen to fit just nicely (or with minimal trimming) where you want them to fit. They'll then be ideal if a vehicle is of suitable plastic as a solvent weld will give good attachment. Perhaps if the vehicle is of brass or n/s, or the location is awkward, or a lot of height adjustment needs to be preserved, it's just as easy if not easier to bend some brass and either solder it in place or provide a mechanical attachment as I did on that Gresley bogie? Note the staple-shaped piece of brass wire fed through the bogie frame and through matching holes in the NEM carrier, held in place by soldering to the latter.