Friday 16 September 2016

Classic Standard Four Wheel Coach - Pt.3















Since my last post this coach is near completion.

Sprayed with Vallejo Model Air paints and varnishes.

Brass fittings are supplied from Swift Sixteen.

I will post the finished coach once the roof and seats have been painted and the windows glazed.

As this is the first of four coaches to be built, I will in due course post a more detailed, step by step guide to building them, with additional tips and advice.

Sunday 19 June 2016

Bala Lake Railway

Amongst the high mountains of Snowdonia are two deep river valleys - the Dee and the Tryweryn. The River Dee emerges from Bala Lake where the Bala Lake Railway operates parallel to the east shore between Bala and Llanwchllyn.

Alice preparing for departure at Llanwchllyn.
Llanwchllyn Station.
Holy War coming round at Llanwchllyn Station.

Monday 4 April 2016

Lahaina Ka'anapali & Pacific Railroad, Maui, Hawaii.

Although there have been promises of this railway re-opening at the end of 2015 and now 2016, looking at what I saw, I can't see it re-opening any time soon!

Situated in Maui between Lahaina and Ka'anapali this 6 mile railroad passes fields of cane and rises to cross the impressive Hahakea Trestle for a view of the ocean and the West Maul Mountains.

Lahaina Station.
Turntable warning.
Lahaina Station.
Train times at Pu'ukoli'i Station.
Cane hopper at Pu'ukoli'i Station.
The only locomotive on display.
Looking up the line from Lahaina Station turntable.

Friday 19 February 2016

Classic Standard Four Wheel Coach - Pt.2













The roof was checked for alignment before a securing screw was fitted to both ends. To do this a 2.5mm hole at each end was drilled through the end panels and counter sunk.

With the roof loosely fitted, a pencil mark was made through the end panels to the roof section. A pilot hole of 1.6mm was then made through the marked roof section at both ends.













The chassis needed trimming on all four edges using a Dremmel cutting disc and sander. The corners were rounded to assist the final fit.

The stiffening bars and axle holders were fitted in place with the glue allowed to set.













Next I decided to add some weight whilst improving the appearance of the floor section with the addition of 'coffee stirrers'.
Two sizes of floor boarding were used culminating in the centre of the floor. Each strip was fixed with supa-glue.

Once the flooring was fixed, it was sanded smooth. Later in the build process it will be varnished.

Part 1

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Classic Standard Four Wheel Coach - Pt.1

Having admired these coaches for some time, I finally decided to buy a rake of these from Rob at Swift Sixteen. That's two of these, a Half Observation Coach and a Brake Coach plus all the fittings.

The two sides and ends were sanded on the inside with wet & dry, cleaned  and assembled using Supaglue.

Although there are groves and tabs to assist with the assembly, I would recommend the use of a set-square.
As each piece is detailed to a very high standard there is very little need to remove any moulding debris.
The next stage will be the chassis.











Part 2