PECO Ffestiniog Coach

[Ian Bowker]

Does anyone know how the Peco Ffestiniog Coaches come apart. I want to fit one of the small LED lights to the coach and also passengers. The roof just pops off but there is a bracing piece running along the length of the coach which I would like to fit the light to the underside off. I think I need two remove the coach sides so that I can get to this and the bracing piece looks like it is part of the side moulding. I can't figure out how the sides are attached to the chassis.

[Hugh Norwood]

If nobody here can answer, I suggest you contact PECO for advice - I'm sure they'll tell you.

[Ian Bowker]

Thanks Hugh. Stan Williams has given me a contact name at Peco who I have emailed.

[Ian Bowker]

I've discovered how to get the Ffestiniog coaches apart. you need to be careful because the parts are handed. if you look underneath the coach you will see that they are marked Portmadoc and Blaenau. The Blaenau end panel has the pipework whilst the Portmadoc end is plain. Also the Balconys are handed so check which direction the bottom of the vacuum pipe faces. The markings on the coach sides needs to match the compartments when you assemble the coach. The roof also has a notch at one end.

[Ian Bowker]

To get the Coach apart first pop off the roof. Next the balcony just lifts up they are located on 2 pins. Gently ease the top of the end panels away from the coach ends and lift out of the locating lugs. The coach sides have a tag where the end footsteps are, there are also small square locating tabs along the bottom edge. Very carefully press the bottom  edge of the side up from the steps, it helps to gently ease the step away from the side. Do this a millimetre at a time at each four corners, also easing the small square tabs away from the chassis. This seems fiddle but is quite easy when you get used to it.

I have used the Layout4U magnetically operated 3 volt single LED lights in the coach, these are a small circular unit complete with battery which can be stuck to the underside of the bracing strip on the coach sides. I used 3 per coach. You could also use the N Gauge Coach lights but some means of fitting the separate battery holder would have to be found. These small single LED are also great for putting in bug boxes which are an easy fit because you can stick them directly to the underside of the roof. I have also fitted some Langley Edwardian seated passengers to my Victorian Liveried coaches.

[Ian Bowker]

P.S I will have my layout Elidir Fach at the Merseyside 009 meeting in Rainford tomorrow if anyone wants to see what the coach lighting looks like.