Scottish Modeller - The Workbench thread!

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

Since being on here I've found loads of stuff that isd of interest to me personally and as a modeller for other people.

So I thought I'd better set out a workbench - then you can see what I get up to!

First though....

Help!

Latest thing to come over my workbench.....

Parkside Dundas - DM40 - Welsh Highland Railway bogie coach

The kit is to make into a model of 'Bro Madog Eisteddfod' as it currently is.

I have scoured the internet and have only a few photos to go on.

Does anyone on here have photos they would be happy to share?

They will be very helpful when it gets to the painting and lettering stage!

In the meantime - I'll get the thing built!

Thanks

[Simon Hargraves]

Hi, I've only just noticed this, hope I'm not too late to be on help but here's a pic of the BME coach I took at the WHHR back in the summer.....

[Simon Hargraves]

Interior....

[DeadHorse]

The kit has no toplights.

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for the photos - they will be a great help.

I actually started on the coach body last night.

So far....

Yes - I know the kit as supplied doesn't have toplights - but why should that stop me doing the model?

I've managed to cut out some of the toplights, half of one side that is, without ruining the coach side.

So - still got to do the rest of the first side and the whole of the other side!

Photos once things progress a bit further.

Thanks

[Simon Hargraves]

I'm glad that the photos are of use; as you may have guessed, a lot of my photos taken when out and about are for modelling purposes.
I must admit that until you pointed it out, I hadn't noticed the lack of toplights.......
I wonder whether this was done to make the bodyside mouldings stronger? Or perhaps the coach was originally built without toplights? Perhaps someone expert in these matters can enlighten us!
Mine, when I eventually build it, will stay as it is because it's going to be built as a freelance railcar for which I already have a Tomytec chassis.
Another detail difference is that the door nearest to the ex-VoR brake van also has a half-door adjacent to it; this is to enable wheelchair access (and indeed on one of my rides it was used for that purpose), though again this feature may have been added after the vehicle was built.
Somewhat scarily, the BME coach is now approaching 30years old!
All the best with your build,
Cheers,
Simon.

[Scottish Modeller]

I'm glad that the photos are of use; as you may have guessed, a lot of my photos taken when out and about are for modelling purposes.
I must admit that until you pointed it out, I hadn't noticed the lack of toplights.......
I wonder whether this was done to make the bodyside mouldings stronger? Or perhaps the coach was originally built without toplights? Perhaps someone expert in these matters can enlighten us!
Mine, when I eventually build it, will stay as it is because it's going to be built as a freelance railcar for which I already have a Tomytec chassis.
Another detail difference is that the door nearest to the ex-VoR brake van also has a half-door adjacent to it; this is to enable wheelchair access (and indeed on one of my rides it was used for that purpose), though again this feature may have been added after the vehicle was built.
Somewhat scarily, the BME coach is now approaching 30years old!
All the best with your build,
Cheers,
Simon.

Hi Simon,

Follow the trail back to the website for the Welsh Highland...

You will find an explanation!

Yes - the coach originally did not have toplight windows.

When it was rebuilt/refurbished it gained them.

I've managed to do the whole of one side now.

It does make the coachside much more fragile and easily damaged.

To get round that I'm adding a strengthening bar to the roof so that the top edge of the coach side is supported.

Now - need to keep on drilling and cutting on the other side.

Then - need to sort out the lettering as it is to represent the coach 'as it is today' or whatever day the person I'm doing it for has in mind.

Thanks

[B.Meldon]

Please note that the Parkside model also does not depict the coach doors as it is today.

It depicts the coach before it was modified for disabled access with the addition of extra doors at one end as seen in Simon's first photo above.

I must say that having spent some time working on the railway I do not like this coach!

The main reason is that there are so many windows to clean each morning and quite a few of them have sanding paper scratches.
All the tables and seat supports make it a pain to sweep clean and mop, the drop glass windows can be problematic as well and the brass does not polish up as good as on the other coaches or even the VOR van!

That said it is an attractive looking coach with disabled access and is popular with the passengers.

Brian Meldon

[Scottish Modeller]

Please note that the Parkside model also does not depict the coach doors as it is today.

It depicts the coach before it was modified for disabled access with the addition of extra doors at one end as seen in Simon's first photo above.

I must say that having spent some time working on the railway I do not like this coach!

The main reason is that there are so many windows to clean each morning and quite a few of them have sanding paper scratches.
All the tables and seat supports make it a pain to sweep clean and mop, the drop glass windows can be problematic as well and the brass does not polish up as good as on the other coaches or even the VOR van!

That said it is an attractive looking coach with disabled access and is popular with the passengers.

Brian Meldon
/quote

Hi Brian,

If you have read my posting you will have seen that I am well aware of what the kit is meant to portray.

Plus I did say I was modifying the bodysides in at least 2 places.

Thanks

[DeadHorse]

It makes a close match to the Gladstone coach that ran the original Welsh Highland. It can also be bashed into several other reasonable variations of workmans and other stock. Quite a few modellers have turned out presentable railcars from this kit. I like it a lot :-)
I'm impressed that you have managed to cut toplights out from the available material.

[Scottish Modeller]

It makes a close match to the Gladstone coach that ran the original Welsh Highland. It can also be bashed into several other reasonable variations of workmans and other stock. Quite a few modellers have turned out presentable railcars from this kit. I like it a lot :-)
I'm impressed that you have managed to cut toplights out from the available material.

Hi there,

I was going to put some photos up tonight - but......

Had to stop just now as I managed to put the drill through the plastic and my finger in one easy move!

Blood - everywhere! Who would have thought it from a drill size 0.45mm.

Typing one handed is a pain!

How did I make a start on cutting the toplights?

I am fortunate that I have access to a lathe and vertical milling machine which has a compound table.

I used the compound table to hold the plastic coach side and then set a scriber in the lathe or milling head (or use a 4 jaw chuck if you have one).

This allowed me to scribe lines into the plastic with a great deal of accuracy.

The panel we are going to cut holes in is only 2.6mm high!

First scribe was 0.5mm from top of coach side
Second was 1.0mm from top of coach side
Third was 2.0mm from top of coach side

This gives you guidelines for the top and bottom of the toplight holes.

Leave the plastic kit side in the compound table - no point in moving it as you will lose the accurate position and measurements you have just gained!

You can now use this set up to help you drill a series of accurate holes along the scribed lines.

Replace the scriber with a good quality, new or freshly sharpened, drill bit, does size matter here?

Yes - I always use a bit that is slightly smaller than the width of the scribed line - that way you should never be going outside the guide lines.

Please note - this is not done by machine - that would be far to rough, I simply hand rotate the drill.

Now - that then leaves the question - How did I manage to drill through the plastic into my finger?

Because of the size of piece we are working on it isn't possible to get into every corner to drill when the plastic side is on the table.

This is when you have to hold the side and drill out the rest of the guide holes with  a pin vice and drill.

That's how I managed to do it!

Anyway - I am hopefull that I will put some photos up tomorrow.

In the meantime - Information needed....

Is the door for wheelchair access the same on both sides of the coach?

Thanks

[DeadHorse]

I hardly think that having a tiny hole in your finger is grounds for needing wheelchair access!  :laugh:

[Scottish Modeller]

I hardly think that having a tiny hole in your finger is grounds for needing wheelchair access!  :laugh:

;D

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

Back to the model tonight...

I see that when I tried to pull my finger away from the drill and model that I have damaged and broken what would have been the body work above the toplights.

Never mind, just means more work to resolve it.

In view of the damage I added a strip of plasticard to the inside of the coach side where the toplights are.

This means I have to drill more holes!

Anyway - It's now 3 hours later and I have done the job.

Who would have guessed that making holes in a model was more difficult than filling them in.

Photos.....

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

Been a bit quiet on here - not that that means I've not been doing things though.

Achieved quite a lot over the Lockdown period and now ready to start sharing some images.

So - to follow shortly......

In addition, I'm just about to get going on some more DHR stuff - this time it's for myself.

I decided a long time ago that I would build Rangtong as a 009 layout - so that's where things will start.

A slight diversion though!

As I typed this a parcel arrived from India!

More on that later as well.

Thanks
Phil H