Some seven years ago I ordered two Express Models lighting kits for BR mk1 coaches, being a BCK and SK. In 2011 I finished the BCK (see here http://choppersrailway.blogspot.com/2011/06/bck-coach-lighting-ptii-vanfit-and-some.html); well seven years later I have finished the SK! It is somewhat frightening how much time has passed since then! I now have a finished, fully lit short rake of coaches for operation on Charlton.
Finished mk1 SK coupled up to the BCK. The effect of the ligting is clearly visible in this picture.
Again the effect of the lights at dusk are clearly visible, coupled up to a western, ready to leave towards Barnstaple.
The first thing to do was take the coach apart and remove the glazing, separating the roof from the coach sides. The bogies, underframe and roof were all weathered with an airbrush separately, whist the coach sides were treated to a wash of weathered black and frame dirt, with the majority of the paint being wiped off. The interior needs a c. 5mm reduction in height, achieved using a dremmel, to allow accommodation of the lighting unit. Once this was tested for a good fit, the interior had the seats painted and some passengers added.
The coach which has been taken apart ready to start.
The various components ready for reassembly; note the painted seats and passengers added.
The glazing was then glued back to the coach sides and the sides were glued back onto the roof, with some plastic strip added to the gap between the two. This join was filled with glue and glaze, and after it had set, it was painted weathered black. This stops light bleed between the coach sides and the roof. The coach was then reassembled and some blending together of the underframe and coach sides was achieved using the airbrush. The bogies were then screwed back into place, with the picks up soldered onto the brass strips, to collect current from the coach wheels.
The join between the roof and the sides has had some plastic strip glued into it, then filled with glue and glaze before painting black to seal the join.
The fit of the lighting unit, with the interior cut down to accommodate the unit.
This has been a really good project and one that moved through to completion reasonably quickly. The connector between the two coaches uses the Bachmann coach pipes which fits into the nem socket. The end of each coach has a 3 link coupling added, to make it compatible with my rolling stock. I have read several internet forums that say not to use 3 link couplings on coaching stock, due to the problem of uncoupling from the locomotive. I have not found this to be the case, although of course sometimes it takes a couple of efforts. However, different locomotives are easier to use. The western coupling is easily accessible, whilst the class 45 coupling is very difficult. However, it is essential to couple from the coach to the locomotive, as it is nigh on impossible to couple from the locomotive onto the coach under the end connector.
Ready to head back to Barnstaple.
The Express models lighting kits are very good, although they are quite expensive. I have a further one to fit to a BSK. However, I recently saw a thread using lighting kits for MK1 stock from 'layouts 4 u', which are under half the price, including an anti flicker unit. So I have ordered a couple of these. I would like a 3 coach rake to operate Charlton at exhibitions, although the 2 coach rake makes the payout fully operational now with 1 passenger train. It is great to have proper coach lights to complement the sound and lights of the locomotives. I just need to get a move on with finishing this layout!
No comments:
Post a Comment