Overlaying Etched Sides and Ends onto an Existing Coach
You may find it possible to use an existing coach as something onto which
you can overlay etched sides and ends, resulting in a reasonable model which
is easier and faster to produce than constructing a completely new coach.
The Society's B set coaches are a useful starting point for many 57'
coaches, not least a number of Great Western 57' coaches, from Edwardian
toplights through to Collett's coaches of the 1930s; these often had similar
underframe designs, albeit with some rearrangement of the components. The
process of modifying a B set coach usually proceeds as follows.
(1) Replace the B coach kit sides with Parkside clear
plastic sides PP20.
(2) Trim the Parkside sides and B coach base and ends
as necessary to match the etched sides and ends.
(3) Remove the raised detail from the B coach ends.
(4) Glue the sides, base and ends together to form
a shell.
(5) Construct the interior using Plasticard and Society
seats PP12, paint and insert.
(6) Detail the B coach roof as required, paint, and
add to the shell.
(7) Take the etched sides, form the tumblehome (some
sides come with this already formed), add ventilators and droplights, and
open out grab handle holes. Paint, letter, then glue to the shell.
(8) Detail the ends as necessary and glue to the shell.
It may be easier adding some detail such as corridor connections afterwards,
and leaving painting to the end.
(9) Add the underframe. Construct and add the
bogies.
(10) Add final details such as grab handles, door handles
and handrails, and do any final painting. Add couplings.
This shows Worsley Works sides for a GWR steel toplight, added to a formed
shell, as at stage (7) above. The painting has been done mainly using
Railmatch spray cans; the transfers are PC Methfix from the Society's range.
The roof has had Society shell vents RH1 and microstrip rainstrips
added, and has been painted using Halfords white acrylic undercoat.
The parts for an MJT compensated bogie, together with Society cast sideframes
for the GWR standard "fishbelly" 9' bogie RG1, plus Society/Stapleton finescale
wheels SN3.
The Worsley Works etched ends, one end showing the steps in place.
Also one B set underframe sprue, two of which will provide the underframe
components; the battery boxes are a bit shallow, and will benefit
from being thickened at the back using plasticard.
The GWR grab handles are from Worsley Works. The door handles are
from Roxey; these are 4mm but can easily be reduced in size by a couple
of quick brushes with a file. Coach buffers are Society GWR standard
round head square shank RG4, the same as used for B coaches. The corridor
connections are Society R1F.
The finished coach.