Various re-workings of the old (45 years-ish) Faller E Train railbus have appeared on this forum over the years, and it's not really a surprise. Although a little on the small side, they're really attractive vehicles, which need little modification to achieve very pleasing results and, once upon a time, they were available pretty cheaply. I've been running one re-painted in chocolate and cream livery for over twenty years now - it crops up on my (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland thread from time-to-time, despite looking nothing like anything that ever ran over the real WHR. It's among my favourite models, I've had a second railbus stored away for decades, and I fancied a quick distraction from some long-running projects - I decided it was time for another one...
Although they can look great with nothing more than a coat of paint, I decided to ring the changes a little with this one, removing the top headlight and swooping moulded lining at each end, and replacing with new lining that continues straight across the front. I added further lining across the doors and above the window line, all from microstrip that was once my Dad's, so is probably about as old as the railbus itself. See below for a comparison with the largely unaltered chocolate and cream version:
- Railbus 1.jpg (438.2 KiB) Viewed 343 times
After that, it was time for painting, and I've gone for a green livery this time - the lining will be picked out in cream:
- Railbus 2.jpg (400.15 KiB) Viewed 343 times
I've already painted the interior, which is otherwise unmodified - you could do tons to these, but I think you'd lose a lot of the original's charm.
Lining next, then a look at the chassis. That seems to be running OK, I just need to take it apart as much as possible in order to paint it.
Cheers all,
Andrew.
