There was no particular plan to build more of these modified Bachmann models, but recently some J-S combines have turned up locally on Fleabay, so exorbitant US postage rates weren't involved in acquiring one. The vendor of one of the models I looked at offered me a discount, money changed hands and in the fullness of time the delivery tortoise left a parcel on my front doorstep.
We are currently in a La Nina event and the weather has been cold and wet here, so this model moved up the to do list, as it could be worked on inside the house, where it is warm and dry.
The model changes are much the same as previous instalments, so rather than repeating them, anyone interested will find the methods used in the links below.
https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=10173
https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=10817
The first photo shows the model as received. A standard Bachmann Jackson Sharp combine. This one had been modified so it could be used with head end power for the lights, instead of the battery box that comes built into the underframe on these models. The bodywork hadn't been modified, but the underframe had seen better days. The first order of battle was to strip everything back to the basic plastic mouldings, by removing the rats nest of wiring and sundry blobs of epoxy holding the wiring in place.
- JSBC-a.jpg (141.63 KiB) Viewed 5220 times
The next photo was taken a couple of weeks later and shows the model modified and ready for the paint shop. The plastic wheels have been replaced with my own steel ones, a new wooden underframe has been fitted, the roof extended at each end, the US type sliding door replaced with VR style double doors and an extra window fitted in the van section.
- JSBC-d.jpg (150.3 KiB) Viewed 5220 times
The last photo shows the model painted in the TVT passenger colours sitting on the track this afternoon, when the rain cleared for a few hours. By the time the sun comes back again, the paint should have cured hard enough for the model to enter traffic.
- JSBC-e.jpg (265.88 KiB) Viewed 5220 times
The effect aimed for is what the VR would call a passenger car with van and the bodywork is functionally similar to the VR narrow gauge NBC vans.
This should be the end of this saga, as I don't think there are enough roof parts left to make any more. Making the four cars that are in service required two extra roof mouldings and they are difficult to find on their own. The term 'rare as hen's teeth' springs to mind........
Regards,
Graeme
