Converting Bachmann G Scale to 16mm

[dougrail]

Hi guys,

Got my hands on three beauties of custom Bachmann G Scale bogie coaches - at a handsome steal of a price. Some work needs doing though.

1)Wheeling. They came with plastic 45mm wheels. I've got a ton of Accucraft WL 'Z5' 32mm steel wheelsets on order, so that's the easy part.

2)Transfers. These coaches came in a mishmash of transfers - 1920s GWR, crests, 1930s shirtbuttons and two came with "OCEAN MAILS" on but in mismatching fonts [different fonts for each carriage].





Anyone have any advice on removing transfers? They don't seem to be varnished over but I would not scratch or unsettle the paintwork.


3)The big one - couplings

This is how the three carriages came.




As mentioned I have some steel wheels on order. I wonder though, to get some decent couplings, whether the entire bogie at each end should really be replaced to boot?



Or is there a way to fit 16mm couplings - Multiheighters or Accy choppers - to these current bogies?

[paullad1984]

dont GRS sell a whitemetal casting that centre buffer coupling that can be screwed onto the coupling shank from the bogie, matches up with roundhouse couplings ok i believe. Could always bodge an accucraft coupling onto the end of the shank, or maybe replace the bogies with accucraft ones? Trackshack used to sell them as a seperate item i think?

[dougrail]

If push came to shove, I'd look at replacing the bogies. Does anyone have any photos of the undersides of the Accucraft Pickering coaches, so I can see how they're attached to the coach please?

[laalratty]

If the transfers have not been varnished over, and the transfers are waterslide, then applying some water to them should make it possible to slide them off. Alternatively, applying oil based varnish might dissolve them (that's what happens to Brandbright waterslide transfers anyway!)
Not sure what to do about couplings, whether you can attach them to the current bogies, use Accucraft L&B bogies or maybe fit a new bufferbeam with coupling.

[dougrail]

Not sure what they're based , so am asking about before I hack at them, a shame as I love the GWR style they came in but the transfers are a mish mash and so need some prototypical streamlining - I am thinking G W R in centres, crests on doors and of course some 1/3/Guard/Luggage designations. A shame, If the OCEAN MAILS on both coaches that have this had been uniform, I could have lived with just a couple quick removals.

Now, bufferbeams - you make an excellent starting thought there laalratty, could the buffers be instead attached to solid bufferbeam - might this not cause hassle on some curves [my litmus test is: how are Accy Pickerings set up?]

Thanks for the help sofar gents. Still pondering re couplings/bogies - will need to obtain a ton of new transfers over winter too..!

[paullad1984]

accucraft pickerings work by the coupling being attached to the bogie, in the same way as your coaches have been.
Attaching to the bufferbeam may cause problems on some curves.
Personally id attach to the bogie somehow, more flexible.

[dougrail]

Definitely my preference Paul, hence wondering how to convert the Bachmann ones or whether to sell them and invest in some Accy ones plus couplings. I'm starting to lean towards bogie replacemet myself, seems simpler? [unless info about GRS' adapter can come to light please]

[paullad1984]

scouted they're site, couldn't find it mentioned (was listed on old site!). You could always plastic-weld a plastic block onto the end of the shank and mount the couplings onto that, or a shaped piece of wood and epoxy it?

[Peter Butler]

My similar conversions to 16mm/32mm gauge began with the purchase of three Bachmann coaches .....

 I have replaced all bogies and wheels with SM32 sets and moved some nearer to the ends of the coaches where necessary.
 This allowed me to fit buffer beams and centre buffers which work well on my line, although the curves are more generous and do not cause locking even when the coaches are pushed.  


 

[Big Jim]

Try using sellotape to remove the transfers.

[DLRdan]

The Accucraft bogies fit in the same way with a single screw, I'll get a picture of the L&B bogies tomorrow for you. I think a full replacement would be best, the accy bogies are cast metal so will lower the centre of gravity and also have the extension ready to fit their chopper couplings. As for the transfers, they are likely to be water slide so a few drops of water should fetch them off. try the water first before trying other ideas as water won't damage the paint.

[dougrail]

Dan, I would be extremely grateful for all the data I can get on Accy bogies - cast metal as opposed to the bachmann ones would be an excellent step up as I would like these coaches to run smoothly, very smoothly as part of what they're going to become.

I have ordered a ton of wheelsets - the question is whether Accucraft bogies can be sold separately. I'd better contact Accucraft and Trackshak?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bogies, wheels, transfers, I have a start on. The next part will be the balconies - the Bachmann efforts look positively rickety. Wonder if Accucraft do their Pickering gates separately too, or if I should get some 3D-printed?

[MDLR]

Here's another thought - could you make a new coupling bar from flat brass, which would pivot on the bogie pivot screw and have a turned-down end to bolt a centre coupling to?

[GTB]

Bogies, wheels, transfers, I have a start on. The next part will be the balconies - the Bachmann efforts look positively rickety. Wonder if Accucraft do their Pickering gates separately too, or if I should get some 3D-printed?

Bachmann copied the bogies on the Jackson Sharp cars from LGB and the coupler mounting is the same, more or less.

They usually come fitted with a knuckle coupler, but if you remove the circular plastic boss under the tip of the coupler mounting arm, a Roundhouse CCBR type centre buffer coupler screws straight on with a suitable size self tapper. The square pillar further back can go as well.

The coupler will sit at about 25mm above rails and just clear the headstock as it swings. Coupler height obviously depends on wheel dia. though and the Bachmann ones are 31mm dia from memory.......

The Bachmann cars sold in sets still have the old wobbly plastic balcony railings, but the metal railings used on the upmarket versions are available separately as spares, both the plain ones and the elaborate ones used on the observation cars. GRS have the etched railings from their W&L Pickering kits available separately, if you want to go that way.

Plastic wheels means the cars are either from a train set, or are very old. Bachmann do sell 45mm gauge metal wheels for these cars, which run very smoothly, but maybnot be easy to regauge. Just make sure any replacements wheelsets have axles with 3mm dia journals and that the axles are 65mm long.

Accucraft bogies aren't currently available and as far as I know their passenger bogies have never been sold separately, only the L&B diamond frame goods bogies.

The Bachmann Jackson Sharp cars are modelled to 1:22 more or less and are a bit undernourished in 1:20 scale, let alone in 16mm scale, so lowering them may not be a good idea appearance wise........

Regards,
Graeme

[Gralyn]

T Cut and a cotton bud works on transfers on OO gauge bachmann products. Shake the container well and put a dab o T Cut on each individual transfer, leave for a few moments and lightly rub off with the cotton bud. If you press too hard the paint around the transfer area will go shinny. Best to try on a transfer that is out of general view first if you can.

[dougrail]

Here's another thought - could you make a new coupling bar from flat brass, which would pivot on the bogie pivot screw and have a turned-down end to bolt a centre coupling to?

I could do that, will remember this if plan A goes haphazard - cheers Brian

Bogies, wheels, transfers, I have a start on. The next part will be the balconies - the Bachmann efforts look positively rickety. Wonder if Accucraft do their Pickering gates separately too, or if I should get some 3D-printed?

Bachmann copied the bogies on the Jackson Sharp cars from LGB and the coupler mounting is the same, more or less.

They usually come fitted with a knuckle coupler, but if you remove the circular plastic boss under the tip of the coupler mounting arm, a Roundhouse CCBR type centre buffer coupler screws straight on with a suitable size self tapper. The square pillar further back can go as well.

The coupler will sit at about 25mm above rails and just clear the headstock as it swings. Coupler height obviously depends on wheel dia. though and the Bachmann ones are 31mm dia from memory.......

The Bachmann cars sold in sets still have the old wobbly plastic balcony railings, but the metal railings used on the upmarket versions are available separately as spares, both the plain ones and the elaborate ones used on the observation cars. GRS have the etched railings from their W&L Pickering kits available separately, if you want to go that way.

Plastic wheels means the cars are either from a train set, or are very old. Bachmann do sell 45mm gauge metal wheels for these cars, which run very smoothly, but maybnot be easy to regauge. Just make sure any replacements wheelsets have axles with 3mm dia journals and that the axles are 65mm long.

Accucraft bogies aren't currently available and as far as I know their passenger bogies have never been sold separately, only the L&B diamond frame goods bogies.

The Bachmann Jackson Sharp cars are modelled to 1:22 more or less and are a bit undernourished in 1:20 scale, let alone in 16mm scale, so lowering them may not be a good idea appearance wise........

Regards,
Graeme

Thanks for the info there. I'm looking back and the LB bogie may not be an idea. I've selected the Accucraft W&L 31mm diameter "Z5" wheelsets to replace the plastic ones, so I should avoid the height issues.

The bogie replacement - not worth it. I have wheelsets in hand and have secured some Roundhouse couplers with the "tails" on that I can secure to the bogie shanks directly for a centre-buffer coupling [much easier than multi height couplers, and much less cost too!]