GVT coach bits

[SapperAnt]

I recently acquired a second hand Tenmille GVT coach kit.

However, it has many parts missing:-

Roof lamp
Door Handles
Handrails
Steps
Roof

Can anyone suggest where to get such pieces?

Cambrian appear to do brake gear and the end steps.

The kit has some really manky vacuum formed axle guards and rather friable bits of plastic which may have been wheels and axle boxes. I'm not quite sure.

To be honest most of the vacuum formed plastic pieces are incredibly brittle and fragile and have all the detail of a sucked toffee.

Still, it was only a tenner. But Im not sure whether to proceed to do anything with this kit as it could get rather expensivo, and, to be honest, the quality is rather lacking.

HALP

[MDLR]

You could get most of the bits you need (less the roof) from Brandbright...............

[SapperAnt]

But aren't Brandbright a tad on the pricey side?... for what is...um a bit of a sow's ear?

[spooner]

The door handles and handrails could be bent up from wire.

[SapperAnt]

Thats what the kit instructions implie and to do so according to the diagram, which, alas is not present.

As an aside, does anyone know the colour of the interior and upholstery of GVT coaches? Bernard Rocket says the 1st Class were painted white inside with gilt moulds and white oil cloth.

[Spule 4]

I have a Tenmille Talyllyn guards van I built in the 1980s that needs some repair.....and the same list of bits.

I have not decided yet what exactly to do with it, part of me says let it pass, but another part tells me I should fix it up, both because I built it in my younger days and as a Heritage piece.

The axle boxes were a bit of angle plastic behind fake formed ones. WHat I will do now is use either Brandbright or IP boxes and smaller wheels to better fit with my Mamod and small IP stock.

Of course, it will loose some of its Talyllyn looks, but I guess my painting it in GWR grey did that anyhow!

And any other bits will be bits of dowel and bent wire, as that is what they were when the kit was new anyhow.

[SapperAnt]

I've no idea how old this is but it cost £11.00 according to the hand written label, and the instructions appear to be photostats - I think Tenmille kits are now four times that cost!

A rough guestimate from the Cambrian price list would see the model more or less complete for £15.00...

The axle boxes you describe sound exactly like the brittle and broken bits of black plastic that came with this kit. Im not sure what plastic they used to make these kits but it doesnt seem to have lasted - it can't be UV stable.

There is a note in the instructions saying that  the kit it is highly flammable, and locomotives should be lit up away from the finished model (!) due to the fire risk.

[Spule 4]

Yes, having been to vacuum forming plastic factories for work and being in the fire safety business, I can vouch for that firsthand!