Railbus for the PMR

[Lonsdaler]

Funnily enough, I've had one of these in shed, waiting for a 'round tuit'
It's been in the state you see it in these photos for about 18 months. It was originally track powered (so I assume 12 volt), but I've shortened the drive bogie from 060 to 040.

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In tests, it ran well with an 8 pack AA battery.
I also constructed more realistic looking bogie 'skirts' to beef up the underside, and filled the spoked wheels with filler.

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I have the deltang receiver, and also leds for the lights, as well as a soundcard. I think I just need to get on with it!

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[Big Jim]

I like the look of that.

[Peter Butler]

The problem with it is that having widened it, the doors are now very obviously too low - they scale at about 4' 9" in 16mm, so I'm not sure its worth the effort.

I think the extra width makes a huge difference to the appearance and you have made a really good job of it... too good to give up now.
If you can add a strip long the base line to add height to the sides and lower the door frame I'm sure you can make this work.... you know you want to!

[FWLR]

Just love your rail buses Phil.

[Big Jim]

I was having a look at the railbus again last night. I don't think I will go down the route of widening it. However I think I might raise the body by about 1/2 inch. There is a handy bit of moulding low on the body side that should make disguising this a bit easier. The doors will need to be changed, the more I look at them the more I don't like the originals anyway. I will have a play around and see what i looks like, I don't want it to be too tall and thin.

[philipy]

Jim,
When Peter suggested that, I thought, "Thats a good idea", but when I looked at it I thought again. I didn't fancy trying to extend the curved front and the rounded corners and getting it all to match. Then, you are right, it would need new doors and I felt that by the time I'd done that lot, it would be simpler to start from scratch!
I look forward to seeing how you get on.

[Big Jim]

The railbus now has a working chassis, I am not so sure about raising the body as the new chassis is sitting about 1/2'' higher than it was. The total height is about the same as and IP Engineering coach.

To be honest, I really don't know what to do with this project. I was looking forwards to starting it but now it is underway I am not so sure about it. It may get put to one side until the mood takes me again. I would appreciate others opinion on how it looks with the new wheels.



This is what I was planning to do for the seating.

[philipy]

I would appreciate others opinion on how it looks with the new wheels.

It vaguely reminds me of one of the old ( 1980's?) track maintenance vehicles we used to see on the Western Region mainline sometimes! Like the seats though.

[tom_tom_go]

I think it just needs some heavy duty looking buffer beams?

I like the seats as well.

[Big Jim]

I was thinking the same about having something quite hefty at the ends.

[Peter Butler]

Cheers Phillip - good ideas there - adding extra width

I may be going senile but bear with me..... if the doors appear to be too low in height, could you mark out a semi-circle in the roof directly above the door to give the appearance of an underground carriage with sliding doors? That would make it look like additional head height.

[Big Jim]

That is certainly a possibility. However, when I compared it with various other coaches I have, there is not much difference in the door height. Possibly a scale 6 inches lower. When you travel on some 2ft gauge stock you do have to stoop to get in so it may not be too far of the mark.

[philipy]

That is certainly a possibility. However, when I compared it with various other coaches I have, there is not much difference in the door height. Possibly a scale 6 inches lower. When you travel on some 2ft gauge stock you do have to stoop to get in so it may not be too far of the mark.

Interesting thought. I guess it might have been built to a quarry loading gauge, but in that case the width would probably want to remain as the Faller original!

[FWLR]

Heavy buffer beams here too, with perhaps a small skirt along the length, it looks a bit top heavy otherwise, a small skirt would even it up I think.

[Big Jim]

Heavy buffer beam





I spent a quiet hour cutting and laminating plasticard to produce this. Three formers and then a few wraps of .010''. I think once it is extended around the body it should look the part.

[FWLR]

Looks good Jim.

[IrishPeter]

LIKE! It reminds me a little of the front end of the Walker railcars that were used in Ireland. The later ones had a skirt at the front to stop obstacles (like mutton on the hoof) getting under what was a relatively light vehicle.

Peter in AZ

[ge_rik]

Could the sides be extended downwards with a skirt of, say, 10mm?

Rik
Edit: Sorry just seen that Rod has already suggested it. My usual trick of not noticing there's another page of comments after clicking 'New Posts'.

[Big Jim]

That is the current plan, possibly with a cut out for the doors to increase their height. So that there is one or maybe two internal steps as you find on a 'Bus.

[Peter Butler]

The problem with it is that having widened it, the doors are now very obviously too low - they scale at about 4' 9" in 16mm, so I'm not sure its worth the effort.

I think the extra width makes a huge difference to the appearance and you have made a really good job of it... too good to give up now.
If you can add a strip long the base line to add height to the sides and lower the door frame I'm sure you can make this work.... you know you want to!

That's the way I saw it too!