Ratio Midland clerestory

[Hardwicke]

I've been in the process over a number of years to build a rake of coaches from the Ratio kits. Inspiration came from ERH Francis and his articles in the 70's. I met him once at Scaleforum City University. After I'd built one in my teens and lined it (not very well), broke one up for a 6w version and melted another, they went on the back burner, though not to melt any further. Imagine my frustration to find, pre-grouping they had glass above the door droplight window. Ratio make them post grouping with a louvered vent. Contemporary D466 Family Saloon retained the glass until this spring when someone set it on fire and it is no more, but I have photos somewhere. I supplied Andy Mullins with them before he produced his kit.
Today, on finding a set of the Ratio coaches I picked one that has no bogies, a side loose and needs a complete strip down and repaint with an airbrush instead of what looked like a tar brush. Not my build; a second hand one. Here are the early results. First the vents were carved off. I lost three door hinges. The location was then drilled to await opening up to a rectangle.i have some mini milling heads.

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[NickL]

Imagine my frustration to find, pre-grouping they had glass above the door droplight window.

I heard this too. Luckily, before I had attacked all of my kits, Stephen Lea, (Compound2632 on RMWeb and vc of the Midland Railway Society), told me there is photographic evidence of door ventilators on some of this stock in 1921, which in my case allows a mixture of both styles to be modelled.

Any use?

[Hardwicke]

I was researching it last night and Lacy and Dow said the windows started being screwed shut before the First World War, but not replaced. I have a window hinge mechanism. They opened to about 30-45 degrees, though it might be from the clerestory windows.
Yes, it was helpful. I lined one coach out beautifully in MR lake when I was a bit younger with a lining pen. Exhibition standard almost and of course it has louvres.

[Mark Tatlow]

What will you do about bogies, the Ratio ones are very flimsy (and you - like me - are missing some too).

I am not aware of an alternative; unless someone can enlighten me?


Mark

[Hardwicke]

In the best John Noakes or Valerie Singleton (I never remember Peter Perves saying it), here's one I made earlier.
It shows the difference an air brush and lining pen makes. No roof yet. Not perfect but...

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[Hardwicke]

What will you do about bogies, the Ratio ones are very flimsy (and you - like me - are missing some too).

I am not aware of an alternative; unless someone can enlighten me?


Mark

I'm using Society CCU adapted for springing. The Ratio bogies will just be cosmetic. I got a load of spares some years ago.