Ratio Coach Modifications

[DaveHarris]

I am 'new' to 4mm modelling after a break of 30+ years and having decided to re-start in P4 I am interested in building some GWR 4 wheel coaches which are produced by ratio, but intend to modify them to represent Departmental coaches at the end of their working lives. Does anyone have any tips on how to produce the sheeted sides that many of these coaches aquired towards the end of their lives when taken over by the Engineers dept, thus obliterating much of the original coach side details?

[Tim V]

I did those by just glueing 10thou plastic sheet over some of the panels - after all, the originals were just steel sheet screwed onto the framing.

[DaveHarris]

Tim, Thanks very much for the information. I was thinking of trying something like that but certainly wasnt sure of which thickness of plastic sheet to try, or wether to try sanding off some of the panelling detail first. Many thanks for the information . Dave

[Re6/6]

Hi Dave.

Here are a few snaps of a Ratio 'distress' job that I did a while ago for a friend. The roofs and chassis weren't secured when I took the pictures on a rather old early digital camera. Further fettling still has to be done!

Some panel beading, moulded door and commode handles were pared away with a flat X-acto blade to simulate decayed beading and repaired panelling. Tim's idea of glueing some plastic sheet over these areas would add to the overall effect nicely. Something that I'll do next time.

Hope that this is of interest.

SPLR4.JPG

SPLR14.JPG

[Brinkly]

Railway cut backs must be bad John for Sir Topham Hatt to allow Annie and Clarabel to end up in that state!

Regards,

Nick

[DaveHarris]

Very late reply, but many thanks for the pictures!!

Dave

[Knuckles]

I used to build these Ratio coaches in 00 but could never get them to work well, also the sides had a tendqncy to bow inwards over time and the bodies never fit on the chassis well.

I do however intend to build some in P4 but the above issues will require me putting the compartments in to stop the bowing and as the the body fitting and running I do not know, any ideas? I don't want to build P4 ones if I can't even get these particular coaches to run well in 00.

I don't know why these particular kits have always been a pain.

Also I know there is a company that make etched replacement chassis for them but I cannot remember who. If anyone does it's appreciated.

[Mike Garwood]

Here you go:

http://www.dartcastings.co.uk/shire.php

Scroll down a fair way to find them.

Mike

[grovenor-2685]

Not sure I'd call it a chassis!
http://www.dartcastings.co.uk/shire/S215.php
Regards

[Guy Rixon]

Bill Bedford does sprung axleguards for GWR coaches. You get three axles worth in a pack.

Mainly Trains still sell a detailing pack for "GW 4 Wheel Vehicles with 3ft 7in & for others" http://www.mainlytrains.co.uk/acatalog/exp_mt221.htm. This includes rocking axleguards, some brake bits, and commode handles inter alia; but the shape of the axleguards looks wrong, to me, for coaches.

[Alan Turner]

Here you go:

http://www.dartcastings.co.uk/shire.php

Scroll down a fair way to find them.

Mike

Or did you mean this: http://www.mainlytrains.co.uk/acatalog/exp_mt220.htm

Regards

Alan

[Knuckles]

Or did you mean this: http://www.mainlytrains.co.uk/acatalog/exp_mt220.htm

Regards

Alan

Bingo!

Many thanks, this is the one I was talking about. Thanks everyone, found some good stuff in the other links too.

Railway cut backs must be bad John for Sir Topham Hatt to allow Annie and Clarabel to end up in that state!

Regards,

Nick

A&C should really be bogie coaches.
TV series messed everything up though.

[billbedford]

Bill Bedford does sprung axleguards for GWR coaches. You get three axles worth in a pack.

There are two GWR carriage w-iron frets. BBWF020 has six pairs of w-irons and BBWF520 has three pairs plus brake yokes.

[Dave K]

Here you go:

http://www.dartcastings.co.uk/shire.php

Scroll down a fair way to find them.

Mike

Or did you mean this: http://www.mainlytrains.co.uk/acatalog/exp_mt220.htm

Regards

Alan

I have one of the Mainly Trains detailing kits but have found that the solebars 4mm whereas the Ratio kits are 3mm, which is standard for GW stock.

Dave