My modifications to R-T-R LMS coaches - couplings, buffers, people, glazing etc

One of the things I had previously neglected is the rolling stock, specifically the coaches. I never paid too much attention to it before and quite happily sent loco's running around with 4 or 5 basic coaches. After looking through several more experienced modellers layouts, I realised that this was an area that I could improve on over time and would again help the layout look a little more authentic.
I have a stock of old Hornby, Airfix and Bachmann coaches and have recently purchased 9 of the latest Hornby super-detailed coaches. 

It started out as an exercise to get rid of the standard coupling and come up with something a bit better looking and close the gap a bit more. I am not interested too much in Kadee's, and have looked at all the other types. Cost is one factor, and I wont be uncoupling them or shunting coaches around so I don't need that functionality. 
As you know in this hobby, one thing very quickly leads to another and what started with just couplings, ended up being a lot more. 

I purchased some gangways from Ebay (black paper type) and set about making my home-made couplings from 0.8mm brass wire, looped at the end and fixed to the original coupling mounting points. 

Here is version 1 (Hornby RR Patriot with Airfix 60' Composite Coach):




Better, but not really what I was hoping for. Gangways I am ok with, but the coupling is still not great. They work just fine, but means the coaches are permanently coupled and difficult to handle. They don't look much like the vacuum pipes either. 

So, here is Version 2:

 



An improvement, but still not what I was looking for.

I am now on Version 3 - No pics yet as I am still perfecting it. This time, it involves proper screw link couplings/hooks and flexible 1mm elastic cord for the vacuum pipes. I am also upgrading the buffers to sprung ones from MJT, Alan Gibson and Lanarkshire Models (I prefer the MJT ones - looks and ease of installation). I am fitting hooks from Lanarkshire models and have tried both SE Fiencast and Shawplan flush glazing. Painted interiors and adding in passengers is also taking my time up. When I have completed a few, I will add a few more pics. Coach lighting is on the list for sometime in the future, but not yet.
I am also looking at train formations and realising more often than not, brake coaches topped and tailed the train and could end up anywhere in the rake. I have found a couple of books on Amazon and they have proved useful in giving LMS train formation and coaching stock specifics. However, i am not at that point where I am going to go 100% prototypical, but in my book, any improvement, even small ones, is worth it!

Ian

Try this Ian:

Wright writes..... - Page 21 - Modelling musings & miscellany - RMweb  Post 523

I used it and it works great.

Here's a pic of work in progress:





I always used Kadees at the loco end.

John

Hi Ian,

You bought paper gangways? :shock: You can make your own for about £0.05 each in less than 5 minutes.

I think the coach nearest the tender would have had the gangway closed (and compressed). I've seen John's (Brossard) system in operation - it works very well. And unless you look it's not there.

Nigel

You're right Nigel, making paper gangways is fairly simple.  You need black craft paper - heavier than normal.  I did buy in a few of the MJT.  Useful for getting the shapes right.  I made rubbing plates from Evergreen, which by the way, need to be smooth.

The MJT kit includes a nice etched end door, useful for the loco end.

John

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions and I still have so much to learn from you guys!! I had tried a similar method to Brossard but the "pipes" would snag on the coach underframe and bogie (no doubt due to my poor alignment) but i still fancied something a little different. 
I also looked at making my own gangways, but at only around £4 for 12 off Ebay I am happy to buy them ready to fit. I might look at the proper MJT gangway ends though for the two end coaches as they will definitely be more detailed and better refined.

So, I suppose if Brossards technique was Version 3, I am now on Version 4: This time I worked on some old Bachmann  coaches. This involved polishing the sides of the coaches with some MER, fitting the paper gangways, fitting Alan Gibson and MJT sprung buffers, painting the interior, fitting people, fitting new glazing (SE Finecast and Shawplan) and then the next version of couplings involving the Lanarkshire models hook, Romford screw link, Lanarkshire models vacuum hoses and 0.7mm cord to simulate the hose connections.

Pic 1. Bachmann Brake Third, Shawplan Flush Glazing, Alan Gibson Buffers coupled to the tender from a Railroad Patriot.
 

Pic 2: Airfix Non-Corridor Composite Coach: SE Finecast Glazing, Alan Gibson buffers.


Pic 3: Bachmann Corridor Composite coach, MJT buffers, original glazing


Pic 4: Better pic of the Airfix coach showing the SE Finecast glazing. Better than original but still not as good as the Shawplan:


Pic 5: This one shows the Shawplan glazing glued in with Crystal Klear (poor workmanship on my part I might add)


So, question for the more knowledgeable ones out there: Were the steam pipes used in the summer months or were they left disconnected or removed altogether? I am sure I had read somewhere that they were removed in the summer as heating in the coaches wasn't required, but is that accurate for 1939 LMS type operations? If it is true, I only need to model the vacuum pipes.

Thank you all
Ian

Mmmmm. English summers, I would have thought that they would have been connected as usual and it would be down to the coach occupants as to if it was turned on or off.

Cheers Campaman - i cant find anything definitive, so will create both the steam and vac pipes. much appreciated.
Ian