DIY dimensions

Hi All. I have some Peco buffer stops, but would like to make some sleeper built  ones in 4mm scale. The previous occasion that I tried Scratch Building turned out more like O gauge. I was thinking about using an off-cut of timber? As I cannot get hold of coffee stirrers in the £1.00 shop. Any ideas please? Best wishes Kevin  

Why not just buy the peco sleeper built buffer stops Kevin

You can make them look nice with a bit of painting only about £2 each

SL-41 Peco Buffer Stop sleeper built type

Brian

Hi Brian. Thank you for your reply. Why? I just wanted a bit of DIY, and to be different. Plus the fact that I didn’t like Peco ‘s rail built buffer stops. Best wishes Kevin  

The ones i mentioned are sleeper built buffer stops Kevin not rail built ones.


Brian

Hi Brian.   I did read that. But if I make a odd small item and then build up to something more complicated it could be better?   Best wishes Kevin 

Hi Kevin,

Brian's suggestion is spot on. Some things are not worth scratch building. Easy to put together, the only thing missing are some holes from the chair bolts. Easy enough to do before assembly. Bit of real ballast and weeds on the top and they look the business. 

If you really want a scratch built one get some plastic sleepers from C+L. Right size. Or even some sleepers from flex track.

Nigel

Hi Nigel. Thank you. But I rather thought that it would be interesting to build half a dozen or so, using stirrers, as other members have done. And practice for the bigger projects that are to come. Best wishes Kevin 

Here ya go Kevin here are a few of them in my diesel depot area they need some black grease splodges on the red bit of the buffer yet.




Brian

Hi Brian. Thank you for your reply. Okay they do look good. But with buying online, p and p, etc or going to Model Railway Shows, to be honest , at the time of writing, I don’t think I can go  running round going to all the shows and shops that I usually attend . Maybe later this year or early next year I will get back to myself. Best wishes Kevin 

Hi Brian.  I am going along with the general consensus. I have found that of all the adverts for the Peco sleeper built buffer stops, Hattons have them in stock at the best? price. And they seem reliable and the post and packing isn’t prohibitive. And with a bit of weathering they should blend in. Best wishes Kevin 

Good decision Kevin you can make them look pretty smart with a bit of painting and adding your own ballast on top.


Brian

Hi Brian. Thank you for your reply. I haven’t seen one of these close up, is there somewhere to put ones own ballast in or on top ?    Best wishes Kevin 

The top of it is moulded to look a bit like ballast you can just paint that but i find putting your own ballast on top makes it look a lot better Kevin.


Brian

Hi Brian. I do understand that, but, can it be cut away/ out, with no loss of blood nor fingers. Best wishes Kevin 

You do not need to cut anything away Kevin all you do is sprinkle a bit of ballast on top of the existing plastic and glue the ballast in the normal way you use.

Very simple to do no cutting required whatsoever.


Brian

Thank you Brian. I should have worked that out? But until I get them I don’t know how to fix them in position ?Best wishes Kevin 

They come as a one piece moulding the only thing you have to glue from memory is the front buffer beam.

They can affix direct on to track the bottom is slotted for track if you want to do that i just usually rput the front on track and a dab of glue underneath to fit solid to baseboard.

You paint them first with matt colours  do any weathering you want to do the last job is glue in the ballast.

A nice little job for you to do on the coffee table downstairs Kevin.

Hi Brian. The Peco sleeper built buffer stops were advertised at £1.60 plus each and I purchased five of them P & P was £ 2.75 which wasn’t too bad, but, when they arrived today, I was charged £2.00 each. And there wasn’t a mention of “ Ex Vat. I think that they are taking the P155. Best wishes Kevin 

Thats wrong when they do that Kevin nearly all of their customers have to pay VAT unless they live outside the EU.

Very misleading

Even at the £2  that is a similar price to what other large dealers sell them at.

Just be carefull when ordering from them again that the Vat is included when you are buying.

If you had bought a £200 loco that would have added £40 to that

Brian

Hi Brian.  Thank you for your reply.  in the first instance I searched for the cheapest buffer stops, which turned out to be Hattons and there wasn’t any mention of Ex Vat price. Which I am certain that I had already mentioned somewhere, I have already emailed them, but, as to yet no reply. You are correct about Locos, just before I went into Kings College Hospital in May I purchased a Heljan Class 33 Diesel Loco . Best wishes Kevin