This thread came about specifically because someone wrote in another Playmobil thread about Open Wagons ref 5264 being available from Playmobil Direct for £9.00 as it was a no brainer I got 2 with little idea what to do with them except possibly repaint them and single buffer them to integrate into my Fluorspar Workings. Anyway I spent a day or two cogitating then the Light Bulb moment occured. When Andy Rush was alive and I regularly helped Operate his Ruschbahn I was constantly coming up with ideas to make the line a bit more interesting. I invented 3 Connecting Lines and the LLB was one of them. The Train was assumed to come over a Rack so my Blue Rack Electric and sundry Blue Coaches and Wagons installed to run on the Line. However Andy had his two pennyworth by creating a Sand Quarry on the Line, converting 2 Bachman Bogie Opens complete with Balconies to move the Traffic. These when about caused constant aggravation to the Yardmaster at Millisee Yard where they interfaced from the LLB to their destination on the Ruschbahn. When Andy sadly died I could have taken them on, but I knew that 2 more Bogie Wagons of which I already have 5 would have been a problem for me capacity wise. So they disappeared off to a new life near Lowestoft Way via Glendale Jcn.
Here is a pic of the LLB Train with just 1 of the Sand Wagons about to return to the LLB on the very heavy Mixed Train. Seen at Millisee.
Move forward now to my light bulb moment. I have occasionally had a dabble with the LLB Train on my new line, running it from my Shed to make connections at my Sternhaus Station. My thinking then went on the line of what of there was a Sand Quarry somewhere on the Branch? I could use the 2 Playmobil Opens for this Traffic in ones or two's as defined by my Wagon Movement System. So this project came to life.
First I needed to decide what to do with the Wagons, inevitably Sand Wagons tend not to have Doors. So the Playmobil ones would need to be removed. Also those horrible large Red Handholds. Some filling would be required of holes etc. plus filling in the Door Spaces. A Single Buffer would replace the two, more hacking and finally a repaint. Yesterday I made a start on the project and this post is a description of where I niw am.
But first a Pic of the Starting Point.
Next up is a pic showing some of the destruction and the two Tools used to do it. The knife goes under the Handrail to stop the screwdriver damaging the body as I pop out the Handrail. Doors pop out esily. The Chassis is not quite so easy and the next pic shows where I gently ease the Body off the Chassis with the screwdriver
The next Pic shows the end with Buffers removed. The Right side shows what needs to be cleaned off with Sandpaper and Wet n Dry to finish as seen on the Left.
The next pic has a lot going on, but you can see where I have cut off the Door Mounts and started the fill. Also the Handrail Holes have been filled. Both with the Green Putty illistrated. I usually do this in two snatches as it is not always possible to do the complete thing in one pass. I tend to leave things overnight to ensure completely dry before attempting the next splurge of Putty. Oh the Knife with blunt blade is my Tool of Choice for applying the Putty. Finally the door gaps have begun their journey to complete oblivion. They are just pieces of Black Plasticard approx 130x59 mm.
I use a Razor Saw to remove all the unwanted bits of the Wagon.
Next Pic shows some more detail added to the former Door Openings also showing the Top and Gussets (not very visible) to the Top where it joins the Overhanging Grey Top Plate. I have purposely left the Top Plate narrower than the original to indicate that this was a Wagon (in real life) that has been into the Shops for modification to a new role.
Finally at close of play today the next Wagon with all its bits cut out ready to add and Buffers waiting for Modification for the two Wagons.
JonD
Here is a pic of the LLB Train with just 1 of the Sand Wagons about to return to the LLB on the very heavy Mixed Train. Seen at Millisee.
Move forward now to my light bulb moment. I have occasionally had a dabble with the LLB Train on my new line, running it from my Shed to make connections at my Sternhaus Station. My thinking then went on the line of what of there was a Sand Quarry somewhere on the Branch? I could use the 2 Playmobil Opens for this Traffic in ones or two's as defined by my Wagon Movement System. So this project came to life.
First I needed to decide what to do with the Wagons, inevitably Sand Wagons tend not to have Doors. So the Playmobil ones would need to be removed. Also those horrible large Red Handholds. Some filling would be required of holes etc. plus filling in the Door Spaces. A Single Buffer would replace the two, more hacking and finally a repaint. Yesterday I made a start on the project and this post is a description of where I niw am.
But first a Pic of the Starting Point.
Next up is a pic showing some of the destruction and the two Tools used to do it. The knife goes under the Handrail to stop the screwdriver damaging the body as I pop out the Handrail. Doors pop out esily. The Chassis is not quite so easy and the next pic shows where I gently ease the Body off the Chassis with the screwdriver
The next Pic shows the end with Buffers removed. The Right side shows what needs to be cleaned off with Sandpaper and Wet n Dry to finish as seen on the Left.
The next pic has a lot going on, but you can see where I have cut off the Door Mounts and started the fill. Also the Handrail Holes have been filled. Both with the Green Putty illistrated. I usually do this in two snatches as it is not always possible to do the complete thing in one pass. I tend to leave things overnight to ensure completely dry before attempting the next splurge of Putty. Oh the Knife with blunt blade is my Tool of Choice for applying the Putty. Finally the door gaps have begun their journey to complete oblivion. They are just pieces of Black Plasticard approx 130x59 mm.
I use a Razor Saw to remove all the unwanted bits of the Wagon.
Next Pic shows some more detail added to the former Door Openings also showing the Top and Gussets (not very visible) to the Top where it joins the Overhanging Grey Top Plate. I have purposely left the Top Plate narrower than the original to indicate that this was a Wagon (in real life) that has been into the Shops for modification to a new role.
Finally at close of play today the next Wagon with all its bits cut out ready to add and Buffers waiting for Modification for the two Wagons.
JonD
