B.R. MK3 Coach / Bogie

[Paddington bear]

Hi,
Is my first post so best I say I have been running trains in my back garden for quite a few years now, back yard being located on the far side of the earth in New Zealand. The theme is definitely commuter trains with freight train running pretty much restricted to club running days. The currant main stay of services on the railway is 3 Aristocraft RDC's. To get my dream train to happen I will have to create it myself.

I have been lurking for a while and have been trying to accumulate sufficient information to scratch build some coaching stock for my railway. My first objective is to create the bogies under the Mk3 coaches. Total novice here, scratch built nothing so any advice / information would be much appreciate. I am leaning towards experimenting with casting parts but first have to create the required masters.

Another learning curve to be mastered is that of posting pics.

 

[3Valve]

Re:B.R. MK3 Coach / Bogie

I suppose my advice would be work with materials that you're comfortable with. Some of us like wood, some metal, some plasticard/styrene sheet and all manner of other materials in between (and combinations thereof).

As a total scratchbuild novice I'd advise you to work with something that you're already OK with rather than trying to build something from unfamiliar materials. You can then work up to trying new materials as your skills develop.

If you're pretty good on the DIY front you may try making your masters out of thin plywood for example.