Bachmann Tram Rebuild

[Melbournesparks]

Recently I was lucky enough to get a bachmann tram on ebay for a reasonable price. It's nice as is, little four wheeled trams like this one were once common in cities all over the world. There was never anything exactly like this in Victoria though, and just about every second person has got one.

After some consideration I thought it might be possible to rebuild it into a Duncan and Fraser single truck tram. These trams ran on all four Victorian tram networks, and many survive today.

First step was complete disassembly.

I ended up with a big box of bits. Most of these will be reused in some form or other.

Right then, time to get serious.

This is what we ended up with. Time to start reassembling.

The centre section of the body was removed and the two ends rejoined. Some new motor bock mounts were made that allow the body to sit a little lower.

On closer inspection this was not going to be as straightfoward as I thought. To get the proportions right the body also needed to be widened slightly. The roof was also cut in half and a section spliced in.

The shortened and widened body. Luckily the cuts went through the doorways, so it was relatively straightfoward to widen.

 

[schienenkönig]

Looks good, hope you will continue with this report. - Thanks.

 

[dunnyrail]

Serious Cut n Shut Job, nice to see someone bashing one of these to make something different.
JonD

 

[Melbournesparks]

Work is proceeding, but I didn't want to break the first post with too many images.

The prototype was originally a California combination, with cross benches at each end and an enclosed centre section. Later on it was modified to have the ends enclosed as well, obviously they were not so popular on a cold winter morning.

The frame extensions were attached to what was left of the end platforms.

Making the new ends. The prototype is a very long four wheel tram (9.7M), so has a rather interesting motion at any sort of speed.

The roof also needed to be extended at each end. A new section was made from a bit of PVC sewer pipe.

All glued up. The ends of the old roof were reused, but with a gap in the middle for the destination box.

Making the walls for the end sections. On the prototype these parts were fitted later to enclose the open seating at each end.

Test fit to see how everything is looking. Starting to look tram shaped again!

The steps and front bumpers were made from various scrap metals. Old computer cases are a good source of scrap metal for building. They're usually steel between 0.3 and 1mm thick, with a protective coating. If you scrape a little bit of the coating off then heat it, solder will readily flow under the coating and stick to the clean metal underneath. And they're free!

Beading on the end panels and steps and bumpers fitted. Looks like a tram again, but still a bit of work to go. The trolley pole is just sitting there for the photo, the roof still needs some attention.

Some filler and sanding to finish off the roof shape. Automotive filler is a useful modelling tool, it seems to stick to anything and sets very hard.

 

[dunnyrail]

I have been using Squadren Products White and Green Modellers Putty, a bit easier than Car Body Filler as it is ready mixed for the impatient. But has let me down on occasion being not quite so strong. Must get back into Car Body Filler, relatively inexpensive and as you say sticks like the proverbial.

Interesting use of PVC Sewer Pipe. Must keep my eye out for some off cuts of NEW in skips!
JonD

 

[Melbournesparks]

I have been using Squadren Products White and Green Modellers Putty, a bit easier than Car Body Filler as it is ready mixed for the impatient. But has let me down on occasion being not quite so strong. Must get back into Car Body Filler, relatively inexpensive and as you say sticks like the proverbial.

Interesting use of PVC Sewer Pipe. Must keep my eye out for some off cuts of NEW in skips!
JonD

It's a good construction material, you can easily join it to other PVC plastics with pipe glue. Best thing though is that if you heat it with a heat gun and bend it, it retains the shape after it cools.

Unfortunately availability of dedicated modelling products isn't too good in Australia, and when you can get them they are expensive. One of the reasons I like large scale is you can usually use cheap and easy to get stuff from the hardware store.

 

[Rhinochugger]

That's looking tram good

 

[Melbournesparks]

At this point everything was temporarily assembled for a clearance test run. The tramway has tight restrictions on both width and height, and this is a longer and wider tram than any of the others. It passed with about 1mm to spare, so no track adjustments needed.

 

[Madman]

Nice !

 

[schienenkönig]

Well done! Great work.

 

[dunnyrail]

The transformation is phenominal, looking forward to the Paint Job now.
JonD

 

[Melbournesparks]

Had a small delay because work, but construction is proceeding.

Preparing for painting. All the timber was given a coat of varnish first.

Wiring up the lights. An old computer power supply provides a lot of salvageable parts.

Like this bridge rectifier.

It goes under the floor, to provide power for the non directional lights.

The tram retains the original Bachmann motor block. I've noticed a lot of people complain about these, and replace them with better running units. So far they have been working for me (replacing them would be really expensive in any case) but there is a few modifications that you can do which helps them out a lot. The first is the traction capacitors, which provide power to cover small dead spots in the track. They keep the voltage to the motor relatively smooth, which makes it run a lot quieter and with less stress on the gears. The other is some additional weight.

Started with a bit of lead. It's from an old LGB Stainz that was dismantled for parts.

After a bit of hammering it looks like this. A small bit of full size rail turned upside down makes a good anvil.

Which when cut in half fits neatly under the seats.

All the individual parts were painted in their major colours and everything reassembled.

Starting to look more like a tram now.

Test run! I printed some destination rolls and signs. All the removable signs are just stuck on with blue tack at the moment.

The distinctive lights and stripes are an important feature of this tram. The prototype was operated by the state electricity commission of Victoria. As road vehicle traffic increased during the 1950's they had problems with cars running into trams on dark suburban streets. Ironically the street lighting (or lack of it) was also the responsibility of the SEC!

Still quite a few little details to make, but nearly done now.

 

[DoctorM]

Had a small delay because work, but construction is proceeding.

Still quite a few little details to make, but nearly done now.

A bonzer job!

I'm looking forward to seeing it again with your final tweaks.

 

[Madman]

Wow ! What a nice job you did.

 

[trammayo]

Lovely job (and thread)!

 

[Stan B]

Excellent kit bash. Like all the recycling.

 

[Melbournesparks]

Thanks guys! Pretty much finished now, with numbers and lining and stuff.

The trolley wheel is fake, it does not actually rotate. I think the scraping action is required to keep the overhead clean for outside use.

 

[Kayanbee]

Recently I was lucky enough to get a bachmann tram on ebay for a reasonable price. It's nice as is, little four wheeled trams like this one were once common in cities all over the world. There was never anything exactly like this in Victoria though, and just about every second person has got one.

After some consideration I thought it might be possible to rebuild it into a Duncan and Fraser single truck tram. These trams ran on all four Victorian tram networks, and many survive today.

First step was complete disassembly.

I ended up with a big box of bits. Most of these will be reused in some form or other.

Right then, time to get serious.

This is what we ended up with. Time to start reassembling.

The centre section of the body was removed and the two ends rejoined. Some new motor bock mounts were made that allow the body to sit a little lower.

On closer inspection this was not going to be as straightfoward as I thought. To get the proportions right the body also needed to be widened slightly. The roof was also cut in half and a section spliced in.

The shortened and widened body. Luckily the cuts went through the doorways, so it was relatively straightfoward to widen.

Thanks guys! Pretty much finished now, with numbers and lining and stuff.

The trolley wheel is fake, it does not actually rotate. I think the scraping action is required to keep the overhead clean for outside use.

 

[Kayanbee]

Recently I was lucky enough to get a bachmann tram on ebay for a reasonable price. It's nice as is, little four wheeled trams like this one were once common in cities all over the world. There was never anything exactly like this in Victoria though, and just about every second person has got one.

After some consideration I thought it might be possible to rebuild it into a Duncan and Fraser single truck tram. These trams ran on all four Victorian tram networks, and many survive today.

First step was complete disassembly.

I ended up with a big box of bits. Most of these will be reused in some form or other.

Right then, time to get serious.

This is what we ended up with. Time to start reassembling.

The centre section of the body was removed and the two ends rejoined. Some new motor bock mounts were made that allow the body to sit a little lower.

On closer inspection this was not going to be as straightfoward as I thought. To get the proportions right the body also needed to be widened slightly. The roof was also cut in half and a section spliced in.

The shortened and widened body. Luckily the cuts went through the doorways, so it was relatively straightfoward to widen.

Recently I was lucky enough to get a bachmann tram on ebay for a reasonable price. It's nice as is, little four wheeled trams like this one were once common in cities all over the world. There was never anything exactly like this in Victoria though, and just about every second person has got one.

After some consideration I thought it might be possible to rebuild it into a Duncan and Fraser single truck tram. These trams ran on all four Victorian tram networks, and many survive today.

First step was complete disassembly.

I ended up with a big box of bits. Most of these will be reused in some form or other.

Right then, time to get serious.

This is what we ended up with. Time to start reassembling.

The centre section of the body was removed and the two ends rejoined. Some new motor bock mounts were made that allow the body to sit a little lower.

On closer inspection this was not going to be as straightfoward as I thought. To get the proportions right the body also needed to be widened slightly. The roof was also cut in half and a section spliced in.

The shortened and widened body. Luckily the cuts went through the doorways, so it was relatively straightfoward to widen.

 

[Kayanbee]

Hi, You can improve then running of Bachmann trams by fitting old style LGB pick ups. Part number 63210. You have to remove some weights which weren't very heavy which get in the way so I have glued some lead under the vestibule ends.