The first part of the conversion of both coaches is to cut out the side wall between alternate window frames to create four wide windows each side which are then framed out with 2.0 x 1.5mm plasticard strip to create a more Anglicised appearance. With the Buffet Car the pair of windows next to the toilet compartment, at one end, were not cut out, instead they, and the toilet compartment window, were filled in with plasticard up to skylight height which was then scribed to match the planking. This end is where the buffet counter is installed. Plasticard boards are fitted to the coach sides to carry company, designation and coach number decals.
The roof is fitted out with Garden Railway Specialists lamp tops and ventilators. Pipework, originally suppling gas to the lamps and subsequently used as conduit for cables to new electric lamps, is added using plastic rod for the junction boxes and brass wire for the pipes. On the Buffet Cat the roof above the buffet counter is fitted with a freelance design of refrigeration unit fabricated from plasticard. There are model fans fitted behind the mesh.
The balcony ends are altered by cutting off the railings and replacing them with GRS white metal railings (no longer available) and brass handrail wire. The wire handrails on the coach body ends are re-bent to give a higher grip to match the balcony end handrails. GRS lamp irons are mounted on plasticard fittings attached to the end railings. Buffers and vacuum pipes, salvaged from the conversion of LGB Toy Train 4-wheel vehicles, are fitted to the buffer beams. The bogies are re-wheeled with Al Kramer nickel plated turned brass wheels giving a low centre of gravity and smooth running.
In both coaches, and their Brake Third cousins coaches 8 and 9, the seating was modified by removing the side panels from the seat ends and lowering the seat backs by cutting out the 'board' sections and regluing the seat cushion backs to created a lower more modern appearance. For the Buffet Car, tables were added using plasticard table tops supported on wodden cocktail stick legs. The buffet bar was scratch built using plasticard. The was basin from the toilet was cut and repositioned in the bar area. Water boiler and drinks chiller were fabricated from plastic offcuts, The glass display case was made from clear plastic cut from an old CD jewel case. The heating stove and coal box in the corner opposite the buffet bar were removed and replaced by waste bins scratch built with plasticard and wire. Detailing to the buffet bar will be added after the coach has been painted.
The coach is now off to the paint shop so it will be a while before there is an update. It takes almost as long to pain the model as it does to build it.
David
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