Enhancing Amax Coaches (or Newqida)
- Thread starter 3Valve
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Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
So while you're waiting for the paint to dry there are a couple of other things you can be getting on with.
You could have one of these.
Or you could open up a packet of these and fit them
Or if you're really clever your could do both (but don't let you other half know that you can multi-task).
Fitting the metal wheels is a really straightforward job, they really are a straight push fit into the bogies and it improves the running of these coaches immensly.
So while you're waiting for the paint to dry there are a couple of other things you can be getting on with.
You could have one of these.
Or you could open up a packet of these and fit them
Or if you're really clever your could do both (but don't let you other half know that you can multi-task).
Fitting the metal wheels is a really straightforward job, they really are a straight push fit into the bogies and it improves the running of these coaches immensly.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Another little job I like to do on these is to replace the standard white coupling spring. Not because I prefer black but because I find the standard Amax/Newqida spring to be a bit on the stiff side and it can throw the bogies off on R1 curves.
Again this is a straight forward job, remove the screw, remove the coupling and spring, swap out the spring and replace coupling and spring.
Another little job I like to do on these is to replace the standard white coupling spring. Not because I prefer black but because I find the standard Amax/Newqida spring to be a bit on the stiff side and it can throw the bogies off on R1 curves.
Again this is a straight forward job, remove the screw, remove the coupling and spring, swap out the spring and replace coupling and spring.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Aaargh dammit, the paint still isn't dry. You know what that means
Now you may have spotted in the background that I've also resprayed the seats while waiting for the bodywork to dry. The seats are odd in these, on one side they're black plastic while on the other (the double seat side) they're red (or green or blue depending on what colour coaches you buy).
Either way the plastic is very shiney and sort of kiddies toy-like. The last lot I did were sprayed in Halfords Rover Bronze, but these I've just done these in red primer as the Bronze was a bit too metallic.
Aaargh dammit, the paint still isn't dry. You know what that means
Now you may have spotted in the background that I've also resprayed the seats while waiting for the bodywork to dry. The seats are odd in these, on one side they're black plastic while on the other (the double seat side) they're red (or green or blue depending on what colour coaches you buy).
Either way the plastic is very shiney and sort of kiddies toy-like. The last lot I did were sprayed in Halfords Rover Bronze, but these I've just done these in red primer as the Bronze was a bit too metallic.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Finally the paint is dry enough to take off the masking tape.
Finally the paint is dry enough to take off the masking tape.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
When the seats had dried I did a quick trial fit back into the body.
Compare with the "before" shot and hopefully you'll agree with me that the interior will be much improved with the new colour scheme.
Before
After
When the seats had dried I did a quick trial fit back into the body.
Compare with the "before" shot and hopefully you'll agree with me that the interior will be much improved with the new colour scheme.
Before
After
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
and that's it for today (wifey needs a brew ). Next phase will be the masking off and applying the darker colour (maroon in my case), plus a little trick to resolve any paint bleeding problems if you get em.
and that's it for today (wifey needs a brew
). Next phase will be the masking off and applying the darker colour (maroon in my case), plus a little trick to resolve any paint bleeding problems if you get em.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
I find the Nqd/Amax spring perfect for the tankers, doesn't give as easy as the Bachmann I am used to, but I could try the trick with Bachmann springs on the coaches, as they do tend to throw a boggie every now and again.
Thanks again for a good thread
How do you know?3Valve said:
3Valve said:
I find the Nqd/Amax spring perfect for the tankers, doesn't give as easy as the Bachmann I am used to, but I could try the trick with Bachmann springs on the coaches, as they do tend to throw a boggie every now and again.
Thanks again for a good thread
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
I've had a Nequida coupler break in traffic - the hooks are more brittle than LGB, so I've replaced mine with LGB including springs.
In my area, B&Q sell "professional" masking tape - blue in colour - which works well.
hagen said:
I've had a Nequida coupler break in traffic - the hooks are more brittle than LGB, so I've replaced mine with LGB including springs.
In my area, B&Q sell "professional" masking tape - blue in colour - which works well.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Not had a coupler break in traffic yet, but they certainly are more brittle than LGB. They can also get a bit of moulding flash on them, which again can cause derailment problems. Replacing with LGB or similar (Steve a Back 2 Bay 6 used to stock a good LGB style coupler) is definitely a quick guaranteed fix.
I should have mentioned where I got my low adhesion tape from. I used "Duck" brand masking tape originally bought from my local Halfords store. I've also used "Harris" masking tape which is pretty low adhesion. Tamiya also make a low stick masking tape which quite a few of the forum members use.
MRail said:
Not had a coupler break in traffic yet, but they certainly are more brittle than LGB. They can also get a bit of moulding flash on them, which again can cause derailment problems. Replacing with LGB or similar (Steve a Back 2 Bay 6 used to stock a good LGB style coupler) is definitely a quick guaranteed fix.
I should have mentioned where I got my low adhesion tape from. I used "Duck" brand masking tape originally bought from my local Halfords store. I've also used "Harris" masking tape which is pretty low adhesion. Tamiya also make a low stick masking tape which quite a few of the forum members use.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
OK we're now moving into the final stages. The top half of the carrriage has now been masked off ready for the application of the maroon on the lower panels.
End panels are left unmasked as these will also be maroon.
OK we're now moving into the final stages. The top half of the carrriage has now been masked off ready for the application of the maroon on the lower panels.
End panels are left unmasked as these will also be maroon.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Another quick blast with the primer, just to cover up the remaining cream.
Then finally we get to put the maroon on.
Another quick blast with the primer, just to cover up the remaining cream.
Then finally we get to put the maroon on.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Now I mentioned the problem of paint "bleeding" earlier in the thread, and sod's law, I hadn't noticed on one side that the masking tape had lifted a bit, so I did get a wee bit of paint bleed.
Now if this happens to you don't panic, there's a really easy fix.
A nice pinstripe. You can use the good old trimline for this, but my weapon of choice is a 3mm pinstriping tape for cars know as "Style Stripe"
Now I mentioned the problem of paint "bleeding" earlier in the thread, and sod's law, I hadn't noticed on one side that the masking tape had lifted a bit, so I did get a wee bit of paint bleed.
Now if this happens to you don't panic, there's a really easy fix.
A nice pinstripe. You can use the good old trimline for this, but my weapon of choice is a 3mm pinstriping tape for cars know as "Style Stripe"
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
I noticed on my IoM coaches that there was a thin band of black separating the cream and maroon panels. As my first respray attempt also bled a bit, I thought 'if it's good enough for the IoM it's good enough for me' and applied a 3mm "Style Stripe" pin stripe along the entire length of the coach.
I usually allow a slight overlap at the ends rather than try to cut to exact length. I then trim off at the ends after it has been well and truly stuck down.
I noticed on my IoM coaches that there was a thin band of black separating the cream and maroon panels. As my first respray attempt also bled a bit, I thought 'if it's good enough for the IoM it's good enough for me' and applied a 3mm "Style Stripe" pin stripe along the entire length of the coach.
I usually allow a slight overlap at the ends rather than try to cut to exact length. I then trim off at the ends after it has been well and truly stuck down.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
So with the pin stripe cut to length, we now have all the bodywork components ready to re-assemble.
But before you put it all back together, don't forget to re-drill those holes for the end grab handles and get em fitted.
So with the pin stripe cut to length, we now have all the bodywork components ready to re-assemble.
But before you put it all back together, don't forget to re-drill those holes for the end grab handles and get em fitted.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Remount the seating first, then replace the glass.
It will take a bit of brute force to ge tthe glass back in, with the additional paint layer (albeit thin in the window apertures) the windows are now a really tight fit, but don't panic they will go in.
Remount the seating first, then replace the glass.
It will take a bit of brute force to ge tthe glass back in, with the additional paint layer (albeit thin in the window apertures) the windows are now a really tight fit, but don't panic they will go in.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Mount the body back on the chassis, pop the glass back in the sliding doors (a wee blob of superglue on the tabs will help secure it), then simply drop the doors back into slots in the cabin floor.
Carefully remount the roof, taking care not to disturb the doors, et voila, it's a coach again.
and to save having to scroll back to the beginning of the thread for a comparison, here's how it look before it's make-over.
Mount the body back on the chassis, pop the glass back in the sliding doors (a wee blob of superglue on the tabs will help secure it), then simply drop the doors back into slots in the cabin floor.
Carefully remount the roof, taking care not to disturb the doors, et voila, it's a coach again.
and to save having to scroll back to the beginning of the thread for a comparison, here's how it look before it's make-over.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
So I've just covered the basic respray and a couple of easy add-ons to enhance both the look and running of the Amax/Newqida coach.
But there are a few other little tricks that you may want to have a go at (fitting handles to the sliding doors, adding interior lighting etc). Neil Robinson has done an excellent thread on these further enhancements which can be found here.
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=29828&high=chinese
I've now completed a rake of four of these with a fifth about to be made into a restaurant car (but that's another thread altogether).
When I've got the other three down from the loft I'll post up a piccy of the entire rake, but for now I hope you found this information useful folks, thanks for looking.
So I've just covered the basic respray and a couple of easy add-ons to enhance both the look and running of the Amax/Newqida coach.
But there are a few other little tricks that you may want to have a go at (fitting handles to the sliding doors, adding interior lighting etc). Neil Robinson has done an excellent thread on these further enhancements which can be found here.
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=29828&high=chinese
I've now completed a rake of four of these with a fifth about to be made into a restaurant car (but that's another thread altogether).
When I've got the other three down from the loft I'll post up a piccy of the entire rake, but for now I hope you found this information useful folks, thanks for looking.
Re:Enhancing Amex Coaches (or Newqida)
Great thread mate, and I've taken on board some of your tips....
Great thread mate, and I've taken on board some of your tips....