LGB starter set coach conversion

T

Tim Brien

Registered
Having a couple of 'useless' starter set coaches from thirty years ago, I decided on something a little more useful. I prefer six window coaches, so with a bit of cutting and gluing a more representative coach (or two) is achieved.

For gluing I prefer pvc plumber's priming fluid. This contains roughly 50/50 MEK and acetone and works a treat5 on LGB's difficult plastics.

A little more work required to complete.

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So Tim, your using just the PVC Primer? That's interesting and a good discovery.
Also, on a longer wheel base, with only two axles, I've had problems with derailments caused by not enough equalization. I gave up on long vehicles some time ago. Partly because of that factor but mostly because I like field types alittle more. My track work is about 7 or 8 on a scale of 1-10. However, if there are any little twists or dips in one rail, it would give me problems with the LGB 335 mm two axle wagons.
How do you find running the longer coaches?
 
Dan,
that is correct, just use the priming fluid. Check the contents and try to pick the one with the most percentage of MEK. You may still be able to purchase pure MEK but due health and safety reguloations difficult to source 100% MEK these days.

As regards long wheelbase no problem as I run ten foot diameter and trackwork is basically very good to excellent on an elevated platform.
 
A word of caution for those who may decide to dismantle older coaches. Previous experience reinforced by my recent disassembly indicates that one should be very wary when dismantling coaches that are predominantly white plastic.

The glue bond is stronger on white coaches and extreme care must be excercised when removing the windows and coloured window frames. On non-white coaches the bond is almost non-existent and windows generally fall out when the coach roof is removed.

On white coaches, even after many years, the window bond is generally as good as when first manufactured. Be careful as damage WILL generally occur to the window frames in particular when removing. You may be very lucky and get a coach with a weak bond.

Even when excercising extreme care I have generally suffered some damage (occasionally catastrophic) to both the window frames and the clear glazing on basic white coaches when dismantling.
 
excellent can not wait to see them finished (they would look lovely in brown and cream)
Graham Shrewsbury
 
Nice one Tim, I will be posting in the next week, an LGB HF130 diesel chassis conversion, 1, tank engine o/side cranks; and 2, diesel again o/side cranks; ....both chassis, the last of the 2006 LGB "belly up" sale. These were the last two I have, having converted two about three years ago. Alyn
 
Alyn,
looking forward to your rod coupled locomotives. I remember the steam version with very fond memories.

How I would have liked to have had a fat wallet at the 2006 cleanout in Nurnberg.
 
GJFREESTONE said:
........ (they would look lovely in brown and cream)
Graham Shrewsbury
Click to expand...

Graham,
while the GWR is my favourite "OO" scale mainline railway, the cars most likely will be dark green with brown window frames.
 
In my world there is only one green

Land rover deep bronze green tis flowing in my veins
 
LNER Apple Green?

I like the idea of the plumber's primer. LGB plastics have always been tricky. I've followed James (Hilton's) lead and used a good quality superglue up to now. I did find a couple of years ago when I was constructing something from plasticard when on holiday in France and couldn't lay hands on any adhesives that while pure acetone (from the supermarket) did work, it tended to make the plasticard brittle. Have you found any problem of that sort with this primer?

Rik
 
Rik,
while superglue does work to a degree, it has little shock resistance on plastics (particularly the LGB type).

It is MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) which is the preferred fluid for plastic welding, if available. The plumber's priming fluid gives a good bond and actually 'welds' the LGB plastic, although the effect on styrene is not as dramatic. It does work on styrene but I am not totally convinced as to the bond strength. I have seen no downside to using the priming fluid.
 
Coaches further progressed with underbody trussrods (I li9ke to fit trussrods to longer cars). Coaches are now at the paint shop stage, however, that will take some time. In the meanwhile here are some previous coach bashes all based on the simple two axle starter coach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QicL4kPOF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p3-iqQMZK0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y8bYJtRpIM

The diminuitive LGB starter set coach modifications are only limited by your imagination and your concept of reality.
 
Re:LGB starter set coach conversionhttp://www.forum.gscalecentral.net/post.aspx?mq=&messag

Great marriages of carriages! They do look good - and you would never know of their original form if you hadn't been informed. Clever work:thumbup:
 
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