RTM AB 414 / AB 417 teak wood coaches

[Henri]

To give my steam tram something to tow around, I have planned the build of coach AB414 and AB417. These were originally build by Allen in 1913 in Rotterdam for the MaasBuurtspoorweg and was put in duty at the RTM in 1946. The AB414, weighting 12,7 ton with a length of 14,1 meters it had 14 1st class and 29 second class seats, with 12 people standing in the balconies.

The coaches are still around today and can be seen at the RTM Museum in Ouddorp, the Netherlands.

14,1 meters would scale down to 62,6 cm which is too long for my R1 layout. A simple trick will get them to over just 50 cm in lenght.

The photos are copyright RTM Museum.

 

[musket the dog]

A very smart looking coach, it will look fantastic behind your steam tram and I'm sure you will do a great job recreating it. Eyeing up the Bachmann Jackson Sharp coach in the bashing pile on my desk, it looks like it would be possible to modify one into something similar.

 

[Henri]

Yes, also the LGB 'western' coaches look very similar to this design. A few windows too many and a sloped roof, but other than that, good base material.
Nevertheless I want to build them all myself ;-) Just for the sheer fun of building it myself!

Thanks for your kind words!

 

[dunnyrail]

I see your LGB elastic ruler will be in full use on the length of these 2 coaches Henri and why not for your modest sized layout.

 

[Henri]

Hehehe :-D

 

[Henri]

The more I am working on the preparation of this project, the bigger it gets... My usual way of building things is doing something and think about the next step. These coaches need much more preparation beforehand, taking care of limited access when things are put together, thickness of wood and plexiglas used to maintain correct outer dimensions, getting the right size timber (4 mm wide planks on the sides, I have found them!) et cetera.

My trustfull cat Dopey just gotta take a nap...

 

[dunnyrail]

The more I am working on the preparation of this project, the bigger it gets... My usual way of building things is doing something and think about the next step. These coaches need much more preparation beforehand, taking care of limited access when things are put together, thickness of wood and plexiglas used to maintain correct outer dimensions, getting the right size timber (4 mm wide planks on the sides, I have found them!) et cetera.

My trustfull cat Dopey just gotta take a nap...

View attachment 260275

View attachment 260274

Looks like he/she is cat tired after helping out.

 

[Henri]

While I’m still calculating the amount and sizes of wood to use, my dad is unstoppable. The bogies are finished. Of course they will get metal wheels and a horizontal strip to connect both sides. I think these were used to prevent things to be run over?

I’m happy with the result!

 

[mike]

Looking forward to seeing it progressing

 

[PhilP]

Look's like you have a proper production-line there, Henri!

 

[Henri]

So an update is required here. After finishing the RTM wagons work on the coaches has slowly started again. I already posted in the workbench thread the progress on the plexiglass sidewalls, but to keep this thread up to date, here is the pic again.



Next up was to proof myself my idea with small wooden planks would work. I went through all my model timber and selected a bunch for the side paneling.
They are colored ‘teak’ two layers now, third coat will be when assembled. And maybe a gloss or satin clear coat, not sure yet.
I cut a sheet of 1 mm styrene on which I glued all planks, so I’m not messing up the plexiglass with the superglue (white haze). I can apply the panel in one go.

 

[dunnyrail]

If you can I think it may pay you to complete the colour stain before you attach to the plexiglass, may save tears later.

 

[Henri]

I’m still in doubt and thinking over my options. The use of styrene to build panels in one go was also invented just a few days ago. Maybe I can figure out a way to make all sides based on thin styrene as base for all the tiny planks. It makes working so much cleaner!

 

[Gizzy]

Mizzy and i visited the RTM museum in April 2015 when we stayed in Hellevoetsluis, but unfortunately it was closed. Same for Goes further south.

We will have to revisit again one day maybe in the summer....

 

[Henri]

More progress. Again, lotsa work to get it just right. And each new project needs of course at least 100 new techniques to try... Why am I so complicated..? Is there a shrink in the room??


Cutting



Glueing


Result. 2 done, 4 to go.



3, 4 and 5 mm wide. New batch for the balconies.

 

[Paul M]

Why am I so complicated..? Is there a shrink in the room??

It's to give us inspiration

 

[PhilP]

Henri, if you want to 'get rid' of some of your complication (skill).. Can I use it, please?

PhilP.

 

[Henri]

Henri, if you want to 'get rid' of some of your complication (skill).. Can I use it, please?

PhilP.

You call it skill, I call it a ‘what if I...’ mindset...
Thanks for the kind compliments guys!

 

[Henri]

Wohooo