Scratch building a center balcony carriage

[Paulus]

The thee point suspension as discussed in this thread formed a nice base to begin with for scratch-building a new carriage for my railway. The idea is a freestyle center balcony carriage as I liked the bit different design of these carriages. I don't have any detailed building drawings so I used imagination, sketches and pictures of similar carriages to form an idea. An LGB carriage was used a bit as guideline and comparison (for instance the width and height of the coach, the coach bottom height, buffer height etc.) so it would fit in nicely with the existing stock.

First I drew the parts on polystyrene sheet (0,5 mm) and cut these to size. Than I glued the sheet on 2mm balsa with contact glue and than cut the balsa following the polystyrene part. Most of the planking was scraped in the polystyrene using an old but sharp little electronica screwdriver. At some points I used strips. Perhaps it was more neatly if I had uses Evergreen siding sheets for it as the scraped in planks are not all equal. But than again it is not very noticeable and it gives a good appearance.










And this is how far I came with the build. It will be for some weeks until I can continue again on it. Time... I need more of it ;-)

 

[Rhinochugger]

Very nice - I think you might have beaten David to it

 

[Paulus]

Today I widened the balcony from 4 to 5 cm. This looks better and the little passengers have more room on the balcony while entering or leaving the train Also the sides of both compartments are basically finished and the two compartments were glued in place on the chassis.

Next step were the buffers. I used the ones from the left over Playmobil chassis were I had snatched of the trucks. Drilled two holes in the hollow part of the buffer (don't know the correct term... buffer support perhaps?). One hole on the back for a screw to attach it to the bufferbar/chassis and one on top for the hook for the chain. Bufferbar was made form 2mm balsa covered with a sheet of polystyrene. It will get some more details later.

The bufferbar is made to slide in a groove between the chassis and the top side siding. This way the bar is not only very sturdy but it give me the possibility to adjust the bar somewhat in height to align it more easily with the buffer height of the LGB carriage. Once in good position the bar is glued in place.

The bar in place. You can see I made some extra re-enforcement with some pieces of balsa.

Alignment with LGB car:

And this is how it looks so far (without the hook...)

 

[MRail]

Following similar sentiments, here's my recent variation on the end balcony theme.
Two Toy Train coaches joined at the balcony end for a change.
The right-hand roof section is a previous bodge in plasticard.

 

[Paulus]

Following similar sentiments, here's my recent variation on the end balcony theme.
Two Toy Train coaches joined at the balcony end for a change.
The right-hand roof section is a previous bodge in plasticard.
View attachment 257346

That is indeed a very nice bash of two ToyTrain cars! Love it!
What paint did you use?

 

[Madman]

I like it.....

 

[David1226]

Following similar sentiments, here's my recent variation on the end balcony theme.
Two Toy Train coaches joined at the balcony end for a change.
The right-hand roof section is a previous bodge in plasticard.
View attachment 257346

You have stolen my thunder, this is virtually identical to my current project although there will be a few subtle differences. I thought I was going to be the first to come up with this idea. Nice one.

David

 

[MRail]

Sorry guys!

I have several variations on this theme, usually with end balconies.

210 is the first, probably only, centre entrance version.
Paint has been green, now in course of change to burgundy red.
210 is actually Haf**ds Rover Damask Red.

 

[Bill Barnwell]

Following similar sentiments, here's my recent variation on the end balcony theme.
Two Toy Train coaches joined at the balcony end for a change.
The right-hand roof section is a previous bodge in plasticard.
View attachment 257346

Very nice

 

[MRail]

David,

I confess to nicking the window vent idea from Claptowte cars.
Not sure I'll do any more.

 

[Paulus]

210 is actually Haf**ds Rover Damask Red.

Thanks! ;-)
I am not sure yet to make the carriage red or red/creme or just green. Actually I like the color of the LGB car I use as guidance (you can see it on the pictures); I had once repainted this car with Tamiya paint but I forgot what green it was (I think Forrest Green but could be Dark Green or one of the other 20+ greens they have...). But I like the red color on your carriage as well... Ahgr... decisions... decisions...

 

[Paul M]

But I like the red color on your carriage as well... Ahgr... decisions... decisions...

Ask your wife, she'll tell you exactly what your decision is

 

[PhilP]

Thanks! ;-)
I am not sure yet to make the carriage red or red/creme or just green. Actually I like the color of the LGB car I use as guidance (you can see it on the pictures); I had once repainted this car with Tamiya paint but I forgot what green it was (I think Forrest Green but could be Dark Green or one of the other 20+ greens they have...). But I like the red color on your carriage as well... Ahgr... decisions... decisions...

You could always make TWO rakes of vehicles?
One Green.. One Red..

 

[Paulus]

Ask your wife, she'll tell you exactly what your decision is

That is an universal thing isn't it?
But I am afraid she might say purple....

You could always make TWO rakes of vehicles?
One Green.. One Red..

Now that is good thinking!!

 

[Paulus]

Working on the roof... Made a "base" from 2 mm thick balsa sheet. Sribed some grooves in it with a screwdriver to make it bend more easily following the top of the carriage. Used some paper tape to hold it in place (it is not glued on top of the carriage, it has to be removable).

Than I glued two sheets of 1 mm thick balsa on top of it. Hopefully this sandwich will keep in shape when the glue has dried. More details and pictures can be found on my blog.

 

[Paulus]

Hopefully this sandwich will keep in shape when the glue has dried.

And it did! After the glue had dried completely I removed the tape and the roof stayed perfectly in shape. And it is pretty strong too!
Next step will be placing some spacers / supports to keep the roof in the right place. I had draw some lines following the inside walls with a pen through the window openings...) as markers for these supports.

Henry seems rather glad with it also though he keeps asking me for some hands for years now...

 

[Riograndad]

Yes I like it

 

[David1226]

I have just finished my own centre balcony coach made from two LGB Toy Train 4-wheel coaches joined together in the same manner as MRail's coach. You can click on the link to see how I constructed mine.

Claptowte Railway – Passenger Coach Coach No 15, Observation - G Scale Central




David

 

[MRail]

Nice one David. Far more intricately detailed than my basic effort.

 

[Paulus]

Did some color testing to choose the right green. I'll go for the left below color; flat green from Tamiya (XF5).
The color on the chassis / buffer is actually normal acrylic paint I used for my kitchen. It's RAL 8022 (blackbrown) and it gives the black a bit of a very subtle brown-rusty haze somehow. I like the result and I think I will do the whole chassis and see how it will look.

Actually I used the same paint as sort of base/primer for the roof. I did plan to spray rattlecan primer before painting but it is too cold outside and in my garage to spray and I don't want to wait until the temperature rises above 15 degrees Celcius again...