Bachmann baggage car bash

[yb281]

I recently bought one of the Bachmann Li'l Big Hauler short line baggage cars from Steve @ Back2Bay6. These models are aimed very much at the toy train end of the market, but at first glance looked like an ideal cheap donor for a bash into something a little more suitable for the WGLR.

IMO anything that manufacturers can do to encourage youngsters into our hobby must be good for the future and this range allows for a complete train to be assembled for around the £100 mark. The only thing I'd really question is that the couplings will not work with any of the leading manufacturers ............ including Bachmann!!! Even their Thomas range don't have this problem, each model even coming with a pair of adaptors to get the couplings to normal height. Not doing the same with the Li'l Big Hauler range seems a bit daft to me?

Anyhoo, on with the bash (part 1).
The car is easily taken apart via simple clips, so you don't even need a screwdriver!! (other than for dumping those silly couplings). Even the bare chassis is a good, cheap basis for a scratch built body?

The method of mounting the roof to the body seems a bit over complicated and simpler moulding would have helped us bashers. Removing it leaves a sunken ridge pretty much right around the top of the body moulding. I filled this with some suitable plastic card. This was sanded to match the body at the corners prior to painting. The Shortline logo was also rubbed down.

The body in (Halfords) primer in my extensive painting booth.

Have to wait for the paint to harden before the next steps .............. more soon.

 

[whatlep]

I knew you wouldn't be able to resist starting on that if it rained today! Definitely a wise investment at B2B6 and Steve still has some left (or did yesterday).

 

[yb281]

OK, onwards and upwards with those awful couplings. I've found that there is a simple solution - the adaptor pieces supplied with the Thomas wagons for lowering the couplings fit these wagons too, resulting in the ability to attach whichever hook and loop couplings that happen to be to hand (in this case they're Piko). It ain't pretty and a better solution will be investigated, but at least it allowed gauging trials to begin. It also means that you could fit the Thomas couplings if you wanted to add some of this stock to the kid's/grandkid's Thomas train.

You'll have noticed that the wagon is now matt black, a clue that it will be entering departmental stock on the WGLR. Running trials went without a hitch, although shortening those couplings will help (especially around my reverse R1 section and when marshalled in the middle of a train) as will metal wheels and maybe adding a little extra weight (there's bags of room for some lead either on the load bed or under the chassis............ yes Peter, I've got some, thanks).

Most obvious next job on the list is to fabricate a new roof.

 

[yb281]

Well, this is going well?

Never mind, onwards, ever onwards. Fiddling with the couplings last night (it's what Saturday nights are for at my age) I found that Bachmann had very conveniently provided a hole in the chassis which lined up nicely with the Thomas lowering bracket and left the couplings in a much less obtrusive position. This set up needed some longer screws and much packing with little pieces of plasticard, but it all turned out right in the end.

Moving the couplings to a better position left a big slice missing out of the end beams, but this was plated over with more plasticard.

Yet more testing was required of course. You might also notice that some lettering has appeared giving away the wagons new role (engineers dept. tool van). The handrails have also been painted. There's also a big lump of lead on the floor when this shot was taken and running qualities were faultless.

As I type this, the glue is setting on the glazing and a sheet of lead has been Araldited under the chassis. I haven't got enough suitable plasticard to make the roof until I can get into town this week, but that's about all that's left to do ........... other than an appointment with the airbrush.

 

[steven large]

very nice looking>>

 

[yb281]

very nice looking>>

Thanks Steven.

 

[yb281]

Managed to get to the model shop today (during the tip run) and got the plasticard for the new roof. Here's my favourite way for making curved van roofs .................. curved roofs that is, not curved vans.

Anyhoo, start off with a sheet of thick plasticard (this is 40 thou), cut it to size and mark off 5mm lines down it's length. Then score these lines. DON'T cut right through, just a score - 3 passes with the Stanley knife down each line was enough in this case. Something magic now happens - the plastic curls just the way you want it to for the roof. These scored lines will also show through to look like the planking from which such roofs used to be made. The already curved roof can now be stuck to the body. Often there is just the top of the body to glue it to, but in this case, there's plenty due to Bachmann's body design. Leave clamped for an hour for the glue to set.

Now take a sheet of thinner plasticard and cut it exactly the same length as the first piece, but slightly wider to take into account the curve and a little over-hang. Apply plenty of glue to the first piece, especially around the edges and stick the second (thinner) one to it carefully. I had to use 20 thou for this, but 10 thou would be better as this would allow the "planking" to appear through it. Plenty of clamps and leave for an hour at least. You may notice that new profiles have been glued to the ends of the roof, cut using the end of the cab as a template.

And here we have the finished roof. As the afternoon pick-up goods already had an engineers dept. wagon to be dropped off at Gooey depot., the tool van was added for yet more testing.

Only job now remaining is to paint the roof and a little light weathering of the chassis.

 

[Catandsouth]

That's very pretty, Mel. Like that!

When you "use lots of glue" to bond the 10 or 20 thou styrene to the under-roof, how do you ensure the glue doesn't affect the thinner layer? I suppose I'm asking what sort of glue do you use?

 

[yb281]

That's very pretty, Mel. Like that!

When you "use lots of glue" to bond the 10 or 20 thou styrene to the under-roof, how do you ensure the glue doesn't affect the thinner layer? I suppose I'm asking what sort of glue do you use?

Yes, you do have to be careful not to use so much that you melt the top layer. I use Revell Contacta liquid poly cement, but the secret is to leave it for a minute or two to go tacky before adding the thin plasticard. These means it'll still stick, but isn't quite so "aggressive".

 

[hornbeam]

Looking good! I have no idea why Bachmann changed the coupling heights on these, or at least not supply the adaptors with them. As you say a steal for the money!

 

[beavercreek]

Excellent bash Mel. It is real transformation.

 

[stockers]

Very neat bit of work Mel. I like that.

 

[whatlep]

Transformed in under a week! Nice job.

 

[yb281]

Thanks guys.

Pretty much finished now. I tried to replicate a fabric covering to the roof by brush painting it with quite thick matt enamels, first brushing lengthways and, when that had dried, brushing crossways. This worked quite well, although it doesn't really show in the photos. Talking of which, the airbrushed weathering looks a bit more obvious and "blotchey" in these pics than it does in reality. Maybe down to the strong sunlight - still, musn't grumble about the current weather eh? :love: I've included the original pic just to show the contrast.

Here the tool van is seen at the head of an engineer's train passing through Cockshutt.

In conclusion, these wagons are remarkable value for money (similar price to a OO wagon), but they do need some work if you want something that looks half decent. The amount of work you could put in is pretty much endless, I could have sliced some of the moulded handrails off and made "proper" new ones for instance. They represent excellent starter models for anyone just getting into the hobby, but I still say that producing them with incompatible couplings was a pretty daft thing to do. Will I be buying another? Not sure ............ although the voices in my head keep saying "mess coach".

 

[garrymartin]

A super job there Mel also the roofing tip will no doubt prove useful for many of us !

 

[playmofire]

Great piece of customising.

 

[steven large]

tht is awesome....:love:

by the way where did u get the turnable round base for spraying it?

 

[yb281]

tht is awesome....:love:

by the way where did u get the turnable round base for spraying it?

Thanks Steve. I got the turntable from a show years ago (Welshpool if I remember rightly), but I'm afraid I've got no idea who was selling them. I'm fairly sure it was one of the tool supply firms though? Goodness knows how many coats of paint it's got on it.

 

[nygma]

Very nice transformation. Amazing how the paint job and the new roof got rid of the toy-like look.

 

[Old Tom]

Excellent I rather like the way you made the roof.... very clever stuff!