Bachmann Baguley-Drewry 70hp - commissioning

The Bachmann Baguley-Drewry 70hp is a lovely model, and I wanted to use it on works trains for Hexworthy, but my wagons are all fitted with Microtrains couplings and the Bachmann models come with the standard 009 type coupling. I know the Bachmann EZ mate couplings can be swapped in, but while they'll couple to Microtrains, they don't work reliably in uncoupling. 

The large buffer blocks have a big square opening to clear the standard coupling, that is pretty close to the size of the Microtrains draft box which can be accomodated after a few strokes of a file. The model is supplied with alternate buffer blocks without the coupling hole, for which long coupling pins are provided, these look ideal to secure through the centre of the Microtrains draft box. 

However, the back of the coupling fouled against the coupling mount on the chassis block. Four screws release the body and skirt to reveal the chassis block, so I took a file to the coupling mount. It's now nearly flush with the block above, but while the centre screw socket has been flattened it is still intact, so the standard couplings could be refitted. 

The buffer blocks were clipped back in place with a smear of superglue as they pulled off slightly too easily, and would now have to take the strain of the coupling. The Microtrains coupling then fits in place, with a little superglue gel either side and on top (not near the moving parts), and the coupling pin inserted through the top of the block through the centre hole of the coupling. 

While the body was apart I fitted a driver from the Preiser truck drivers set, painted with added high-vis of course. A lever (gearbox?) needed trimming back as it fouled the seat such that no driver could sit there - it was that or amputate his left leg. 

While I didn't want a heavily weathered look, any working loco has a little dirt. I used water soluble oils to make a dark wash for the body, and a mid-brown wash for the frames. This is applied liberally, then a damp brush used to take off the excess - I spend longer removing it than applying it! This allows panels to be largely clean albeit slightly dulled, while emphasising shadows such as panel gaps and grilles. The airbrush was used to give a very light dusting of soot on the top (diesels produce soot too!) and track dust along the lower edges, similar to the coaches. 

Other detail painting included touching in the cab grab handles in black, and dry brushing a hint of rust and gunmetal over the edges of the buffer beam casting, corner steps, and cab steps. These help bring out the detail and provide signs of use. 

I'm pleased with the result, subtle from a distance but more realistic. 

The couplings work perfectly, and the loco looks great with the works trains, adding a splash of colour. 

It makes a good partner to the 90hp (Narrow Planet kit), noticeably shorter of course and with differing details (such as the side grilles), but clearly of the same family and the nicely detailed kit compares well to the RTR model. 

A Baguley and a pair of Bug Boxes

A few additions to the stock list today. A couple of Ffestiniog bug-boxes and a yellow Baguley Drewry. 

The bug boxes will of course go well with the England and Double Fairlie locos. The Baguley will probably end up on works trains, I don't really need another modern diesel but it is nicely detailed, looks great on the layout, the yellow pops out, and of course it runs sweetly. 

However, I was also drawn to it because of the one at Amberley, in which I had a cab ride a year or so back. 

My model will no doubt get some weathering to make it look like a well-worked loco, but I don't think I'll go as far as the "weathering" on the Amberley loco!

Linda

Waaay back in 1993 I remember attending the Festiniog "Hunslet Hundred" celebrations as a teenager. The elegant lines of the Penrhyn "Ladies" made an impression on me, especially Linda. When Bachmann launched their models of the locos in Penrhyn condition last year it was clearly just a matter of time until the modern 2-4-0ST+T incarnations arrived.

So when I heard they had arrived, exclusively, at the Ffestiniog Railway shop I scraped together my savings and ordered Linda. There is something rather rakish I think about her longer cab roof and open tender. 

As with other recent Bachmann models, the detail is exquisite, with Linda's open cab showing off the cab detail nicely (but crying out for a crew!), and the livery and finish is very fine. Of course, it runs as well as it looks. This will look great pulling trains into Hexworthy - although I expect some subtle weathering may be applied, and it will need a crew. 

As with the other models of these locos, there is a firebox glow. A nice touch. Really, the only thing I don't like is the plasticky full load of coal in the tender. Why does it always have to be full? 

Both my models of the Penrhyn ladies together. Comparing them, the addition of the pony truck to Linda is barely visible, but the tender and indeed the re-profiled cab roof are obvious. Look closely and there are other differences - the addition of sandboxes, blower pipe, lubricator, vacuum pipes, drain cocks, and a conversion to left-hand drive (note the obvious reversing rod on the left side of Linda, found on the right of Blanche). Bachmann appear to have done their homework. 

Blanche

For my birthday recently my wife got me a very nice present...

Blanche is a "mainline" class Hunslet 040ST from Penrhyn quarry, and this superb model is by Bachmann. It has a high level of fine detail, and a crisp finish including delicate lining. The prototype's outside frames and unusual inclined cylinders with con-rods inside the coupling rods give this model real character and elegance. 

The cab interior is detailed too, and if you look closely you can see a glow in the firebox, this provides a flickering light in the cab as the loco moves. There are also etched plates in the box to be be fitted. As with recent Bachmann models the running is every bit as good as the looks too, smooth and controllable down to a crawl, and being a little heavier than recent Bachmann offerings it should be quite capable. 

While I have pictured the loco on Loctern Quay, it's a little large (long overhangs) for Loctern and of course has the wrong couplings, I've found it difficult to fit Microtrains couplings to Bachmann locos. It will earn it's keep on Hexworthy in due course where it's fine lining will suit preservation era passenger trains. No doubt it will get some subtle weathering nonetheless, along with a crew of course. 

Comissioning Nesta

Encouraged by the reasonably successful fitment of the Microtrains coupling to the Baldwin, I decided to see if I could improve the method with Nesta. The problem I had on the Baldwin was that the upper part of the coupling had no recess for it's retaining pip, and so the coupling flopped to one side. A bit of packing made it kinda work, but what if I could create a recess for the pip? 

Here's what I tried. The 10-thou plastic shim fits up into the coupling pocket first, and has a recess that the coupling pip (reduced in height) fits into. The two parts of the coupling fit next around the pivot point (with the spring inside them), and finally a cut-down draft-box lid forms the bottom, held in place by the Bachmann screw. Unfortunately, in practice it doesn't seem to work well. For some reason the coupling doesn't seem to self-centre, and yet it is too stiff to react to the magnet. In fact, it doesn't work as well as the compromised Baldwin coupling. I may have to try a mk3 approach, if I can think of one. 

Nonetheless I have treated Nesta to some finishing. While a delightful model it is too clean and shiny, and looked toy-like. While I had the paints out for the Baldwin I gave it a well-thinned dark grey wash, wiped off the panels, which makes a barely discernable difference to the colour but tones it down and gives and oily rag clean look. This almost ended in disaster as the enamel thinners started to lift the lining on the cabside, fortunately I recovered it and stopped quickly - I had done enough anyway. I will have to think of an alternative weathering approach for RTR locos! A light dusting with weathering powders and a coat of Dullcote matt varnish (with the motion masked off) completed the job, hopefully giving the feel of a well kept but working loco. 

The supplied name and works plates were then stuck in place with a smear of matt modge podge on the back, a little real coal dust stuck onto the fake stuff in the bunker, and the fire iron and shovel attached. The crew are by Modelu specifically for this model, and were painted at the same time as the Baldwin crew (and some other figures). They are delightfully detailed, and really suit the loco. I should have done a trial fitment before painting though as the driver needed lipo-suction to his buttocks before he could sit comfortably on the back sheet! 

If I can get the Microtrains coupling to work reliably it could see service on Loctern Quay, otherwise I may have to revert to the standard coupling and use it for passenger trains on Hexworthy. 

Quarry Hunslets

 A few years ago - I've forgotten how many - Bachmann announced they would be making models of the little Hunslet saddle tanks that once worked the slate quarries of Wales, and many of which survive working on preserved lines around the UK. Of course, I wanted one, but the wait has been a long one. In the meantime other models have come - The Ffestiniog England, and Bachmann's own Double Fairlie - but the quarry Hunslets were still elusive. I even put some money aside following the sale of Awngate. Then a couple of weeks ago there were sightings of the first - Britomart must have got the faster boat from China, along with some surprise larger Penrhyn/Ffestiniog Hunslets. Finally, yesterday I saw Gaugemaster had some in stock, so today I went over to have a look. You see, I really couldn't decide between the more practical cabbed version, or the appealingly detailed cabless version...

...so I ended up getting one of each. For me, this is rather extravagant, but they are lovely and will look nice on any 009 layout. 

Dorothea has a cab making her more practical for preservation use, and in green will match many of my other locos, although the ones I built are not beautifully lined like this. The prototype now works on the Launceston railway, not so far from Hexworthy. 

Nesta is without cab, showing off the delightful detail of the back-head, and looks rather distinctive in lined Penrhyn black. The prototype Nesta works on the Bala Lake Railway. 

There is a seam along the cylinders, the couplings could do with replacing with something more discreet, and some gentle weathering would add to the realism (don't worry, they will stay pretty clean), but otherwise they look great and run well too.

A Fairlie good Christmas

The release of the ready-to-run Double Fairlie by Bachmann just a couple of months ago took 009 modellers by surprise. I built a Langley kit in my teens though it no longer works too well, and compared to the Bachmann model it looks rather crude. The Ffestiniog Railway is a long favourite of mine, and so a Fairlie had to be on my Christmas list! The model is superb, highly detailed with a fine paint finish, and I'm sure it will look good pulling a train into Hexworthy, even if it isn't in Wales...

As well as the Fairlie, I was given a rake of Peco skip wagons for Christmas, and another item of rolling stock...

A fine model of a 6-wheel brake coach by Hornby. OK, I might not have a layout I can actually run this on, since it is standard gauge, but I do have a collection of industrial locos so I will have to build one someday, won't I?

The coach even has lighting - wave the magnet block over the roof to turn them on and off, very neat. There is some light bleed through the plastic sides, I'm sure a little paint over the inside will fix that when I get around to fitting passengers. 

My modelling output has been pretty slow this year (OK, almost non-existent) but perhaps next year will be more productive? 

Buckeye couplings for the Bachmann Baldwin

I recently picked up a Bachmann WD Baldwin which should be a useful loco, but I need to fit couplings to match the Microtrains "buckeye" type I use on most of my 009 fleet. Unfortunately Microtrains don't make a version to fit the NEM coupler pockets fitted to this loco. I had hoped to remove the couplings and fit standard Microtrains into the recess, but I found the recess was about 1 mm too narrow for the Microtrains draft box, and the shaft in the centre too large to pass through the coupling. As this part of the loco is cast metal and close to the chassis I couldn't see how to open it up without risking damage.

I did some searching. Dapol "Easi-shunt" buckeye couplings fit NEM sockets, however they are quite pricey, and from what I have read online they are not compatible with Microtrains. Bachmann make their own "EZ-mate" N-gauge buckeye coupling for the US market, and although there is no NEM version, from pictures it looked like the mounting was very similar to that used for the NEM bracket in the Baldwin loco. As they were reasonably priced I ordered some to try (type 78503).

Comparing the "EZ-Mate" buckeye above to the coupling removed from the Baldwin the pivot with "whisker" springs appears very similar. So on to fitting to the loco...

The guard-rail is removed from the front and rear with the tiny screw, which also frees the coupling. One of the guard rails appeared to have stuck in place (paint?), a little work with a knife and gentle leverage freed it. The EZ-mate coupling then just replaces the coupling and the guard rail and screw replaced.

However, the trip pin fouls the track, and the coupling droops - it is too free to move vertically.

So to restrict vertical movement a piece of plasticard was cut to fit the coupling recess with a 2 mm hole to clear the pivot shaft, and acts as a spacer or washer to support the coupling. The photo shows the rear coupling, and you can see graphite powder (Kadee lubricant) to help free movement. Once assembled the height of the trip pin was checked - is should just clear a piece of 10-thou plastic placed on the track. It was still a little low so the trip pin was pushed up through the coupling by about 1 mm. 

As you can see the result is couplings that match the height I set the Microtrains at (which I think is about 1 mm lower than they should be for US N-gauge), and despite a slightly different design, couples up with them and look similar. Coupling seems quite reliable, uncoupling is a little less so as the Bachmann coupling seems more reluctant to swing over a magnet than the Microtrains. I've tried to ensure they are free to swing, and if the spring is any more slack they wouldn't centre, so I'm not sure why. However testing suggests they work reasonably well. The delayed action is rather hit and miss as even if they uncouple, the Bachmann EZ-mate often doesn't swing far enough to not re-couple.

So maybe this won't work for reliable delayed action shunting, but the conversion to couplings that are compatible with the Microtrains was relatively easy and didn't involve any non-reversible changes to the loco. Assuming other Bachmann 009 stock uses the same coupling mounting, I should be able to use the same EZ-mate couplings for easy conversion of those too.

Bachmann Baldwin

This is an excellent time for 009, with several ready-to-run models now available, including locos from Heljan and Bachmann as well as several suitable Minitrains locos. I got a Heljan Manning Wardle because of my early narrow gauge inspiration - the Craig and Mertonford, and because they are elegant locos. The WD Baldwin is, on the other hand, not a pretty loco, and maybe I'm shallow when it comes to choosing my NG locos, but it is a versatile choice for a model - hundreds of these locos were built and they ended up on many railways around Britain, and indeed the rest of the world too. So actually on a freelance narrow gauge line a Baldwin will look at home, but the Manning Wardle will forever be associated with the Lynton and Barnstaple.

So when I spotted Rails of Sheffield were selling the Bachmann model at a bargain price I thought it would be rude not to get one. This is the Welsh Highland Railway version, in plain black. It looks very finely detailed, cleverly designed with daylight visible under the boiler, and blackened valve gear (hurrah!). It runs well too, though not as smoothly as the Heljan - I suspect the coreless motor doesn't like my controllers - but it does stay on the track which is more than can be said for the Heljan loco out of the box!

Since I'm not modelling the WHR I'll loose the "590" on the side (any suggestions how to get it off?), finishing as a generic black loco - perhaps with a nameplate - will mean it will look at home on any model set from the 1920's onward. I'll probably dull down the black a little, it looks a bit plasticky to me, but  only lightly weathered to serve as a preserved loco on Hexworthy, while still passing for an industrial loco if I need it to. At least that's the plan. It won't be easy to paint though with all that detail, and no apparent way to separate the chassis, so might need some thought first.