I finally got around to finishing this MOC after several months. It was a somewhat tricky build, in particular the front end. I had to resort to wing elements to render the livery stripes--I'm not too thrilled with the exposed studs on the side--but they did prove useful to mount a "tiled" window. The Class 442 replaced the 4-REP and 4-TC units on the London to Bournemouth services including the newly electrified extension to Weymouth. The "Wessex Electrics" were based on BR Mk III coaches and introduced air-conditioned comfort for the first time on SR mainline electric services. The Class 442 is a 5 coach set--this MOC is the DTS (Driver Trailer Second) unit at each end.
I decided to tidy up the previous Class 442 MOC (rendered in NSE livery) based on some good suggestions such as implementing the tumblehome with round slopes rather than inverted slopes. I also revised the front cowling, add roof pods, and built more coaches. The NSE livery strictly speaking has a light gray application below the bottom red stripe (as shown in my previous MOC). Something about it did not look right. Also, most of the photos I've seen usually show the light gray totally washed out and indistinguishable from white. Therefore, I converted all the light gray to white and I think it looks far better for it. I thought I'd have a go at implementing a 3rd live rail. It is suspended on isolating "pots" spaced at the requisite "every 4th sleeper/tie" interval. An experimental "repaint" into Southwest Trains livery also appears here: www.flickr.com/photos/10063611@N06/8445098252/in/set-7215... The original version can be found here... www.flickr.com/photos/10063611@N06/8379173060/in/photostream
Hmmm. I think I have some work to do....
The next coach off of the production line is the BR Mk 1 BG. The BG (or Brake Gangwayed) coach was typically used to carry parcels, luggage, newspapers, etc. as part of a passenger train consist. This build pretty much follows the rest of the Mk 1's built to date. However, all of them include the following improvements (including this one): 1) New bogies - all bogies have been rebuilt with the 4x6 bogie plates removed. A recessed technic pin now attaches the bogie to the under frame. The studs of the wheel set assembly rest on tiles on the under frame bottom. The overall effect is to lower the coach by about 1 plate. This really improves the look and was well worth the effort in rebuilding all bogies and under frames for 6x coaches! 2) New under frames - to accommodate the new bogies and lower the coach height, the under frames have been completely redesigned and rebuilt. Also, the truss rodding is improved with the use of whip antenna parts and bar/clip elements. 3) Closer coupling - when I brought some of these coaches to STEAM 2014, it was clear the coupling distance was too big when compared to Carl Greatrix's coach rakes. I brought the couplers back when rebuilding the bogies and now adjacent coupling distances are much better. Decals are a combination of Fox and HMRS products both of the waterside and press-fix type. One last detail specific to this model is the bogies have been built to depict an upgrade to BR B4 coach bogies from Commonwealth bogies. The main springs are depicted in red as they would have appeared ex-works (factory fresh). The rest of my Mk 1 coaches depict standard commonwealth types.
This is really more of an experiment with the 2x4 x 2/3 slopes for carriage shape. I've covered them in dark blue vinyl to show what potential they have in the right colours. This shape coach could now be made in the EN colours of brown and tan as the parts are now out in brown :) I've also made this since with working opening doors.
In delicious 7-wide. Also an experiment with focus stacking.
The HST was my first “serious” Lego train MOC; I had built various generic locomotives as well as TLG sets. I started with the nose since it was the most challenging shape to capture. I liberally used 1x1 “cheese” slopes, SNOT, and half-brick offsets in order to render the HST’s distinctive tapered shape. At this time I had decided to make the HST a “7-wide” design. Different Lego train MOC builders whose work I admire a great deal, work in 6, 7, and 8 wide “scales”. Seven wide represents a good compromise between prototype scale and undersized. It represents a bigger challenge from a build point of view due to the scarcity of odd numbered plates and bricks. However, the extra stud in the middle makes a big difference in terms of fitting extra detail. I then turned my attention to the diagonal blue stripe on the side which cleverly disguises the body-height vents and provides a transition from the BR blue from bottom to top. Cheese slopes were used in both upright and inverted configurations to maximize the stripe extent.
Based rather loosely on the British Railways mk 1. Here it is in a chocolate and cream livery.
This is really more of an experiment with the 2x4 x 2/3 slopes for carriage shape. I've covered them in dark blue vinyl to show what potential they have in the right colours. This shape coach could now be made in the EN colours of brown and tan as the parts are now out in brown :) I've also made this since with working opening doors.
This is really more of an experiment with the 2x4 x 2/3 slopes for carriage shape. I've covered them in dark blue vinyl to show what potential they have in the right colours. This shape coach could now be made in the EN colours of brown and tan as the parts are now out in brown :) I've also made this since with working opening doors.
