Hi all
Has anyone else here built the GRS bubblecar. Just broke open the box today.. Any tips?
keith
Hi Keith
Please let me have a detailed account with plenty of hi res images for the newsletter. I hope it fits together better than some of the other kits mentioned on this forum recently!
Ian
Keith,
I have not built a Bubblecar but constructed the GRS Autocoach recently. My comments are based on the assumption that the Bubblecar is the same mediocre quality; hopefully I am wrong and it is much better.
My first step would be to carefully check the resin mouldings for warping or weak points. In my case, I had glued to body sides when my finger went through a weak point where the resin was only about two tenths of a millimetre thick. Get any such bad resin components replaced before you start.
Secondly, try and locate someone who has already built one to get their advice and assistance. The instructions I got were woefully inadequate, particularly for the bogies. Detail photos from someone who has built one will help alot.
Regards
Peter
I have to say, i built the bogies yestersday and they went together easily as described. The body seems good and thick, but I will check the thickness as suggested. Apart from the fact that the floor cutting diagram was for the flying banana the kit seems good and easy. Yes Ian I will go and take photographs and write it up for you!
The body is good and I am contemplating switching to this manufacturer for the mark 1 bodies?
R
Keith
The instructions are good, but the history parts are a little wrong, best to look at books to get the details correct.
Ive got a chassis built apart from buffer beams, and want to add brake blocks to the power blocks as not having them looks odd.
Iv'e had it on the back burner for ages as the paint job went wrong. I need to strip it right back but am unsure how to as my pastic paint stripper ( model strip) wont remove the car paint ive used. So make sure you prep the body well. ( sanding is not an option for me now with all the added detail).
Scrap the awfull whitemetal door handles for the GRS brass ones. Im looking at getting nice grab handles rather than using brass wire.
Their mmark 1 stock ( gone a bit quiet?) will be of very different construction.
haappy to show a few pics if you like?
Si
Hornbeam...
Luckily I now possess the design of the mark 1 stock and the brass grab handles door handles etc. Their roof ventilators work better than mine but.... I would not sand the body too soft.....
Where are you located Hornbeam....?
Keith
Im based in Reading.
Should have said the only light sanding I dis was to smooth the body down and get the roof prifile right. ;)
not too far, i pass there regualrly
add a picture of the bogie and driving desk assembled
and the body
Hi Hornbeam,
I agree about the brake blocks, I have a 3d printer arriving in a couple of weeks so I will draw up a model of them and print you and me off a set for the model at the end of september, message us your address sometime.
Any one else need a set? they will be in abs plastic. with the hangers
Keith
Keith that will be much appreciated. Looking good. If I recall the headcode box took quite a lot of work to become a snug fit. It's the one thing that, apart from the exhausts makes the difference between the class 121 and class 122 units.
will do...it did
Having with help from Allwight finished the Bubblecar in green, I acquired another bodyshell from GRS with the intention of converting it to a two car version of the 121 unit.
Firstly a clsoe up of the finished bubblecar
Having first used the existing bodyshell to cut the body floor to length, taking note to cut the driving end keeping the cab to the curved shape of the driving compartment and leaving the other sqaure but cut to length the body shell was marked up.
The Dremel was fired up and the cab cut off.. with trepidation!!! Succesfully done the end was left looking like Coopers Metals scrap yard in the late 80's...
Next the cut off end was drawn around and measured up on a grid. The measurements were then transfered to the computer and the test end shape drawn and sent to the printer.
I will post later the result of the test print.
For those not familiar with 3d printing here is the machine at work.
And the finished end
The side parts are created and printed.
And after some tiding up, the new end is attached and the first layer of filler awaits attention.
The altered body compared to the bubblecar on shed at Bristol...
Mark
Have you got any pictures of the unit taht you can post.. Keeps the thread complete then. I can then post the photos as I create the other carriage. (Due at mine by the weekend...)
Cheers Keith
Hi All
Well the third bubblecar shell has arrived. As the bits for the second half of the two car unit roll off the printer I have a question.
Can anyone driect me to a website that will give me the unit numbers for the DMU's as ran? I have pictures of a Plymouth pairing P469, can anyone tell me the side numbers for that unit?
Thanks.. pics to follow
Keith,
1986 ABC gives P469 as a three car BRCW Class 118 unit 51311;59480;51326 which I suspect is not what you require.
Cannot locate any earlier books at present.
John
John,
That is exactly what I require and the correct year! Does it say which unit is the DMBS?
Pint owed!
Happy Keith :) 8)
By the way, Mark, ifyou readthis I will order the numbers for the unit from Fox, this one please... Thanks mark John
W51311 DMBS Gangwayed
W59480 TS(L) Gangwayed....refurbished and downgraded TC(L )
W51326 DMS Gangwayed
John
Thanks John,
Well the replacement parts for the guards compartment to convert it to the DMS (Driving motor second) the previous conversion being the DMBS (Driving motor brake second) has started. End panel and first window below.
Hi Keith
Update on the DMBS. It is now in its top coat of Blue / Grey and the white primer is on in readiness for the all yellow end. The interior is all done with the exception of the one seat that you took away for a moulding copy. The bogie side frames are finished and painted. They will form the driving end bogie of the DMBS and the DMS coaches. The bogies in the second kit will complete the set on both coaches. The camera is charging up now so as soon as it is ready I will upload some piccies.
The model is painted with Halfords grey plastic primer and acrylic paints by railmatch for the blue/grey and yellow ends. The chassis and bogies has been sprayed with Halfords satin black. God bless Halfords!!!
For the white lining I will use the HMRS spirit fix general purpose white lining, the same type of lining as on The Royal Alex and your B set coaches.
Mark
As Mark completes the painting of the DMBS I have had an evening of DMU jenga stacking the printed sides for the conversion of my third GRS bubblecar kit to a DMS... First of a few pics below. End panel stuck to the sides and styrene rods inserted...
Further panels are inserted for the door and small window, large window and door... the bodyshell lurks in the background awaiting the cutting torch once the length of the addition is confirmed.
Well. A few more pictures are attached, the replacement sides which are made of a natural corn based material are stitched onto the GRS resin body using a well known brand of car body filler...
Further body filler is applied to smooth the joints and crevices...
and a few more of the panels
with pic
I look forward to painting it in BR Green Keith to match the other coach that I have painted.
Mark
errh ummm...... reggie rail livery?