First, the Footbridge:
Introduced in 1958 by Airfix, the tool was sold to Dapol in 1985. This kit is old and crude with many ejector pin marks. I think that the girders are overly thick, but considering the age of the kit, would be moulded much finer if a new tool were to be made. Before commencing the builder must decide upon the geography that the bridge must follow to fit on the layout. That said, construction is simple. Care must be taken to clean up each part before introducing it to its partner, and if this is done assembly is trouble free.
After consultation with Beany, this configuration was settled upon.
Next, a paint job.
Up next is a Park Royal Railbus.
I just happen to be looking back through RAILWAY IMAGES AROUND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE by Richard Coleman and Joe Rajczonek (ISBN 0-9518557-1-9), and plate 65 shows M79973 at Piddington.
So close to the serial on the decal sheet - M79971
This kit was originated by Airfix in 1960 and the tool was sold to Dapol in 1985. The kit was a gift and had been started.
The expanse of windows exposed the bareness of the interior and I decided it needed fittings added. A search of the internet revealed that Branchlines made a rather expensive, photo-etched interior, and while this looked very nice, it’s not a medium I enjoy working in; I have three kits to build so the expense is also prohibitive; and it was not clear whether the company is still trading. With this in mind I set about scratch-building three interiors in tandem.
The floor plan is 30mm x 159mm with tapered corners and slots cut out at the mid-point to facilitate the ‘working’ sliding doors.
The driver’s cabs are 22mm in height. The rear wall is 15mm long with a window 10mm above floor level to 20mm in height leaving a pillar at the edge adjoining the side wall, which has the same dimensions. The pillar on the side wall represents the doorway and is positioned 6mm from the windscreen. The pillar itself is 4mm thick. The seats are 6mm wide with the double seats at 9mm long and the bench seats at 14mm long. These are supported on strips of plastic card 4mm wide and finished with a 7mm high back.
The driver’s seat has a back that is 14mm high and 6mm wide, a 4mm support at the front and 6mm seat. The desk is 4mm wide and 12mm long with a 4mm wide and 8mm high support. All these pieces were cut from 20 thou plastic sheet. I did consider adding a DSD plate to the floor but decided this was taking things too far.
