Polishing the rough…

Sometimes a rough model can be worth some love. When this Dapol Pannier arrived it wasn’t a terrible running example but it was a little lumpy, noisy and intermittent…

Several hours of rebuild and running in later and it’s almost as good as a Farish (!) out of the box. In this instance I’ve enjoyed the process - but as I said originally, I shouldn’t have too…

So now she runs well I am allowing myself to gently improve some of the detail. The etched plates are quite thick edged so these have been selected for changing - the only other glaring problem is the buffers!

Out of the box they’re fragile - the plastic heads wanting to snap at the merest glance. I noticed the prototype weren’t a million miles from those in an 08 and I had a couple of spares in the parts box… to make a complete set I upgraded the buffers on another model to represent the pneumatic Oleo type fitted to the prototype.

Post transformation and a lick of paint. She’s no diamond but perhaps a cubic zirconia?!

This photo from Rails shows the buffers as supplied. Thick, coarse and round edged.

Before paint, the Farish 08 buffers show their heritage. The 08 has a set of West Coast Models white metal Oleo buffers turned down a touch to reduce diameter and fitted to represent the Oleo fitted to some prototypes including 791.

This work wasn’t difficult but has transformed two models. Next up for the Pannier? More running in, then couplings and weathering… the 08, some shunting on Paxton Road! Until next time, more soon…

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