Converted Minicraft Vulcan passenger train kit

[Michi]

I used to buy a rather nice plastic train kit from LAF member Comsquare some time ago and have it finished now (well, the carriages that are):


Second class carriage with leather upholstered benches:


Third class carriage with wooden benches:


Third class/ baggage combined carriage with wooden benches and separate baggage compartment with sliding doors:


The combined second/third class passenger train for some rural branch line in Scotland (hence the blue and white livery...):


State of the art lighting technology by end of 19th century was gaslight. I simulated that by electric bulbs though:


I wonder whether I am ever going to play a game in the dark with that train, but it adds so much atmosphere...


Those actual gas lamps used to be rather large which is well represented by the electric bulbs:


Second class interior:


Third class interior:


Baggage compartment:


And this is how it was done:
The cars came with that kit in 1/45th scale (gauge 0).

I replaced the windows with blister foil and painted the red moulded plastic in some period colours...



The sockets and bulbs were cannibalised from 12V Faller lighting sets for model buildings:




Interiors were build up on extended 00 gauge frames and painted in a plain used wood tone:



All handles were made of heated and bent steel pins:



The current collectors were made from some left over brass etching sets frames:


I am going to build a motorised engine from scratch possibly using some of the kits parts soon...

[OSHIROmodels]

Fantastic work 

I really like your train work and I'm glad you made that look worth sorting out 

cheers

James

[Michi]

I'm glad you made that look worth sorting out 

And I am glad that you like it now, James!

[Suber]

So beauty!

[OSHIROmodels]

And I am glad that you like it now, James!

I've got two now  (had one donated) so there's no excuse!

cheers

James

[Big Martin]

Great work - don't think I'll go quite so much to town with mine. Just having a train I can move through the scenario will do for me.
Yet another job waiting for me to find the time...

[Andym]

Brilliant Michi!! Love the lighting!

[former user]

excellent, as usual

Question: why is it called "Saddleback" when it's actually not one?

[former user]

As a matter of fact I wrote railway rules to go with T&T but they are a bit too realistic for the common wargamer....

[Michi]

Question: why is it called "Saddleback" when it's actually not one?

I wondered too. Well spotted, Eymad. It´s the ignorance of the manufacturer I assume. It seems to me that this train is probably the first ever train that was in use in Japan (what would explain the narrow gauge), but there is no proof in the description of the building instruction.

[former user]

You think the carriages could be used for a tram?
I saw the kit on ebay, surprised I did not notice it earlier....

[Michi]

You think the carriages could be used for a tram?

I don´t think so, because trams were developed from horse drawn vehicles which used to be entered from verandahs. Therefore all successors kept that principle for quite a while until central entries/exits appeared as well. Passenger flow is crucial in trams, which was not so much the case with passenger carriages and even less with coaches on railways.
I would say those carriages look too typical "railway" for a use as tram conversions. Also mind shorter wheelbases for tighter radiuses on tramways.
Conversions of the Faller HitTrain carriages would be more appropriate. Fleischmann MagicTrain carriages with the Austrian roof type would even be a better choice for conversions into trams...
That one on the left:

[Mason]

 

Brilliant!
Just brilliant!
 

[War In 15MM]

Great work.  Richard

[Elbows]

Absolutely splendid work!  I'm chompin' at the bit to try my first train project...