Easybuild class 129 DPU

Cheers Paul... I'm well into the Easy Build system which produces a great model reasonably quickly, I guess as with everything the devil is in the detail and this kit can easily be super detailed. One nice thing to add is Lis got me the Craven 129 decal transfer set from Fox so this one will have the whiskers in green and just to confuse matters I have just seen a colour pic of a 129 exiting Harecastle Tunnel on the diversion heading south, picture dated June 1969 and this set was by then allocated to Newton Heath so I'm presuming the working was the late afternoon evening pick up parcels from Longport and Hanley Goods then to Leek forming a return working to Mirfield. The unit is freshly painted in Rail Blue. Leek station closed to all remaining traffic in 1970.

 

There are no inaccuracies in the kit as I can see Gary, there is mention of details of how to super detail but this is left as choice for the builder, from my point I like to take these things to an extreme wherever possible and that includes counting the roof weld seams which I have just done... all 22 of them . Rail Blue is great and I toyed for ages in doing this one blue ... so looks like I may have to buy another one now... thing was Lis got me the green transfers as a pressie and she wants to see this completed with the whiskers. I think it will look good on the Leek station layout scene when that is done.

This unit may well have to become M55998 now as that unit was originally allocated to Cockshute (Cliffe Vale Sidings at Newcastle Junction Stoke on Trent) in the early 1960's and photo evidence shows it still in green abate with yellow panel in 1968 / 1969.

Bring on the BRCW 104 and Calder Valley sets I say.

 

The power bogie is built and runs very smoothly, drivers steps, brake blocks and rigging along with speedo cable all to be added later once the non power bogie is made and that will be once a missing item from the kit has been sent out. I'm going to wire this as DCC ready so the red and black wires on the motor contacts are currently only dry fitted. Behind are the two fuel tank castings which had the battery boxes Araldited on last night and I've added guards grab rails to the bodyside as a bit of a super detailing touch.





this is how I did the wiper pick up contacts so as not to get in the way of detailing, the Delrin chain clearance and shorting onto the etch bogie plate. I still have good under chassis clearance when the bogie swivels and the wiring is hidden to a greater extent. There is enough red and black wire installed to fit to the DCC ready board which will tuck away within the bodyshell... plan being to go DCC with all my builds from now on with will run on the new Leek station layout when that gets finished.

 

Yes as there is a support channel moulded into the inside roof which takes the securing blocks that fasten the floor bolt position. Plan is to pre fit ready until I know which DCC sound card / files to go with. I'm going to add marker lights and cab lights but the route box is a bit of a faff to cut out nicely so I'll leave this out.

 

Thanks Gary and that nice man Shawn is sending me the missing bogie part in the post. Thanks for that picture as it is very useful because it expands and shows good detail of the under floor equipment arrangement which I need for reference in this build. The Cravens 129 units were always fitted with the earlier AEC 150hp engine type (coded yellow diamond) and were different to the later Leyland 150hp ones (blue square) which were much noisier and gave off that famous vibrational rasping sound when powered up after gear selection.

 

Don't have one but I'll get an ammeter... thanks for the advice Paul. yes I think you will like the 104 when it comes out... they ran in Scotland and the Mexican Bean is a classic... try to get a three car set or even the earlier NE Region four car sets. Oh you'll need 101 MetCam too and a Bubble Car... come to think of it

 

Made a start on adding the underfloor details... the non powered bogie is just propped in place until the bogie pivot plate arrives.

 

I'd imagine a 104 car at 57' 6" length being the same as the Cravens unit comes in at 420mm so a three car 104 set would be 1260mm and at just over four feet in length may not be everyone's cup of tea. The MOK 8F is a very attractive option but the 104 calls louder right now as I intend to be one of the first to build it.

 

Thanks Kim... sorry I missed this post earlier... advice re decoders taken on board. Oh Happy New Year to you ... I think I forgot to say.

 

Happily the bogie swivel plate arrived this morning... so thanks for the quick service Shawn at Easybuild. So duly fitted onto the bogie and the ride height adjusted this morning we now have a railcar which stands up by itself. Here is the cravens posing on my Elton Crossing layout with some of the underfloor equipment in place... next job is to make up the AEC engines adding on the fluid flywheel, gearbox and some dummy drive shafts. The tape line along the roof carries the marker aid to add in the weld seam joints which I'll make up from 0.03mm microstrip. The microstrip can be purchased from Plastruct... again no affiliation with any company I mention except as a buyer.





And passing through the level crossing at Elton Crossing Lane is either M55997 or possibly M55998... the choice of identity confuses me as 97 was a regular to Leek in the final few weeks of station operation but 98 was once allocated to Cockshute when it was transferred from the Birmingham area.