I have Farish's Duchess of Sutherland(In fact, renumbered City of Coventry).
Kernow sells Royal train coaches, but I don't have good memories about Farish's coaches(mk1 pullman-no contact shoe for lighting, and expensive)
Is it good choice or go for Electra rail graphics?
And there's still no MK2 british pullmans
The Electra Graphic's Royal Train pack is £45. Add on the cost of donor coaches and the Kernow special isn't bad value for money.
The Kernow coaches don't have interior lighting, and no they don't have close coupling mechanisms. Nor will it have correct type Mk2b. It is readily available though.
Since Hurst Models' etched conversion kit is no longer available the alternative for the Mk3 is a lot of work on a Dapol Mk3 to put the windows in the right places (even if using Electr Graphics vinyls). The two Mk2b would need converting - probably the best starting point is a Mk2a BSO but as with the Farish Mk3 there's no provision for lights.
If you're attempting a DIY repaint then the main body colour is available from Phoenix (P143) but you'll struggle with the lining transfers - Fox don't do them and Railtec only do them in 3mm and bigger.
Personally I'd opt for the Kernow coaches and do some work to reduce the coupling gap. If you really want lighting then go for one of the third party options using battery or add electrical pick-ups.
Steven B
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116321151621?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=jHvpEb-KR0e&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ensj8084skg&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Used electra's decals. 140pdr.
Is it worth or go for Kernow's?
Only you can answer that. Those look to be well done, but I'd pay extra for the Kernow set. I don't quite understand the complaint that the Kernow set doesn't have lighting or close coupling, and then looking at Electra ones as an alternative, as they use the same donor coaches.
Want to see kernow version's interior
There is no interior fitted in these coaches. Farish never produced a Mk2 or Mk3 with factory fitted interiors.
You'd be buying models based on tooling from around 1990 - 34 years ago!
Steven B
Quote from: Le Night ferry on October 01, 2024, 11:58:47 PMhttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116321151621?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=jHvpEb-KR0e&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ensj8084skg&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Used electra's decals. 140pdr.
Is it worth or go for Kernow's?
The standard of finish of those Electra sides is sadly nowhere near the quality of the factory produced Kernow models.
On a quick glance at the ebay listing, the underlying First Great Western livery can be seen at the ends of the coaches for example.
I'd go for the Kernow ones over the ebay listing every time
Jo
Quote from: Le Night ferry on October 02, 2024, 11:43:49 AMWant to see kernow version's interior
There are no interiors. 8)
GE
Quote from: Steven B on October 02, 2024, 11:58:24 AMThere is no interior fitted in these coaches. Farish never produced a Mk2 or Mk3 with factory fitted interiors.
You'd be buying models based on tooling from around 1990 - 34 years ago!
Steven B
Personally I don't have a problem with that as the model would not be available otherwise.
GE
Quote from: GlenEglise on October 02, 2024, 03:08:18 PMQuote from: Steven B on October 02, 2024, 11:58:24 AMThere is no interior fitted in these coaches. Farish never produced a Mk2 or Mk3 with factory fitted interiors.
You'd be buying models based on tooling from around 1990 - 34 years ago!
Steven B
Personally I don't have a problem with that as the model would not be available otherwise.
GE
I agree, they suit my needs fine. I have all three packs and they look great in a running train on my layout. I can't see the interior, or lack thereof from my normal viewing distance.
However, I realise the interior may be important to some.
I had mine out running this evening for the first time and I must say the finish is really very good. They may be old tooling, but they were basic clear shells so there's not much to go wrong and it does allow a huge variety of window arrangements, perfect for something like the Royal Train. And it keeps the cost 'down' compared to what it might be had they been fully tooled for each coach...which would have been astronomical if it had even got off the design page....!!
I like to have, and have put interiors into a lot of my older farish caching stock but am not bothered about these.
The curtains effectively distract the viewer and thus the interiors are not noticeable. Trying to fit interiors might also risk damaging/marking the external finish since the roofs are rather a tight fit.