BR Lima coaches -not so bad as I thought

[DELETED]

Hello,

I know the old Lima stuff is often slated.  Inspired to have another go at a weedkiller train I got hold of 3-off "donor" coaches from Ebay for equal or less than the cost of a single new GF coach -I couldn't have bought 2 older GF coaches for the price of 3 Lima ones.  "Worth a punt" I thought.

...I was expecting them to be out of scale, really rough mouldings and you know what I lined them up to a MK 2 coach I have and ..........they're not that bad really.  Aside from the really thick window moulding depth I thought they would be much worse.  I'm debating whether to re-spray them now but I think I still will.  They won't mix with anything GF coach-wise but as a donor base I'm pleasantly surprised how passable these ones are.  They're no worse than earlier GF printed side 2n'd hand coaches I've had so far.

I've held-off buying Lima coaches at 2n't hand stalls at exhibitions because they've been wanting silly prices for them, but now I've had a couple on my own track I think they might be worth exploring.  Not at exhibition prices!!  But cheap enough on EBay for re-sprays!

Am I crazy thinking they've potential.  I don't have scale track plans, my ballasting is dodgy so as long as I don't mix them with the ultra-fine new stuff they look quite passable at normal distances in my eye

Rich

[NeMo]

Am I crazy thinking they've potential.  I don't have scale track plans, my ballasting is dodgy so as long as I don't mix them with the ultra-fine new stuff they look quite passable at normal distances in my eye

Well, I think you've nailed it there.

By modern standards the Lima Mk1s aren't especially good coaches. To my eye the biggest problems are that they seem to ride a bit high above the bogies, and the windows are rather deeply recessed.

On the other hand, some of the Lima stuff has a lot of character, and the Mk1 coaches certainly capture the look and feel of the originals. I've always felt the Lima 86 captured the character of the original loco rather well, and one of those hauling a train of the Lima Mk1s would certainly be a fun addition to an otherwise serious layout.

Cheers, NeMo

[Mito]

My layout is for fun. I have some Lima coaches. The paint scheme is not good but a respray would soon change that. Agreed mix them with more modern coaches there is no comparison but there are many things that can be done to improve them. And yes bargains can be found.

[DELETED]

I first saw them "in the flesh" proper at the Falkirk show.  Thought there were a few deals for £15 or so a coach, then picked them up, paint shipped, scratched to hec and I saw the thick windows and Lima stamp and couldn't believe the price.  Listned to a couple of traders complaining about turning up to shows "not worth going to them" and I just put them down and walked off. I wouldn't even consider offering what I thought for them.  I'm quite surprised with the ones I got though, yes they're a tad high on the bogies, the pizza cutters can presumably be swapped out.  But step back 4' and I think they look better in some resspects than the old Poole Era GF stuff with printed sides and dodgy roof fitting.  I can live without the white lining round the grey parts -all the older GF stuff has it all mis-printed which looks worse in my eye.  Each to their own I guess.

[railsquid]

Am I crazy thinking they've potential.  I don't have scale track plans, my ballasting is dodgy so as long as I don't mix them with the ultra-fine new stuff they look quite passable at normal distances in my eye

Well, I think you've nailed it there.

By modern standards the Lima Mk1s aren't especially good coaches. To my eye the biggest problems are that they seem to ride a bit high above the bogies, and the windows are rather deeply recessed.

On the other hand, some of the Lima stuff has a lot of character, and the Mk1 coaches certainly capture the look and feel of the originals. I've always felt the Lima 86 captured the character of the original loco rather well, and one of those hauling a train of the Lima Mk1s would certainly be a fun addition to an otherwise serious layout.

Lima vs modern Farish:



Lima 86 and Mk1:

http://youtu.be/mmTDlXJj_yo

I've since acquired a Wrenn-branded Mk1 and a Minitrix (which has similarly deep windows) which make up a nice little fun/"historical" rake.

[Dr Al]

Each to their own, but personally I think they are horrendous, especially as there are 3 other, better, options:

- Minitrix - dated, but correct lengths, better bogies
- Poole Farish - better again, correct lengths, bogies, various versions, flush glazing
- New tool Farish - superdetail, best there is.

Lima ones have hideous underscale bogies, underscale lengths, deep recessed windows, very coarse wheels, wrong shape buffers. I can't see why anyone would choose them over a Poole Farish model for example, unless there was simply no other choice.

Cheers,
Alan

[NeMo]

I think Dr Al you're missing the point. Nobody is saying these are realistic models by modern standards (or even compared to European stuff of similar vintage).

But the question is whether they're fun models to own if you can pick them up cheaply enough. I'd argue the Lima 86 has plenty of character, and if you've got one of those, why not stick a couple of Lima Mk1s behind it? 

Cheers, NeMo

Each to their own, but personally I think they are horrendous, especially as there are 3 other, better, options... I can't see why anyone would choose them over a Poole Farish model for example, unless there was simply no other choice.

[railsquid]

I think Dr Al you're missing the point. Nobody is saying these are realistic models by modern standards (or even compared to European stuff of similar vintage).

But the question is whether they're fun models to own if you can pick them up cheaply enough. I'd argue the Lima 86 has plenty of character, and if you've got one of those, why not stick a couple of Lima Mk1s behind it? 

Indeed. The sole reason I have mine is for historical interest, and they were dirt cheap as well. The small brace of 86s is for respraying practice before I let myself loose on the Dapol ones, but I'll certainly keep one in original condition.

Now, about those LoneStar Mk1s...

[Newportnobby]

I have several Lima Mk1s and Minitrix Mk1s available for purchase if anyone is interested.
Please drop me a PM if so.

I tend to agree with Alan in that the Lima ones look pretty awful - especially alongside those of the 'proper' gauge.

[Chetcombe]

I still run a couple of BR maroon Lima Mk1 BGs. The length is more or less correct in this shorter coach and the recessed windows don't jar on the eye quite so much as on the passenger stock.  But the main advantage is that these are the only coaches I have that I can fit the Woodland Scenics 'Dust Monkeys' to the axle - must be something to do with the bogies riding too high and the pizza cutter wheels

[Dr Al]

The sole reason I have mine is for historical interest,

For me they show everything historically dire about early N gauge - considering they were blown out of the water in 1981 when Farish released their Mk1s, to me their only value is as playthings for kids getting into N, and that's why they are cheap....few really want them!

Cheers,
Alan

[gc4946]

Appears the Mk1s are modelled to 1:160 scale, because they've got a smaller body profile and are shorter than Minitrix's contemporary versions.

However, the bogies jut out more than usual and the BG is the same length - incorrectly - compared with the other Lima Mk1 types (BSK, CK, RMB) modelled.

OTOH their CCT, GWR Siphon and horsebox are modelled to 1:148 scale.

[railsquid]

The sole reason I have mine is for historical interest,

For me they show everything historically dire about early N gauge - considering they were blown out of the water in 1981 when Farish released their Mk1s, to me their only value is as playthings for kids getting into N, and that's why they are cheap....few really want them!

Don't worry, no-one's forcing you to buy any

[Bealman]

They are pretty horrible, though. I certainly won't be running any. Actually, when I think about it,  I did have one once. Can't remember how I came by it, but I do remember throwing it in the bin

[railsquid]

Now, about those Lone Star Mk1s...

Lone Star vs Lima Death Match