Class 442 wessex electric

[njee20]

Tank's right that the eBay seller one doesn't include buffers or windscreens, and I vaguely recall some white metal detailing parts too.

Although I've got the order confirmation from eBay I can't find the seller ID to see if he's still doing anything, certainly can't find any more of the cab fronts, which is a shame.

Would you want your hypothetical 442 motorised, presumably? That does make it harder and significantly more expensive as you need the 158 chassis. I'm not averse to building one if the bits become available more readily again.

[GWR_XC]

Thanks njee20 for your help and advice

I would take anything when it comes to the 442, used to use them in real life when I was a child around Southampton Central always been my favourite train, hopefully one day some will potentially do one via crowd funding

[njee20]

Mmm, they're my favourite EMUs too. Obviously new liveries and being dragged about the country for refurb would help, but I fear you'll wait a very long time for RTR one!

I'll keep an eye out for the cab fronts, if they come up again then I'd do another one.

[GWR_XC]

Thanks njee20 really appreciate it 

[PaulCheffus]

Hi Paul

Many thanks for that, would really appreciate it

Also you are building one yourself? If so be interesting to know your progress

Hi

I am building one and have been for around 10 years (other projects keep getting in the way).

Mine requires painting now before the transfers are applied then it will be done. It is motorised using the old TPM chassis.

Cheers

Paul

[GWR_XC]

Sounds great Paul, please share some pics when done,

10 years some didication there, but bet it will be worth the wait

[PaulCheffus]

Sounds great Paul, please share some pics when done,

10 years some didication there, but bet it will be worth the wait

Hi

Ten years is nothing my scratchbuilt 506 took around twenty  .

I find I have a burst of enthusiasm at the start then some problem will arise so I put it away until I find a solution.

In the case of the 442 I wanted to spray the bodies using my airbrush but until recently I could only use it outdoors on a sunny day and other things took priority. I now have a spray booth I can setup in the house so I can paint all year round.

Cheers

Paul

[GWR_XC]

wow 20 years to complete a model, fair play on completing it, you must be really talented at building these models..

Hopefully you have the enthusiasm to finish the 442 soon, and if you ever fancy building one to order please do let me know many thanks

[Skyline2uk]

Wow 10 and 20 years for finishing a model, makes me feel better about taking 8 for a building.....

I am also a fan of the 442 and contemplated attempting one (my preference would have been to use Fox decals as I seem to get on with them).

I got as far as trying to source cheap MK3s.

However I have since been put off by:

• Apparent lack of complete conversion parts (knew about windscreen and buffers, not about bogie sides)
• Not having an airbrush and not being able to find a suitable NSE white in rattle cans

One day I will have one, but seeing as I am between layouts it's not a priority.

That said, if one were to come up for sale....

Skyline2uk

[njee20]

Cheap mk3s come up all the time on eBay, or these. I had about 30 'in stock' for various conversions  gradually working through them, with at least 5 destined to become a 442!

The Railmatch NSE silver white brush paints nicely, I found the cab fronts far harder to get right. The lack of correct bogies is a pain, but they're not that obvious, wouldn't stop me using the standard mk3 ones.

[Helvellyn]

I've just discovered this thread as I've just dragged my 442 kit out to continue it, after around 10 years too! Regarding the unavailable parts of the kits there are possible work arounds. The Farish class 170 bogies (apparently available at BR Lines) are the correct style for the four unpowered coaches and the 158 bogies are correct for the centre power car. As a sort of bonus, to replace the unavailable damper etches, the Farish bogies have a moulded representation of the dampers! The white metal casting in the kit are mainly replacement roof ventilators and a representation of the coupling area, so a Micro Trains coupling could be used as a replacement. The only thing I'm not sure about is what to do about replacing the glazing that comes with the kit for the cabs.
So if or when the resin castings become available again on ebay there is a way to complete the unit without the complete kit. This is what I've been thinking to do with the set of castings I got from ebay.

Regards
David

[Skyline2uk]

Wow 10 and 20 years for finishing a model, makes me feel better about taking 8 for a building.....

I am also a fan of the 442 and contemplated attempting one (my preference would have been to use Fox decals as I seem to get on with them).

I got as far as trying to source cheap MK3s.

However I have since been put off by:

• Apparent lack of complete conversion parts (knew about windscreen and buffers, not about bogie sides)
• Not having an airbrush and not being able to find a suitable NSE white in rattle cans

One day I will have one, but seeing as I am between layouts it's not a priority.

That said, if one were to come up for sale....

Skyline2uk

Well it seems that today is the day!

So here is the result of a project that has been ongoing for some time.

A few years ago I found a complete unopened set of TPM parts on eBay and jumped on them.

After a good few months of (not continuous obviously) work, last night I sealed the last decal.

So here is my set "Inspired" by 442402.

As far as I know it includes all the parts TPM ever made available for the set, including roof vents, dummy couplings, etched yaw dampers (marked as CJM incidentally) and pickup shoes.

I have watched a (very good) video on YouTube covering the 442s more time that I care to remember. What on the surface is a relatively simple conversation of old Farish MK3 stock contains all sorts of pitfalls with toilet locations, pickup shoe bogies and yaw damper orientation.

The set is powered using the previous tooling (China built) 158 chassis which is almost ideal, except the bogie moulding dampers are the wrong way round for the 442 ??






Skyline2uk

[PaulCheffus]

Hi

You've made a good job of that.

I might finish mine one day which is powered by the TPM MUMU (Multiple Unit Motorising Unit). What puts me off are the transfers and how to keep the windows clear after varnishing.

Cheers

Paul

[Skyline2uk]

Hi

You've made a good job of that.

I might finish mine one day which is powered by the TPM MUMU (Multiple Unit Motorising Unit). What puts me off are the transfers and how to keep the windows clear after varnishing.

Cheers

Paul

Thank you Paul.

Now the TPM chassis is one thing I have NEVER seen, so would be interested in that.

Ref the varnishing: I used Microscale "MicroSatin", slightly diluted and simply brushed on the entire model.

It is remarkably forgiving and dries totally clear.

Skyline2uk

[PaulCheffus]

Hi

This one is from my 4CIG and is missing the bogie side frames




Cheers

Paul