We took a couple of EZ MK1 coaches to a recent S7 Group meeting - one bodyshell / underframe / bogies and one with just underframe / bogies so that those interested in the breed could handle the product and examine the fittings attached to the underframe - with an impromptu discussion about the merits of JLTRT, EZ and HJ, sorry David there was no MMP offering on display (nor any Bachmann coach...).
I was asked about which fittings were from EZ... which from JLTRT... and which from other suppliers. We have replaced some of the EZ offerings as the quality / accuracy is not as good as comparable items from JLTRT, or we have added parts where the part is not supplied with the EZ kit (parts shown in italics). So here is a list of what bits-n-bobs Peter and I are using with the basic EZ bodyshell.
From CPL:-
Passenger Communication gear (the "butterfly" and vacuum valve on one end of a coach)
From EZ:-
Dynamo and dynamo bracket;
Battery boxes;
V-hangers for brake cross-shaft;
Interior kit as appropriate.
From JLTRT Mk.1 kits:-
RCH electrical cables and covers;
Passenger Door handles;
Water tank filler and pipes;
Water tank overflow;
Fire extinguisher;
Buckeye couplings;
Steam Heat / Vacuum Brake pipes;
Regulator Cradle / Regulator / Fusebox;
Distribution Fusebox;
Vacuum Cylinder from JLTRT GUV kit;
Vacuum Cylinder Trunnions from GUV kit;
From JLTRT Mk.2 kits:-
Brake Distributor and the spirax air valve;
Buffer Beam Air Brake & Main Reservoir pipes and valves.
Air Brake Cylinders / Actuators.
Main Air Reservoir.
ETH cables, connectors and sockets
The parts from JLTRT Mk.2 kits are required because our models are to represent dual brake / dual heat Mk.1s in the late 1980s era.
Why GUV fittings? Interesting question... the vacuum brake cylinders in the JLTRT Mk.1 passenger coach kits are of the "rivetted" cylinder whereas the equivalent in the GUV kit is the "welded" cylinder and we feel that the welded cylinder is more appropriate to our "period".
Why change the vacuum cylinders at all? Partly because the JLTRT offering is a better representation than the EZ part. Partly because the EZ part has fixed trunnions and hence, as supplied, the part represents a vacuum cylinder in the "on" position. Partly because the EZ part has "welded" trunnions as per early Mk.1 builds whereas the JLTRT trunnions represent the "bolted" trunnion of later Mk.1 builds. Overall, the JLTRT separate trunnions allow us to represent the prototype with a better appearance than the EZ alternatives.
So whilst the above seems to be a long list there are still some Mk.1 carriage fittings that are not available from the trade - or if you know different then please provide details. For example:-
Emergency charging / lighting socket;
ETH distribution fusebox;
Sheep's Head drain for steam heating pipe;
WC outlet pipe.
regards, Graham