AJC
Western Thunderer
And now the second one, a present, in the form of the Sonic Models BR Ferry Van. Yes, there’s a Rapido version, too (and it’s likely the better model, but this was the family secret Santa and this was in budget!). The mechanics of getting an EM model out of this one are probably more involved, but easier, because the brakes are easier to remove - you can see to location holes, the shoe assemblies just prise out.
![008358DD-73A1-4E10-AB48-BB2BA085692A.jpeg 008358DD-73A1-4E10-AB48-BB2BA085692A.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206041-9d291e908726a02f411cb58d31e4a303.jpg)
The regauging was slightly complicated because the original axles are a bit shorter than the standard 26mm and mounted in moulded plastic cones which stand proud of the back of the W iron. I trimmed these off and let in some brass bearings making use of this rather neat little tool which bores out a nice 2mm hole for putting proper brass bearings in.
![8932E693-F5BF-4466-8C8E-F79A2EEE9C96.jpeg 8932E693-F5BF-4466-8C8E-F79A2EEE9C96.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206045-9c8a9c7f00d6ee2d302c428f4e623e2b.jpg)
For some reason, the safety loops are modelled (they're a bit heavy, but they're there) but also represented in relief as part of the brakeshoe mouldings - very LIMA - so I trimmed them back a bit, and drilled them for new wire yokes removing the locating pins. I can be a bit light touch with the brakegear on this because it's a big wagon and they're hard to see.
![E6AF6ACD-BC7E-42F3-98DD-5E9A03CDD039.jpeg E6AF6ACD-BC7E-42F3-98DD-5E9A03CDD039.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206042-86be4a36709959a3292c721ba0069258.jpg)
![7390B50F-8FEE-4597-BB49-02A9D8AC9FE7.jpeg 7390B50F-8FEE-4597-BB49-02A9D8AC9FE7.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206043-84d0c283b551d74d940624416d7e249c.jpg)
Reinstatement is also pretty crude - I've just superglued them in with a 15 thou' spacing strip...
![6EFFD136-AA29-4A4E-AD94-10ADE3C761ED.jpeg 6EFFD136-AA29-4A4E-AD94-10ADE3C761ED.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206044-b85ab30c28a457edf30852e9e414c2c3.jpg)
Just a couple of bits of wire to add and all done. Obviously, there's details and proper couplings to add, but the basic conversion has been done.
Adam
![008358DD-73A1-4E10-AB48-BB2BA085692A.jpeg 008358DD-73A1-4E10-AB48-BB2BA085692A.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206041-9d291e908726a02f411cb58d31e4a303.jpg)
The regauging was slightly complicated because the original axles are a bit shorter than the standard 26mm and mounted in moulded plastic cones which stand proud of the back of the W iron. I trimmed these off and let in some brass bearings making use of this rather neat little tool which bores out a nice 2mm hole for putting proper brass bearings in.
![8932E693-F5BF-4466-8C8E-F79A2EEE9C96.jpeg 8932E693-F5BF-4466-8C8E-F79A2EEE9C96.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206045-9c8a9c7f00d6ee2d302c428f4e623e2b.jpg)
For some reason, the safety loops are modelled (they're a bit heavy, but they're there) but also represented in relief as part of the brakeshoe mouldings - very LIMA - so I trimmed them back a bit, and drilled them for new wire yokes removing the locating pins. I can be a bit light touch with the brakegear on this because it's a big wagon and they're hard to see.
![E6AF6ACD-BC7E-42F3-98DD-5E9A03CDD039.jpeg E6AF6ACD-BC7E-42F3-98DD-5E9A03CDD039.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206042-86be4a36709959a3292c721ba0069258.jpg)
![7390B50F-8FEE-4597-BB49-02A9D8AC9FE7.jpeg 7390B50F-8FEE-4597-BB49-02A9D8AC9FE7.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206043-84d0c283b551d74d940624416d7e249c.jpg)
Reinstatement is also pretty crude - I've just superglued them in with a 15 thou' spacing strip...
![6EFFD136-AA29-4A4E-AD94-10ADE3C761ED.jpeg 6EFFD136-AA29-4A4E-AD94-10ADE3C761ED.jpeg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/206/206044-b85ab30c28a457edf30852e9e414c2c3.jpg)
Just a couple of bits of wire to add and all done. Obviously, there's details and proper couplings to add, but the basic conversion has been done.
Adam
Last edited: