ÖBB BD Project

The ÖBB BDmpsz project was conceived to fill a gap missing in the Roco N scale range of ÖBB red livery EC/IC coaches and use up a 1st class coach (I have too many for the correct ratio of 1st class to 2nd class provision) but without major work being needed, and as usual - I have a cunning plan.  The aim is simple, to turn a surplus Roco 24340 (or 24341) into a BDmpsz thus:

The advantages of using a 1st class coach are many:

1. I have too many of them to make realistic compositions.

2. I can't be bothered to make an eBay listing to sell the coaches.

3. It's more fun to make the BDmpsz instead and not hard because of the obliging way Roco have designed the coaches:

4. The 1st class windows are more spaced out than 2nd class and so will give the most realistic amount of room around the cargo door, and almost the correct total number of windows.

5. It won't be exactly right but much cheaper and easier than making a custom bodywork moulding or buying a custom made coach from a specialist in Vienna.

The roof of the model can conveniently be removed (you can see the hairline crack on the bottom picture above on the right hand side) just above the 1st class yellow stripe.  This means it's really easy to mask the coach body up to spray a carefully matched red paint over the yellow stripe.  Secondly when cutting out the rectangular section for the cargo door then the top side has been done already which reduces the complexity of the work for a neat finish.  The hole (one each side) can be made from the inside (possibly by cutting the coach body into two down it's length and hiding the join behind the diaphragms at the ends) with a sharp knife so that the outside needs no repainting.  The cargo doors can be made from anything, e.g. plastic-card, painted the correct red and then glued into the holes.  

A simple transfer will convert the '1' into '2' and a new ÖBB snail () will be needed for one side because the cargo door and snail coincide but it's probably unnecessary to change the small print from Amz to BDmpsz on the sides because it's so small but then digital photo printers can do very high DPI so it could be done.  I shall also avoid disturbing any of the other windows.  The interior seating can be modified to end in a partition wall as per the prototype.  The schematic below shows the plan using either 24340 or 24341:

The picture below shows what a good approximation the plan above actually is:

Progress in July

I have decided to be more accurate in the design and have created a prototype picture on the computer from an ABmz.  It is made by cutting out the window sections and moving them inwards (and at the same time removing two of the 1st class windows) and filling the gaps with modelling putty and the cargo door.  The pictures show a normal ABmz and below that with the modifications:

Using a sharp craft knife the windowed sides of the coach were hacked out (no other word for it!) making as little mess as possible.  However the coach I chose was quite old and the plastic was quite soft against the knife!  It was very tricky to make the knife travel in a straight line without veering off and damaging something.  The window panes themselves will be reused in the re-positioned windows to make life as easy as possible.  This is the current status of the project:

The next stage will be to reassemble the sides and add the cargo doors, filing edges and filling the gaps and joints with modellers putty.  Followed by a repaint with colours as close as possible to the original shades to help the coach blend into the rake.  A challenge indeed!

Do check back sporadically for further sporadic updates...