British 1:87 Scale Modelling - Mk1 coach stock from Lima

Mk 1 coaching stock

Lima Mk1 LMS coaches #9321 and #9146 and #9234

Lima coaches #9320 and #9145 and #9232

Lima Mk1 BR green coaches #9327 and #9152 and #9235

Lima Mk1 GWR coaches #9326 and #9151 and #9233

Prototype

Operating company/organisation

British Railways, British Rail, preservation societies;
also in other liveries by private operators

Years of operation

From 1949

Model

Manufacturer

Lima

Construction

Assembled, plastic with some metal parts.
Couplers: continental loop-type, moulded to bogies.
Wheelsets: axle length 24.5mm, wheel diameter 11.5mm. (See replacement.)

Disassembly

Note: These models are now many decades old and the plastic will have become brittle. Disassembly is made easier if the model is immersed in warm (not hot) water for a few minutes to soften the plastic lugs that hold the parts together.

Remove the roof by pushing sideways at two points 80mm from each end on one side then the other to release the lugs inside, then by pulling in the middle of the roof sharply to release the ends. Prise aside the lugs holding the top of the glazing unit and use slips of paper to stop them relocating. Lift the interior unit and glazing unit clear. Remove the metal weight if it is loose. While applying a gentle downwards force on the chassis, carefully prise the locating loops on the chassis away from the lugs on the body, just enough to release them. When all four side lugs on the chassis are free, pull the chassis down sharply to free the ends.

Reducing the ride height

Illustration

New parts required (per coach):
2 plastic discs (washers) 6mm outside diameter, 1mm thick, with a 4mm hole drilled centrally;
2 sets of plastic discs 12mm outside diameter, each set with a thickness of 2.5mm;
2 plastic plates 26.5 wide, 35mm long, 0.5mm thick, with a 4mm hole drilled on the centre line 16mm from one end.

Remove the bogies by pulling them downwards sharply.

Disassemble the coach (see above).

Enlarge the bogie pivot holes in the chassis to 13mm diameter.

Glue a new plate (see diagram) onto the top of the chassis with its 4mm hole positioned centrally over one of the 13mm holes.

Glue 12mm discs with a total thickness of 2.5mm centrally over the 4mm hole on the top of the plate.

Using the existing 4mm hole as a guide, drill a 4mm hole through the 12mm discs.

Repeat steps 4 to 8 for the other end.

Remove the raised arcs ("eyebrows") from the pivot surface of the bogie.

Before reassembling the coach, reattach the Lima bogies and push a 6mm disc (washer) over their lugs to secure them.

Reassemble the coach.

Availability

Produced from 1976 to c1980.

Decals

Cambridge Custom Transfers
- Sheet BL30 BR coach roundel crests
- Sheet BL32 BR Southern Region set numbers
- Sheet BL34 BR coach window labels (FIRST, NO SMOKING, SECOND, LADIES ONLY)

Suppliers

See Buying second-hand.

Parts for conversion to other coach types

For Silhouette cutter files for side overlays in plasticard, see the Group.io site here.

For etched brass overlays and ends, see the Worsley Works Mk 1 coach sides, ends and floors.

Coupler modernisation
For use on prototypical track curves, Kadee #153 or #158 scale-head buckeyes in #252 snap-together draft boxes can be used. Cut off the arms holding the original Lima couplers, cut-and-shut the buffer heads into a retracted state, and cut away the centre of the original headstock. For close-coupling, the coupler can be mounted with the 'pushing' face of the Kadee a millimeter or so behind the buffer face.

For use on "train set" track curves, the use of compact kinetic coupler devices is required. The most suitable device is by Gützold (item 01170) or Symoba (items 211 and 103). To match NEM standards, the front face of the NEM pocket should be 8mm behind the front face of the vehicle (including the buffers, if extended). To avoid the wheels making contact with the housing of the kinetic coupler device, the device will have to be recessed so that it is flush with the lower surface of the chassis plate. In this configuration, it is possible to use Roco close-couplers (item number 40270) to achieve a minimal gap between coaches on straight track. As an alternative to matching NEM standards, the kinetic coupler devices can be mounted right up against the headstocks, and plain drawbars (Symoba item 108) used to connect the devices without using coupler pockets.

Catalogue numbers (#), with liveries and nominal operating dates

Corridor Brake¹

Corridor Composite²

Restaurant-Buffet

Diag.181 BSK

Diag.126 CK

Diag.24 RB

Midland Region

maroon

1956-65

#9321

#9146

#9234
Models incorrectly marked as LMS

National

crimson & cream

1949-65

#9320

#9145

~

Inter-City

blue & grey

1965-96

~

~

#9232

Southern Region

green

1956-65

#9327

#9152

#9235

Western Region

chocolate & cream

1956-65

#9326

#9151

#9233
Models incorrectly marked as Great Western

1049 in service

1309 in service

127 in service

¹ Corridor Brake Third until 1956, Corridor Brake Second after 1956.

² First/Third until 1956, First/Second after 1956.

British 1:87 Scale Modelling

Prototype
Operating company/organisation	British Railways, British Rail, preservation societies; also in other liveries by private operators
Years of operation	From 1949
Model
Manufacturer	Lima
Construction	Assembled, plastic with some metal parts. Couplers: continental loop-type, moulded to bogies. Wheelsets: axle length 24.5mm, wheel diameter 11.5mm. (See replacement.)
Disassembly	Note: These models are now many decades old and the plastic will have become brittle. Disassembly is made easier if the model is immersed in warm (not hot) water for a few minutes to soften the plastic lugs that hold the parts together. Remove the roof by pushing sideways at two points 80mm from each end on one side then the other to release the lugs inside, then by pulling in the middle of the roof sharply to release the ends. Prise aside the lugs holding the top of the glazing unit and use slips of paper to stop them relocating. Lift the interior unit and glazing unit clear. Remove the metal weight if it is loose. While applying a gentle downwards force on the chassis, carefully prise the locating loops on the chassis away from the lugs on the body, just enough to release them. When all four side lugs on the chassis are free, pull the chassis down sharply to free the ends.
Reducing the ride height	Illustration New parts required (per coach): 2 plastic discs (washers) 6mm outside diameter, 1mm thick, with a 4mm hole drilled centrally; 2 sets of plastic discs 12mm outside diameter, each set with a thickness of 2.5mm; 2 plastic plates 26.5 wide, 35mm long, 0.5mm thick, with a 4mm hole drilled on the centre line 16mm from one end. Remove the bogies by pulling them downwards sharply. Disassemble the coach (see above). Enlarge the bogie pivot holes in the chassis to 13mm diameter. Glue a new plate (see diagram) onto the top of the chassis with its 4mm hole positioned centrally over one of the 13mm holes. Glue 12mm discs with a total thickness of 2.5mm centrally over the 4mm hole on the top of the plate. Using the existing 4mm hole as a guide, drill a 4mm hole through the 12mm discs. Repeat steps 4 to 8 for the other end. Remove the raised arcs ("eyebrows") from the pivot surface of the bogie. Before reassembling the coach, reattach the Lima bogies and push a 6mm disc (washer) over their lugs to secure them. Reassemble the coach.
Availability	Produced from 1976 to c1980.
Decals	Cambridge Custom Transfers - Sheet BL30 BR coach roundel crests - Sheet BL32 BR Southern Region set numbers - Sheet BL34 BR coach window labels (FIRST, NO SMOKING, SECOND, LADIES ONLY)
Suppliers	See Buying second-hand.
Parts for conversion to other coach types	For Silhouette cutter files for side overlays in plasticard, see the Group.io site here. For etched brass overlays and ends, see the Worsley Works Mk 1 coach sides, ends and floors.
Coupler modernisation	For use on prototypical track curves, Kadee #153 or #158 scale-head buckeyes in #252 snap-together draft boxes can be used. Cut off the arms holding the original Lima couplers, cut-and-shut the buffer heads into a retracted state, and cut away the centre of the original headstock. For close-coupling, the coupler can be mounted with the 'pushing' face of the Kadee a millimeter or so behind the buffer face. For use on "train set" track curves, the use of compact kinetic coupler devices is required. The most suitable device is by Gützold (item 01170) or Symoba (items 211 and 103). To match NEM standards, the front face of the NEM pocket should be 8mm behind the front face of the vehicle (including the buffers, if extended). To avoid the wheels making contact with the housing of the kinetic coupler device, the device will have to be recessed so that it is flush with the lower surface of the chassis plate. In this configuration, it is possible to use Roco close-couplers (item number 40270) to achieve a minimal gap between coaches on straight track. As an alternative to matching NEM standards, the kinetic coupler devices can be mounted right up against the headstocks, and plain drawbars (Symoba item 108) used to connect the devices without using coupler pockets.
Catalogue numbers (#), with liveries and nominal operating dates

			Corridor Brake¹	Corridor Composite²	Restaurant-Buffet
			Diag.181 BSK	Diag.126 CK	Diag.24 RB
Midland Region	maroon	1956-65	#9321	#9146	#9234	Models incorrectly marked as LMS
National	crimson & cream	1949-65	#9320	#9145	~
Inter-City	blue & grey	1965-96	~	~	#9232
Southern Region	green	1956-65	#9327	#9152	#9235
Western Region	chocolate & cream	1956-65	#9326	#9151	#9233	Models incorrectly marked as Great Western
			1049 in service	1309 in service	127 in service
¹ Corridor Brake Third until 1956, Corridor Brake Second after 1956.
² First/Third until 1956, First/Second after 1956.