By Brian Dominic
Since I built my micro-layout “Flagg Fluorspar” I’ve been on the lookout for kits for small items of rolling stock and locos. There are a fair number of these available at what I would call “pocket money prices” and whilst they all make quite respectable models, most of them will repay a little extra effort to add extra detail – besides, doing so makes your item unique. This is certainly the case with Houston Gate Locomotive Works’ latest offering, Coach J. Named for one of his customers who commissioned the design, this is a smart 4-wheel coach which is larger than the offerings in (say) the IP Engineering Ezee range. I don’t know what happened to Coach A to Coach H (there can’t be a Coach I because the Apple Corporation would get all upset).
Assembling the body
I got an example with no instructions but, in all fairness, very little instruction is needed. The kit (which is lasered from MDF, ply for the roof and plastic glazing material) makes up into two sub-assemblies: underframe and body. The body is very cunningly designed so that the floor slots into the ends, then the sides are added. Thanks to care in the design, it can only go together one way (with all the lasered detail on the OUTSIDE, please) and can be held together by a rubber band and put to one side whilst the glue goes off. The underframe is equally simple, and features the Houston Gate Locomotive Works Patent Axlebox Design – a clever method (using “ears” on the main underframe and a 3-layer axlebox to hold the axle bearing) which means that (a) the axle is positively located and square to the underframe and (b) no glue whatsoever need ever get anywhere near the bearing!
And now with the underframe fitted too
Once you’ve glued these two subassemblies together, you’ve done most of the work. Inside detailing is confined to a pair of seats: the legs are glued to the side of the coach and the seat cushions glued on top. The two strips of lasered MDF that I couldn’t fathom a use for go at the back of the seat cushion to make the backrest slope. When you fit these, it’s advisable to have the (ready cut) glazing material to hand, so it seats happily on the two seat cushions. If you leave one glazing sheet in place whilst you’re gluing the seat backs into place, you will discover that the glazing is held in place by them, totally eliminating the need to glue the glazing in place – no more fogging from superglue or impact adhesive getting where it shouldn’t!
An underneath view
Another view of the underframe
This is probably the best time to paint it in your colours of choice: I’ve revived a livery used by the 4mm scale MDLR for a rake of Workman’s Coaches which operated a non-timetabled service on the mineral extension from Monyash to the various mines. Once the paint and varnish have gone off, slide the glazing in (noting that there’s a lasered hole to match the door handle hole in the body) stick the roof on and add the door handles, and Robert is your father’s brother!
A view of the almost-completed coach
As built the coach is perfectly acceptable, but I always like to add a few extra details. Roundhouse lamp brackets and a cast vent in the middle of the roof are easy enough to add, and droplight frames for the opening doors are easily made from stripwood stained (in my case) Light Oak before being cut to size. You might even find a reasonably-sized coffee stirring stick or two to do the job.
Another view of the almost-completed coach
With lamp bracket and ventilator added
The adjective “foolproof” is very rarely used these days, as it is usually possible to find somebody who can make a mess of the simplest thing, but I venture to suggest that any fule who gets hold of one of these kits will end up with a delightful little coach – just like I have!
The kit costs £28 in either 32 or 45mm gauge.
Brian Dominic