In the background I've been working on a number of projects including a few London Transport protoypes.

 

Here's a snifter of what's in store.

 

The venerable Bachmann GWR/BR 57xx has been available in London Transport livery over the years. 

 

 

 

 

Railtec Transfers do a LT Pannier number set and I was able to renumber one of my Panniers to L89.

 

Essentially a very simple job. The existing numbers were removed carefully using  T-Cut and either a blunt cocktail stick or cotton bud. 

 

Leaving a nice gloss surface the Railtec  Transfers bedded down nicely. A light coat of brush applied Johnson's Kleer helped with this.

 

 

The Railtec LT Pannier transfer sheet comes with a number of options by the way. The buffer beam number, bunker number and cabside numbers are included on the sheet.

 

For those who are struggling to find a Bachmann LT Pannier tank, Bachmann Spares Department, sell the LT finished bodyshells as well as the wheelsets. An easy conversion of a Bachmann BR or GWR 57xx. 

 

I do have a couple of Bachmann LT BR brakevans, one which will be renumbered using Modelmaster decals from their LT Wagon sheet.

 

 

These transfers are no longer available but sets do crop up on eBay from time to time.

 

 

Again due to the rarity of Bachmann LT BR brake vans I thought I would make up a Dapol/Airfix kit to address this

 

The roof vents and chimney have been reversed to correct the error in the ancient mouldings. Roof vents are from Lanarkshire Models and chimney is made up from scrap parts.

 

 

I could have made a replacement roof but decided to leave it. The rain strips are pieces of Microstrip cut to size. Brass handrails have been added to each end. Lanarkshire Models buffers and coupling hooks have been added as well..

 

It is finished with a combination of Valejo and Revell acrylic paints.

 

Finally, a request to Steve at Railtec Transfers came up trumps.  He has been able to produce some excellent LT style reporting numberplates that the LT Pannier's ran with.

 

 

 

 

 

The quality of the 3D printed decal is superb even picking our the framework around the individual numbers which were placed in a bracket.

 

 

In my eyes these fill an important void, whilst addressing the needs of the LT modeller of the 1960's/early 1970's.

 

For those interested in the LT Panniers history and their operation should look no further than 'Red Panniers. Last Steam on the Underground' by John Scott-Morgan & Kirk Martin, published by Lightmoor Press (2008).

 

A well recommended read.

 

Once again, a big thanks to Steve at Railtec for his help with this project.

 

More soon!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark