Upgrade an L&B coach
George Dent brings the Peco model to life, with the help of a little weathering and a few passengers.
Peco’s delightful re-creation of the L&B’S coaching stock captures the simple elegance of the prototypes, leaving the modeller with little to do in the way of super-detailing. However, I did find that the Southern Railway-liveried versions appeared rather dull, with the matt finish lacking a suitable lustre. Therefore, in order to add some extra realism, I opted to apply a gentle weathered finish, taking advantage of the panelled exterior bodywork that naturally traps ‘dirt’ around the various beading strips and recesses. My aim was to depict a Third Class carriage in the early 1930s, not long before the L&B closed, sporting a lived-in rather than a dirty finish. Part of the challenge would be to add a degree of shine to the surface, suggesting varnished paintwork that has been cleaned regularly, albeit not too thoroughly. The carriage interior is also ripe for improvement. The pale brown moulded seats and bulkheads demand a more authentic varnished timber finish, which is easily achieved with paints and a small, flat brush. Finally, an array of passengers completed the job. The figures were chosen carefully in terms of their apparel, to suit both the period and the class of accommodation. There are no well-to-do gents or ladies in their finery here! Rather, we have working men in caps or brimmed hats and women in shawls or overcoats. After a few hours’ work, the Peco coach now looks much more appropriate for use on a steam-hauled service across North Devon during the L&B’S final years.