Large Scale Central

Fixing Gresley Teak Coaches

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

I now have a couple of 1/32nd LNER/UK locomotives, and a set of 3 coaches. The consist needs a brake/guards van for the guard/conductor. In the UK the run on the rear, unlike a US combine that usually runs at the front.

I brought back from the UK a set of ‘part-finished’ teak coaches: a GNR brake/guards coach, two Gresley passenger coaches, and a 1st/brake guards coach.
This is the GNR brake/guards coach. It looks too tall.

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This one is a regular ‘composite’ (passenger) coach. I already have one in my set of 3, and I only got 3 pairs of trucks for my 4 coaches, so it is being sidelined for now.

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This is a funny hybrid, of 1st class and 3rd class compartments with a split bathroom/lavatory in the center and no corridor connection to the next coach.

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And finally the current project, a 1st/brake guards coach. Beautiful work on the ends but maybe it got dropped. The ‘glass’ in the windows is real glass, 3mm thick!

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1 Like
#2

I’m just about finished with the window and panel replacement on the 1st/brake which is my current project. This is the side with the broken ‘glass’, now replaced with 3mm clear acrylic.

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An issue with these is matching the wood as you repair them. Here’s my paint test table. I finally settled on “English Chestnut” stain.

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The uprights on the left on this are new, stained and cut to match. The coach is interesting, as a previous owner outlined the panels with gold lines: He even wrote “Luggage” and “Guard”, etc., though you can hardly see them. Makes it easier for me to align the original parts! He also grooved for the joints at the edges of doors, which I repeat with a fine screwdriver, though I need to get some black paint in them.

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What none of them have is proper beading on the paneling. This is what a prototype coach looks like:

Screenshot 2025-10-07 at 15-01-26 3669 at York station prior to movement across to the NRM. … Flickr
Screenshot 2025-10-07 at 15-01-26 3669 at York station prior to movement across to the NRM. … Flickr1920×1222 218 KB

Here’s the same coach before gloss varnish, so you can see the beading, which is half-round 1".

LNERCA Coach 3669 before varnish-sm
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#3

What a great project, Pete. And great work. I don’t suppose one often restores a car made of reak teak!

They’ll look awesome behind your newly acquired loco.

Glad to see you have a workbench up and running.

#4

but that should be doable.
the screwdriver scratched grooves and very fine fishingline.
(and lots of time of trembling-free painting the beading)

#5

Will you be adding HEP cabling and ditch lites? I gotta ask for my own sanity??