The Model Buses of Rod Blackburn (1/2)

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'Pre-War' RT - EFE Conversion: Having started my career with model buses by buying one of the first EFE RTs, I bought another and put some of my own work into it by converting it. The scratch built roof boxes have been inserted into slots cut in the roof, which makes for a neat fit. Slots were cut in the lower rear body panel so that the characteristic tumblehome of the pre-war body could be represented. Post-War STD - EFE Conversion: Seeing the opportunity to start building a collection of London buses of my youth it seemed obvious to acquire an EFE PD1 and hack it about a bit to produce an STD. This was all completed before EFE made their own attempt. Note that EFE's original radiator doesn't look too bad if it is raised by 0.5mm. Rearranging the lights helps as well. RTW - EFE Conversion: A rather more ambitious conversion this time which followed much the same method as others have independently used. Lots of cuts and a new scratchbuilt radiator. The extra 2mm width is very striking against an unmodified model. STL - Scratchbuilt: Well, I had to do something with the radiator that I didn't need for the RTW, didn't I? This was my first attempt at scratchbuilding and it is constructed from plastic card, as are all my scratchbuilds. It didn't come quite as well as I would have liked, but now that EFE have had a go it still stands up reasonably.
TF - Scratchbuilt: A bus that I've always liked the look of, this one provided the opportunity to make a sliding door. The rear and front end shapes are produced by moulding rather than carving layers. In fact, I do the same thing with roofs for all of my scratchbuilds. D2 trolleybus - Scratchbuilt: This is the only scratchbuild I've made using someone else's drawing; in this case one published years ago in Model Railway Constructor. The drawing has a number of errors, not all of which I spotted during construction resulting in a not entirely satisfactory model - it's too wide at the front. Utility STD - Scratchbuilt: There were no die-cast utilities when I made this, but I was inspired by the fact that these very distinctive sounding vehicles used to go past my home. I used to be able to imitate their sound, such that once my mother told me to stop making that noise when it was actually a real bus passing by. The side windows are perhaps a little deep, but making drawings from photographs was never easy. Double-deck Q - Scratchbuilt: Once again completed long before any die-cast appeared. I never thought one would. I know there are problems with mine, but OOC have some of the same ones and some more as well.
 
The Model Buses of Rod Blackburn (1/2)

 
 
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Photos and texts by Rod Blackburn.