Improving the Hornby-Jouef
Mistral 69 coaches (2)

Original page created on 19/03/2023.

Cosmetic improvements, continued

Modification of the gangway

This picture shows the part of the gangway tunnel that does not exist in reality. Indeed, with this “board” above the hook, how could the coupling man proceed with the coupling? The problem is clearly visible on this real view. Note in passing the mobile bridge of the model, which corresponds to the DEV coaches with bellows!

The cut is made with a ⌀ 1 cutter, about 10 mm wide and 3 mm deep. The cut edge is painted in silver with Molotoff felt pen.

Installation of steps

Some steps, located at the end of the body, as on one end of the A⁴Dtux and VRU, do not pose a problem. Others, on the contrary, prevent sufficient rotation of the bogies. To overcome this, we have three solutions:

• not to mount them — this would be a pity,
• attach them to the bogies — which was done by Märklin/Trix on their PBAs,
• or machining the side beams to increase the clearance.

I used one of the last two, depending on the type of bogie. Note that the plastic material of the bogies does not glue easily, nor does it machine better.

Gluing the running boards on Y26 bogies

Due to the difficulty of gluing, a metal reinforcement is required. It is also necessary to place a spacer of about 1 mm thick between the side rail and the running board. Finally, it should be borne in mind that the position is not the same depending on which side of the coach is being considered. For information, there is an offset of 4.5 mm between the doors on each side, to be checked for each particular case.

Drilling ⌀ 0.6 hole for the side beams and the step spacers. Be careful, the drilling of the spacers is not through!

Note: this is the A⁴Dtux coach with the bogies fitted for the current pickup, to which I will return on page 4.

It would have been preferable to place two pins rather than one, but it would have been difficult to arrange them perfectly horizontally, given the small distance possible on the bogie's gooseneck.

A ⌀ 0.6 nickel silver pin is inserted from the inside of the side beam.

The parts are joined together, glued with CA glue. The pin is cut flush with the side beam.

The spacer is finally painted in Humbrol grey.

Machining of the Y28 bogies

For these bogies, I use a machining technique. Seen from above, it is necessary to cut at about 30°:

Viewed from the side, the cut should be made at the level of the primary suspension spring:

The machining is done on a “milling assembly”. The bogie is held astride a 17.5 mm wide support. This support can be rotated ± 30° to the X axis to machine each side. This is all very rustic! From the top of the beam, the cutter is lowered by 2.5 mm.

On one side, no problem. On the other side, the milling cutter turns backwards (as in the photos), so you have to be very careful not to let it pick up the weakened end and make sausage meat…

Click to see the assembly more closely.

Here is the result on an A⁸tu. The operation is almost invisible on this picture, although it is lit from the front to better see the bogie.

The running in curve is correct, at least in level.

Installation of suspension devices on bogies

These are in particular suspension brackets for the Y26P bogies. These parts have a dovetail to attach to the underside of the chassis, but then they prevent the bogies from rotating, just like the steps!

The parts have their fasteners cut off flush with the visible part.

Gluing to the bogies with Uhu Strong & Safe glue.

Checking the running in curve (Fleischmann R 356.5).

Side view.

Fitting out the VRU dining car

The HJ VRU has simplistic interior fittings, completely brown, while in reality the walls of the dining room are pinkish beige, as are the lower partitions. The carpet is pinkish grey in the circulation area and greenish grey under the tables. There are tablecloths:

I used self-adhesive vinyl. Here are its advantages compared to paper :

• it is much more solid;
• the inks hold better;
• it is quite thin;
• it does not delaminate.

However, it is not soft enough to make folds as with tablecloths. It is not very sticky, which means that it can be repositioned quite easily without the risk of tearing.

Here, the problem was the draft angle, which makes the corners slanted. It makes creases! Anyway, the aim was to have some semblance of decoration, without pretending to go into too much detail.

Zoom on the tables with their tablecloths.