![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1wAx1zOICoNQYPx7KJgefCG4Kx0FNqVfk84qDYtlU6jekoE8LXUFdzWDg2uPF2BgRv4QL9WirDq2-40yu-Sdgq48XGW7j_N1tfa5r2hMgkpzV4NrQELhFL5isUcpOvMRdmpk9o4NGOZV/s200/Topshed1%25282%2529+-+rant+heading.png)
This week's rant of the week is double heading with some actual modelling - and would you believe, it's British Railways Eastern Region modelling this week! Huzzah!
So, for the rant: and to make this abundantly clear, the Bachmann Peppercorn A1 model is fantastic. None of the nine member strong fleet I own have been anything but exceptional runners, and have always looked very much like the prototype whilst maintaining a rugged, purposeful look as a model.
That is, in all but one area: the chimney. Bachmann decided, for reasons as yet unknown, to make the chimney a two piece moulding, where the top half is either the stovepipe or the rimmed chimney, and the lower portion is moulded into the smokebox.
I absolutely despise this arrangement. I loathe it! For me, it has been the strongest bug bear of any model I have owned, and for years I have put up with this strange look at the front end of my favourite locomotive class.
I can only ask "why" this arrangement was thought a good idea, when everywhere else you look, alternate chimneys on other models have been one piece mouldings straight onto smokeboxes. None of this two piece nonsense!
Well, I will put up with it no more! Thanks to Graeme King of the LNER forum, I am going to change all that, by replacing each and every chimney with a cast resin alternative. Graeme has provided for me at little cost, a total of twenty chimneys (and some spare/off cuts too) made out of resin.
My guinea pig for today's first event was old favourite, 60119, which was a renumbered model of 60114.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qcmVXa_TXwZDLmUhu4HVcA0A9i-makpSOJtWHSslpoSWN1R3P3sT4QIU-aGAJDxRxhiKJgSsKqE8FMCVJMTJqbHMkq3jFcTJkOhHK5Wdw_q43M_iYkcBZ5wlVoVrCMPVJeVUpzubaNa-/s200/CIMG3081-1.jpg)
As you can see, the offending chimney is sliced in half, and this looks distinctly odd compared to photographs of the prototype. I disassembled 60119 down to the boiler, and pulled off the top of the chimney with a set of pliers (the top pops off quite easily), and then set to work filing down the moulded bottom half. In under a few minutes, you are left with this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1P1WcIzpatmCrRdPE2Urm7CLb32nDSm3Y_ZbgByaejcpYNgOmlxcjSgKKVizQFP7EXGHTm3z3oMgNutzUW-PrD6OAPdBlFmTkbXvlDIOHFZ3zVWxxaHpOoDKBl3Uqifc8Ozt3s_ZLVHVq/s200/CIMG3084-1.jpg)
Careful fettling of the resin chimney to shape, and drilling out the holes, is vital for a good fit and authentic look.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil77L00kx5uX8iCwy_C1mB-etNZI72__EnJbG2InnIG53ru1xC46Q8_6elgXuzDsbSgRFmsqxUM5VDHXMpo9H1ALtL1zA93Qcv21QYM9MZVY88Is2wzqqbO9QiJcfiyNr9wskSAmUxLzRr/s200/CIMG3085-1.jpg)
Which leaves us with this. The smokebox was sanded down with wet'n'dry sandpaper prior to the final gluing down with a few drops of superglue - applied from inside the firebox after sticking the chimney down and into position with a little Pritt Stick. Surprisingly effective.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPH5Ibis4cIygpR_OUqDQedEsJn_Bw5zO1JrfjE46AcnRTgxEIM9C66up4kCQ3sysTKwP9qsOlgTFceEHXkicG6LF9miqwH_BPlhNpSf9ivsHDKFKgvKL_KOYKBOw2Y0aeV7vxxhnp2KD/s200/CIMG3093-1.jpg)
So the question is: was it worth it? Here's the side by side comparison of the unmodified 60114 against the modified 60119. I think it makes a great difference to the overall look of the front end.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuftCP3OfPzBgUTzaaumhgttOrfE9Sf96S6SZjKdim4qVavDP21mIkfY09Ejl2IbbYgLzQ1DPRgk1jNokZNomsxsRhAjewZ0GykyaNSzim2_ndLRIHLWsFzXqZlT5WqMxpTxOhZ95ucGUV/s200/CIMG3094-1.jpg)
I think it's a modification well worth the effort.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvNdwPzvmdOkuQ0-Y6OlawuyCUhyaqOOcVohjba0xFd4Zwjk6hQ-NjgHinxk9qaVS4CuywIidJcRT3wBWzlDChYDOyVGyjTciCh30j3h_pg31yKpUQs9Am8FTw3zRdsX1CbvcCn2yPSiK/s200/CIMG3089-1.jpg)
Only eight more A1s to go!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiK8D2xxI5jjfXs7tIBbXBj0FhFmQJUexlp9s2XMQ7eGyneIL8wj8s-zBgNuJnDGZIpHZRk9cqdQeCyGTi7jY714_k550z2i8jzzlNXclPd14akRCx8Kc80RQVsrOtbs-10Qny0KAaPkK/s200/CIMG3099-1.jpg)
Until next time!
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