[fredlub]

The ships-modelkitmaker Amati from Italy made a kit for a CIWL 1 gauge LX type sleeping car as it ran in the Orient Express and the Train Bleu. I bought one that arrived today. It is a kit with many, many parts which will result (when correctly build) in a very detailed CIWL car with detailed interior.

When completed I will post some pictures; by googling Amati Orient Express you wil find pictures of the Amati made model.

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

It is a kit with indeed lots of wood, but also many brass, other metal and plastic parts. There is a good review of the contents here: https://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/18617-132-1929-orient-express-sleeping-car-no3533-lx-amati/
Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

Sorry it turned out to be a disappointment.

Thank you, but it did not turn out a disappointment at all. I do not agree at all with everything "du-bousquetaire" (no first-name but nickname: grumpy) mentions and I will see for myself when I build the kit. When finished I will post pictures and share my experience.

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

To show the roof shape problem here a picture of a J&M LX and the plan (I have not yet finished the roof, but it should look according to plan when finished ) of the Amati model:

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

Thank you for posting these pictures; you selfmade LX looks very good.
Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

After finishing the interior of my Amati kit of the CIWL LX sleeping car I realised that when adding the
carriage sides the interior, even if the roof is removable, will not be easily seen: so here are some
views of the interior on compartment and corridor side.

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

I restarted working on the Amati sleeping car. I finished the corridor wall and installed this:

The conductor is closing the window:

View on the conductor desk in the corridor:

View through a compartment door on the corridor; the windows could be cleaner:

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

I also added the compartment side wall:

More pictures on my website here: http://sncf231e.nl/amati-kit-for-a-ciwl-lx-sleeping-car/

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

Thank you!

The outside walls are not paper; they are made of two layers of (thin) wood with in between nickel silver material for the window frames and the (plastic) window material. The outside are etched brass plates (0.4 mm) which are glued to the wood (not 1 piece but some 12 pieces for each wall, all to be glued correctly). Of course this had to be painted. The stripes are some kind of tape and the lettering is decals. I painted the walls gloss and then put the stripes and lettering on it and then sprayed a layer of satin paint for protection.

In the kit are full size printed paper outside walls; these are only to be used as a guide how to paint/stripe and letter the walls and not for using on the car.

Today I added the end-walls:

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

A bit further with the kit; all doors, handles and steps are fitted:

More Pictures here: http://sncf231e.nl/amati-kit-for-a-ciwl-lx-sleeping-car/

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

After about a year the Amati kit of the gauge 1 CIWL sleeping car is completed below the roof. Here is a video of the result:

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Some pictures (more pictures on my website: http://sncf231e.nl/amati-kit-for-a-ciwl-lx-sleeping-car/

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

And now the roof is also finished. I did not use the roof ends from the kit but made some better proportioned (I hope) roof ends:

The inner ceilings still have to be done and some better springs for the bogies are ordered.

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

Thank you Russel,

Of course a video of the running model (when completely finished; I am still waiting for new springs for the trucks/bogies and have to add ceiling detail to the interior) will be made.

The model however cannot be used at all as you would use J&M cars. It is much to fragile. I do not think it can be packed to travel to a GTG or meet. I will use it at least one time (I hope) to run a "Train Bleu" but it is clearly supposed to be a static model. I follow two other builders on youtube of these models and they both make a static model, one even glued the brake block to the wheels!

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

also stationary close up comparisons.
regards
Russell

The Amati sleeping car next to a J&M dining car:

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

The Amati CIWL LX sleeping car now running in Le Train Bleu in the garden.

LX sleeping car build from a kit at the end of the train. The locomotive is an ASTER live steam SNCF 141R (with a wrong head board of Le Mistral); the further carriages are J&M Models LX sleeping car, Restaurant car, Train Bleu Salon-bar and Fourgon.

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

Thanks Fred, the coach looks fantastic the only immediate difference I spot is "smaller" ( or is that more in scale?) vestibules at each end and the bogies.
Russell

Hello Russel,
The vestibules of the Amati LX car are 24 mm; those of the J&M Models LX car are 27 mm. A scale drawing I have shows that the real vestibule is 950 mm (which is 29.6 mm in 1:32), so both are too small! The overall length of the car-body (22200 mm) is correctly scaled down at 693 mm
Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

CIWL LX sleeping car kit for gauge 1: The building of the kit is finished

After fifteen months of construction, I have finished building the Amati CIWL sleeper kit. It already ran last weekend but now the final details such as the ceiling of the interior are also ready. See the photos and the video.

More photos can be seen on my website:
http://sncf231e.nl/amati-kit-for-a-ciwl-lx-sleeping-car/


With the end of the construction it is time for a conclusion:

It is a very nice kit. Amati makes quality; all parts fit well and look good. Most model builders with some patience can assemble this kit. The description and drawings are also in order. And building was a long-term but enjoyable activity.

Is there nothing to criticize: Yes there is something. If you are looking for a gauge 1 carriage to run on your track or a club layout then I would not recommend this kit. If you build it according to the description, it will not be able to run on a track. Furthermore, the built model, even if you make changes to make it run, is rather fragile and certainly not suitable to take to a club .

Regards

Fred

 

[fredlub]

Now that I finished building a CIWL LX sleeping car from a kit I noticed that Accucraft is going to issue the same type of car based on the former J&M models range. They are using the J&M brand for these. More information on their website: https://www.accucraftestore.com/euro-ciwl-sleeper-car.


Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

Today I had a run in the garden with a CIWL "Train Bleu" with the Amati sleeping car at the end of the train. Le Train Bleu is pulled by the ASTER SNCF 232 U1 4 cylinder compound locomotive. The other cars are J&M. I do not know whether the U1 ever pulled Le Train Bleu but it looks good anyway, I think.

Regards
Fred

 

[fredlub]

Yes, The ASTER SNCF 232 U1 is a real 4 cylinder compound locomotive. Some consider it the best ASTER locomotive. Mine is an excellent runner, it could easily pull a longer train on a longer track. My track is only 30 meter so I normally stick to 4 of 5 coaches.

Regards
Fred