Class 108 DMU Coachlining

Now that the better weather is with us the exterior coachwork of our Class 108 DMU has once again become a priority.

Last year the final top coats of Deep Brunswick Green were applied to the DMU bodywork, leaving only the exterior decorative coachlining to be completed.

Work Ahead

The coachlining will consist of a thick stripe below the windows going all the way around each car, a thinner stripe above the windows again going around each car and 'whiskers' on the front cab of each car.

These are to be painted in Cream Coach Enamel paint, which gives a good contrast to the Deep Brunswick Green paintwork.

The first part of the coachlining to be attempted was the thicker stripe below the windows.

To ensure that the stripe was straight, level and a consistent width great care has to be taken with masking off the required area along each section of the length of the car.

Measuring and Masking

Various measurements are taken and the area to be painted masked off carefully.

Due to the length of the stripe along each car (approximately 20m) any deviation is very apparent, so the area is marked, masked and then and most importantly a final check is made by eye along the length.

The check by eye is the most important as when the cars were made, manufacturing tolerances were not to modern standards.

As such measurements alone cannot be relied upon to give an indication. Ultimately what the eye sees is most important.

Paint Applied

Once the masking is complete, then 2 or 3 coats of the Cream Coach Enamel is applied, allowed to dry until slightly tacky and then the masking tape removed to give the completed stripe.

Each side of the car is expected to take three sessions to complete with the front and rear a further session.

This will then be repeated for the thinner upper stripe and the 'whiskers'.

We will provide further updates as the work progresses.

Alan Jackson