Everyone is gushing over your modeling skills, and rightly so, but I just have to say, your narration, videography and editing is also what sets this channel apart. I’m so glad I found it several years ago when this layout was in its early stages. Every video has been entertaining and informative. The cherry on top for me as someone who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s is the production music you use. You never fail to put a smile on my face, even as an American who until finding your channel really didn’t care too much about British railway modeling. You just do a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of that era. So thanks and keep up the great work!

May I say Richard, that video is one of my favourites. Your skill sets are enormous, watching you cut the donor unit, then fixing onto the finished unit, had me gripped. You worked hard and it paid off, the finished centre coach looks like it’s been there since day one. Fantastic job, congratulations on yet another great video 👌🏻

Superb job, Richard. A master class in historical research and attention to detail. Bravo!

I must admit that I love the scenery work and thought I would find this episode boring. Far from it, it is excellent, thank you.

Hello Richard, I have read through a number of the comments below, so it difficult to add to what has already been said except to say that I think you have done an extraordinary job of converting that unit. Your dedication to getting everything perfect is to be congratulated. It looks as if has come straight out of the Bachmann factory. Cheers Greg

As always a great video Richard. Hearing the unit pulling out with the bell sounding evoked childhood memories of trips from Reading to Gatwick airport for family holidays!

Anybody else check back daily to see if there is a new video, only to be disappointed but then think sod it, I’ll watch the latest video again!

I'm from Ontario Canada and have been watching your work for a couple of years now. You impress me every time. Thank you. Dave

Amazing attention to detail as always! I would be tempted to distress and weather that cut off cab for the scrap yard, it would look kinda cool!

Richard. I was given a very handy tip when doing lining. After masking, spray the first coat in the base color so that any bleed through no matter how insignificant will be totally invisible. This will also seal any unnoticed gaps in the masking tape and prevent the top coats bleeding under the tape.

I do love how this three car sits so nicely into your platform station allocated for the branch line it always looked a bit weird seeing your many two cars sat there. That said hearing sound especially at slow speeds really makes this model come alive.

Jaw dropping when you think what you've just done. Amazing job. Thank you!

First class piece of model engineering. I am no expert but I'm sure that I travelled on this type of train between Reigate and Dorking back in the day. Great !

You did an amazing job! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the next video!

Hi Richard Fantastic video and, as with all your work, a master class in how to build a model railway. Love watching your videos and the practical way you go about everything. Thank you for posting.

I only have admiration for you Richard. This type of job I would never undertake myself. I was brought up in Portsmouth and have fond memories of the thumpers as they ran from Portsmouth to Eastleigh and Portsmouth to Southampton . The line spurred just after Hilsea and was none electric in the 70 and early 80's. It was sad when they electrified the line late 80-s early 90-s and the thumpers vanished. They ran in 3 car units and was surprised when only 2 car units came on sale. Great job Richard. I admire your layouts as so much attention to detail it feels like a real place, I wish I could rent one of the houses and live there :) - regards Jason

That’s my evening entertainment sorted!! Thank you Richard 😄

I’m another “no interest in modelling” but was a child of the 80’s and a network south east commuter of the 90’s and 00’s and find this an absolute nostalgia-rest, I love the litter, graffiti and general crappiness of your 80’s look, I’m called back to staring out of train windows at allotments, rusty cars, backs of houses…. First day commuting to the big smoke I was 21ish and called “sir” by the conductor, my first thought, does he mean me? I loved those trains, the sprung seats, the heating that went off halfway home in winter, the window ledge you could actually lean on… the guards van floor on Xmas Eve with all the drunks squeezed in including me! Great times!!

I drove one of these on the Dartmoor Railway many moons ago. I loved it. Number 1132 running Okehampton to Meldon for many years. RIP Thumper.

Personally, I love the history you incorporate into your videos of the builds you do. Call me strange, but being from across the pond, I am more fascinated with the rails systems and locos of Britain.

Fantastic job there Richard. Very Nice indeed. ...RIP Thumper.

Fantastic work Richard. The center coach turned out real good it almost looks as if it is a factory model. More kit bashing videos please. - Nicholas.

Great work ' very enjoyable video, loving the 80s soundtrack'

Welcome back sir Everard of junction. Nice to see u back. 👍

Your attention to detail is exquisite have watched your videos from your last layout. But only felt the need to comment now. I also like your commentary / history of each subject your covering. Regards James

Another amazing model and wonderfully entertaining video, thank you Richard. Well done Sir.

Your hard work paid off with a superb result Richard, Excellent 👌

That is OUTSTANDING. Your experience working on cars certainly shone through with filling in the gaps. As someone has already said your skill sets to do that are a credit to you. You made it look so easy, I bet there was plenty of effing and jeffing off camera at times. The Thumper looks amazing. Thank you for sharing Richard. Keep up the excellent work.

You're a brave man, but well worth the effort. I was a regular passenger on these trains in the early 80s but, as you say, they were so ubiquitous you just didn't notice them.

Super job Richard, as always... Thank you for doing this excellent video & sharing.

Your attention to detail is always near perfection. You can always make the project interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing your expertise

As usual, Richard, Magnificent! I think that we all becoming addicted to the Branch Line! Nice detail that model gently brushes a bush as it exits the underpass. Nice extra dynamic item. Thank-you!

I'm a not really a train fan...BUT... I found this UTTERLY interesting!!! I'm glued to this!!!!!! I'm a truck modeller so I use rattle cans but the airbrush technique is exquisite!

Great work Richard.Well documented process & expert execution.Thanks for sharing.

Took me back to the late 50s and the Thumpers pulling out of Charing Cross across Hungerford Bridge. Never forget the sound.

Great job Richard i love the sound pack especially when the level of detail when you can hear the brake compressor activate when the train sat at the signal

I don’t know why but I have such a soft spot for Thumpers. Glad to see you have experienced one on the EOR which I am lucky enough to live near 😉 I must admit I always thought they were awesome and have memories of the Hastings variety when going to Lingfield Races with my dad 😎 Great conversion and well worth the effort in the end! 😄 Cheers Richard, absolutely love it 👍🍻🍀

The first video I have watched on this subject. Absolutley facinating. Well done Sir! Top notch.

Richard, excellent video on the makeover and painting of that model. I picked up a lot of tips and tricks just by watching. It turned out amazing and the attention to detail, well amazing. Thanks for sharing and stay safe, Ken

I love the closing shots Richard, it's easy to imagine looking across, out of the window of another train watching the scene on a summers day in the 80's. Great work as usual

Brilliant. It’s these sorts of videos that make it worthwhile as I immediately searched and ordered a silver paint marker because I too have a partial loco respray where slight touch up of silver light surrounds may be needed. Thanks for making these. Greetings from Sammamish

Really nice job... One tip from my modelling days; the glue on the plastic dust trick is a lot easier if you mix the dust with glue in a small pot and apply it as a thick liquid , rather than putting on dust and wetting it. I used to store a small vial (old glass contact lens pot) of premixed plastic/glue to use as a gap filling glue for what you are doing. Another option for a really strong, hard smooth sanding gap filler is baking soda on the gap and a few drops of superglue... Even used this combo to repair old Austin Montego bumpers! Hope that helps

Long time subscriber. I don’t know if you’ll see this comment but I wanted to let you know I love your material. I’ve been a subscriber since 2012. Thank you for staying with it. It’s much appreciated.

Excellent job Richard looked amazing running after and when sound came on that just made it even more awesome well done 👏

👍Memories of the sound from when I started to commute to work 50 years ago.

This was an incredibly interesting video, and very inspiring. You are both taking the art of railway modelling to a higher level yet at the same time making more accessible and inviting to the layman.

Very professional job with attention to detail, very well done 👍

I don t think I've ever put that much work in to anything. Your patience and skills are legendary!

Impressive work there. I admire your courage and attention to detail. Look forward to seeing what you do next! Thanks for sharing.Roy.

I'm not even a railway modeller, but love watching your videos. Being an Oxted lad, a thumper project is particularly interesting, as I spent many years travelling on Class 205/6/7s. Great work, as always.

Another truly-inspiring episode Richard. Your talents are endless!

As brilliant and inspirational as ever. I remember travelling on these to school and they're very much going to be a feature on my new layout! Well done Richard, keep it up!

Excellent work indeed, sir! Thanks for sharing your methods with clear explanations for your choices. I'm just starting my first major locomotive project after a long break from modelling, so this was well-timed for me. Cheers from Wisconsin!

Took me back to Redhill station and visiting my uncle. Nice work Sir!

Fantastic tutorial video Richard, Informative and inspirational. You made it look so easy too build and the end result speaks for itself. Thank you for giving up your time to make these videos.

An excellent job on the conversion. It looks just perfect, as others have said. Looks like it belongs! Thanks for a terrific video Richard👍

Absolutely astonishing detail ! As echoed below, the effort you put into making these videos is incredible and very much appreciated. Keep up the excellent work. Ian

Excellent job was done! Looks great and fits existing train. 👍 Great video, as always!

Superb modelling as usual, with excellent advice and attention to detail

Hi Richard, excellent tutorial as always your attention to detail is first class.

As a Reading resident in the 70’s and 80’s, and a regular railway user you have certainly captured the look, feel and sounds I remember! The 205 Thumpers were a favourite of mine on the line down to Basingstoke and earlier on the Guildford/Redhill line too if I remember correctly. That EE diesel sound from the sound card is spot on! Great video, many thanks for the detailed explanations of techniques and equipment.

Amazing work as usual! Your attention to detail is exceptional. You are an inspiration to others in the hobby. Keep the vids coming.

An absolutely astounding job. The unit looks gorgeous snaking along the branch. Brilliant, brilliant!

Such a joy! I love the backdating to 1980s condition. I remember these in Reading in the 1980s. Incidentally, a tip to save time with the carriage numbers: instead of lining up individual numerals, you can get, for an extremely reasonable price, custom made carriage number transfers from Railtec: the whole thing goes on as one unit.

Thank you for sharing, Richard! Nice work!

Many a happy memories of the thumper or slam doors as we used to call them.

Fun Thumper fact: the early units were built in an era when BR(S) used larger route numbers, so the centre window is the same height as the driver's window to accommodate this. In the early 60s they switched to smaller route numbers, and later Thumpers (and the later EMUs: 4VEP, 4CIG, 4TC, 4REP) used a smaller centre window. I don't think any EPBs/HAPs had this, so it's an immediate giveaway you're looking at a DEMU.

Stunning work and detail can’t praise your videos enough stunning in content and prodction

Wow Richard that is just superb. I’ve got a long history with the DEMUs having grown up in the Rye area, then moved to Hastings. I worked (for BR) at Ashford so commuted thousands of miles on the various units starting in blue livery, through blue and grey and then NSE, they’re really in my blood ! I’ve got a couple of units myself, including a blue liveried 1120 (later 205 020) which I remember travelling on for much of its life as a two car. It did later become a three car though. I’ve also got 205 001 in NSE livery and would love it to be a three car just like you’ve done in this video with 205 009. Alas, I have neither the patience nor the skill to be able to do what you’ve done so will have to be satisfied with what I’ve got. This was a fascinating and enjoyable video, not just because of the DEMU theme but also because I learnt so much about spray painting as well. It’s something I’d like to have a go at one day, but probably on something less ambitious (and expensive !). Thank you for sharing this.

Evening Richard. What a absolutely fantastic video on adding the extra coach to the thumper unit 🤩 I live in Manchester and love a train spotting trip into London back in the 70s and ride all the different EMUs and thumpers 😂

Just brilliant Richard, thanks for filming the project too, top bloke. 👍

Great Job Richard, but I would get the gardeners out to trim the bush by the exit of the overhead bridge, which keeps scraping the sides of the DMU as it passes.

Was great to watch, I love your historical context you put into your videos

Another excellant video!! Thanks for taking the time to film and edit it, lovely to watch!!

A much better cut and shut job than usually occurred in the 90s. Excellent video as always. I am in awe of your masking skills.

Seriously fantastic work carried out to achieve the result you wanted, I'd genuinely be too scared to cut the body of the carriage with a hacksaw in the first place, let alone anything else you've done. You have some amazing skills and I am always in awe of the realism and finish that you achieve. Many thanks for sharing (as always).

That is simply exquisite. Yes a lot of work and time, but good heavens what a result. Absolutely sublime. I grew up with these units and all I can say is this is probably the best model thumper I have ever seen. Well done.

Sooo looking forward to this. Happy 2022 Richard.

Great videos Great model (saw them on a almost daily basis when i was young and boy did they thump ) nuff said !

Beautiful Work Richard. I admire what you are doing and creating. Many of your videos have gotten me back into building models and model trains so i want to thank you from the bottom of heart for getting me back into this beautiful hobby :)

wow just wow Great craftsmanship Richard, all that hard work and long hours paid off.

Living in the Croydon area in the 60s/70s I used to see this stop in the station from my bedroom window. Very much part of the Southern Region and, as you correctly say Richard, not really revered to any degree. Great conversion to a 3-car unit!

Excellent work Richard . I think i could say you have given many of us modelers the push we need to undertake this sort of work. I have 3 old lima blue grey coaches which i am in the process of bashing about to make a Network Rail Measurement train . Loving the layout 👌

Wow Richard what a fantastic and factual video, this has given me food for though I am modelling the South East in NSE (Dover) and at present have placed two 205 car units together to make four car units as DEMU's. The attention to detail and colour match looks really good thanks for sharing, please stay safe..

new sub. That train takes me back to the early 80s as a teen when i was in the Navy traveling to london and on to plymouth.

Fantastic Richard. Your videos and work are amazing. Far above other modellers on KZfaq. Thank you.

Outstanding work Richard, and an awesome result. Your attention to detail and patience is exemplary. And a really intersting potted history lesson too, great job.

Well done Richard observing from down under very good tips and very informative I like your attention to detail

An impressive job Richard. This unit looks superb. Well done.

Richard that was a great effort and looks fantastic. Also loved your video skills as the layout shots are so life like.

You never stop to amaze me with your set of skills. Happy and healthy New Year btw.

Sensational work, Richard. An era I’ve thought of doing in the future, is the late 80s into the 1990s. I do love your videos and you have a fair few interesting tips and tricks for modelling. Great work and thanks for sharing. 👍 Regards, Caleb

Impressive and painstaking work! I wondered whether it would be a lot simpler to modify a Bachmann BR standard suburban trailer carriage but then I realised that they only have 9 bays/doors per side rather than 10 on the DEMU centre cars - so they must be shorter. It's a pity Bachmann never saw fit to make a centre car to make their model more prototypical.

Infinite patience ... and skill. Great job. Thanks for sharing.

When I was growing up in the 80’s in Tonbridge, Kent I used to think that the triangle on the yellow part looked like a happy face!

I can only admire and how well you did this job, and in addition how many hours and dedication it took you to not only build this amazing project but also take the time to edit and splice and produce a video that was entirely interesting and captivating - thank you!

Great job. I built mine as a 3T unit, as used between Tonbridge and Reading in the 70’s, using the whole driving trailer without the cuttting of the shell. Still had to modify the electrics. But Door banger? Never heard it called that. Was always a bump stop, because that’s what it is, however, you need to lower the black triangle if you get the inclination or the time on the front, as you have put it in the location it was applied after a repaint after the headlight was fitted. Traditionally the triangle was at the bottom (same as on the EPB motor coach). But as I said at the start, great job mate

Great video and kudos to you for this labour of love. Looks amazing.

Absolutely bloody amazing, your standards are incredible and all aspects of your most realistic modelling. I never fail to enjoy your videos. Also all done in the manner of BR as they used older stock to expand other units like the old underground 518 trailing units that were used to extend the 455s from three to four car units.

Excellent video Richard, I really enjoyed this. Your workmanship is spot on , well done 👍