Berlin Tram by Etcher - OcCre - 1:24

[Etcher]

I’ve had my eye on these tram kits from OcCre for some time, having and being impressed by their Xebec Casador kit and finding the trams very appealing to look at. So on my Xmas wish list I put the Cornwall Models website page of all the team kits available and let my partner choose one. So it would still be a surprise. She got me the Berlin one.

 

 

So far I have completed the interior, gluing the bench frames to the carriage base and planking the floor and benches. The benches have been varnished and the floor painted what should be light grey, but I’m not sure if it’s currently a touch too dark.

 

 

Next I have prepared the window frames by staining them, painting one side of the doors green and staining the other and painting one side of the carriage ends a cream colour. For the green I used Model Color Deep Green and for the cream I mixed around two parts Model Color Ivory with one part Sand Yellow.

 

 

 

And that’s where I am currently. I’m enjoying the build so far, the parts are good quality, the instructions have photos as usual with OcCre, although some things aren’t too clearly explained. And it’s brought me back to model ships again, playing with wood!

 

Edited January 11, 2022 by Etcher

[yvesvidal]

Very nice benches that you put together. Glad that you started that kit as we do not see many of them.

 

Yves

[Etcher]

I’ve been gluing some of the clear plastic to the window frames. The ones pictured below are okay as I can glue oversize sheet to the back of the frame as that side will be glued to another compartment end piece and therefore not visible. However, the doors will be visible from both sides, albeit one will be inside the tram and not clearly visible. So I think I will have to cut the sheet to fit inside the frame and glue in place carefully. Seems a bit daunting. These are the easy ones. A few dabs of ca glue held these in place.

 

 

I’ve also started glueing the carriage ends together. There are three layers at each end to be sandwiched together. Then the doors fitted into them.

 

I’m also fixing the transfers onto the carriage ends. The slot at the top right of the transfer is for a rail to fix into. For some reason it’s not there in the photo showing you where to put it! That confused me for a moment. But the placement has to be correct as far as I can see.

 

 

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by Etcher

[Etcher]

These are both sides of one carriage end ready to be glued together and then the doors inserting. Once I’ve put the windows into the doors. Oh and metal bars go across the windows where the tiny holes are. 
Addendum: actually those holes aren’t for the metal/wire bars. They are just glued onto the windows.

 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Etcher

[Etcher]

I’m having difficulty cutting clear plastic accurately and placing it inside window openings on the doors. I tried using the actual door as a guide marking inside the frame along the plastic and I’ve also tried measuring but it’s never completely accurate and I shave off a bit here a bit there and end up with tiny gaps when it’s buckling elsewhere. See pic:

 

 

You can see the top right is buckling slightly and it’s now too short at the bottom. I’m not sure if I’m missing a trick or just clumsy!

 

I think perhaps I need more cutting tools. I rely too much on my craft knife when it’s not always the best tool for the job.

Edited January 14, 2022 by Etcher

[Etcher]

I’ve assembled one of the carriage ends. Here it is beforehand and then the three parts clamped together. Of course one of the pieces of wire that represent the window bars fell off during the procedure and will need fixing back on. I used ca glue trying not to use too much but enough to keep it intact!

 

 

I’ve also cut out and cleaned up the preformed tram sides. I think the best way to fix it all together is to glue one end to the carriage interior and then both sides before adding the other end.

 

For some reason the forum is insisting on loading this image upside down. So, crane your head!

 

Here’s the end dry fit to the interior

 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Etcher

[Etcher]

Before adding the other carriage end I painted the interior the same cream colour used elsewhere. 
 

 

Then I added the other doors/carriage end. This didn’t fit correctly. I had to sand two or three millimetres off the end of the benches and floor to get the tram sides to fit snugly. Whether the precut plywood piece was slightly short or my building is slightly off somewhere I’m not sure!

 

 

You’ll notice that one of the doors stands open in this pic. This was obviously incorrect as the benches would prevent them opening properly. At the point this photo was taken I realised this. They are sliding doors! I did it this way as that was how it was portrayed in the instructions picture! This wasn’t the first time the pictures were misleading. A bit frustrating as OcCre’s instructions rely heavily on the photographs.

 

This is the tram assembled correctly (I think!)

 

 

I’ve also added the two roof supports at this point. You can just see through the far windows that only one piece of wire remains attached across the windows. I’d recommend anyone thinking of building this kit to attach those after putting the carriage together as they easily fall off during the process. Or they do if it’s a struggle to fit them together as it was for me!

 

Next, planking the sides and then the roof, I think…

Edited January 20, 2022 by Etcher

[BobG]

I just found your tram build, Darren, and will be following your build closely since I recently ordered the San Francisco tram. My wife and I love San Francisco and our son lives and works there so I decided to add this model to my list. It looks like the model has its challenges but you seem to be managing them well so far. Good luck!

[wefalck]

Love those old trams, but find these kits rather large - creating display space problems ...

 

As to cutting the clear plastic-sheet: I don't know what material was supplied, but one can get on certain materials cleaner cuts by scoring it with a scalpel and then breaking it off over a sharp edge, e.g. a steel-ruler at the table edge. For small adjustments I use diamond nail-files. They are cheap, have two grades of diamonds, and can be easily obtained in various sizes.

 

Are you painting the acrylics onto the unprepared wood ? You will get a smoother surface by applying one or two coats of sanding filler first and then rubbing it lightly down with fine sandpaper. This prevents the wood from swelling, when the acrylics are applied.

 

Looking forward to further steps ...