I was planning on somehow re-using the original baseplate from the Bachmann chassis, but decided it would be simpler to just make a new one out of 1.5mm styrene. Here it is temporarily fixed in place with the original spring mouldings roughly placed in position but not fixed yet (they'll be attached to the baseplate so the whole assembly can be dismantled when required).


The next job is to make some new pick-ups for which purpose I've bought some phosphor bronze strip from Mainly Trains. These will be attached to the back of the baseplate (there's a gap between it and the bottom of the chassis thanks to the screw holes in the chassis block being raised, and extend through the existing gaps in the spring mouldings either side to make contact with the backs of the wheel rims.