It's been awhile

[bogusman]

Finished off the OCEAN wagon this morning and parked for the moment as got to make up batch of paint before spraying. Now revisiting a modified GWR coal wagon to N21. Had progressed quite far with it. On closer inspection modelling has moved on since I started this wagon. So first job was to remove the cast self contain buffers to modifiy to sprung. Removed the cast V hangers and cast brake gear (these will be modified with etched brass brake hoops). Will replace V hangers with etched ones. Removed the curved brass door stops for safe keeping. Started to fit DC brake gear.

 

[bogusman]

The story so far on the N21. Brakes have been modified (see picture) and glued to wagon. Now in the process of making vertical riveted corner pieces out of 10 thou plasticard. Now I know why I put it to oneside all those years ago

Pete

 

[bogusman]

DC brake gear fitted with home made U brackets at end of pull rods. Brake handles not fitted as still to make corner plates.

Pete

 

[john lewsey]

Nicely done

 

[bogusman]

Thanks John. After this one is finished I have two N30 coal wagons to build. Want to make a batch so I can spray them all at once.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

The N21 ready for priming and painting (unless I replace the door chains). The N31 next.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

When looking at photos of N21s it became clear that door chains needed to be changed so made retaining rings and chain. Now to prime it. Also corner gussets fitted and extra rivets added on headstock.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Now primed which now shows all the extra detail more clearly.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Now started the N30. The etches are very crisp and clean and the instructions are excellent. Started the build as per instructions until I got to the ends. Pushed the rivets out but when compared to photos of these wagons lots of rivets missing . So marked out the end for the missing rivets, partially drilled with 0.3mm drill and pushed out rivets. See photos of modified end compared to end as supplied.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Only a little bit done today. End staunchions embossed and soldered on one end and drawhook plate embossed and soldered in place.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Well today I have finished the other end and have started to add rivet detail to the solebar. As I had no clear photos of a N30 wagon I have surmised where the rivets would be by looking at other GWR coal wagon photos and drawings.
So the solebar was tack soldered and the relevent parts lined up for marking out. The solebar was then removed for centerline marking and 0.3mm drill to half depth and then embossed rivets. Solebar fitted again to check rivet alignment. Hope it looks ok. Another 3 positions to do and end rivets to add.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Well solebars are now finished so decided to solder it all together. The end was a fiddle so at present only one fitted. Will clean up end joints when the other end fitted and the top angle parts fitted.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Started to fit packing pieces to solebar which aligns up with the other 2 slots on the body then you assemble the other staunchions for the side as per end ones. One slight problem the tabs don't line up with the slots arghh!!!.

Pete

 

[Dan Randall]

One out of three isn’t bad....


Regards

Dan

 

[bogusman]

Decided to have a break yesterday after the tab and slot issue. So today went in for 2nd round. Finished fitting rest of packing pieces and filed them flush to body. Assembled side staunchions same as end ones. Filed the tabs flush to back of rivetted plate then aligned unit to door opening and made sure they were vertical with set square. More to follow.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

A bit more progress today as folded L sections (on the next one I build I will deepen the half etch fold lines) and soldered to inside of wagon and pressed out the rivets for the doors.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Well had a 4 day break from the wagon (power washing and gardening) but back on it today. Made doors and fitted them and fitted corner gussets. Underframe tomorrow.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

More progress today finished the W units. Fixed one was straight foreward but the rocking one was a bit of a pain. To start off with the rocking base plate was over 1mm too long so would not fit between the solebars also the slots on the W iron to mount on the base plate were too small in length and width. I know on most models they need to have the cusp removed in the slot before the tab fits but these were so small I had to drill along the slots and use a taper broach to get it to fit. Also had to pack out pin point bearings with washers for the axle to fit nice and file a flat on the washers. Now have a rolling wagon hope to do more tomorrow.

Pete

 

[bogusman]

Well thought I would have an easy day on the wagon today how wrong could I be. V hangers fitted ok then onto the etched brake gear. When fitted to check spacing between wheels (see photo). Etched brake gear supplied in kit is 10 foot wagon has 9 foot wheelbase. Had some white metal brake gear so started to modify one.

Pete

 

[AJC]

Ouch. This doesn't appear to be a wonderful kit (and the brakegear is just...), and if it was test built, surely unfinished. Did you say whose it was? I also wonder how accurate those corner plates are. Most riveted steel wagons I’ve seen had an ‘L’ shaped plate rather than a cut off square gusset like that (which is what welded BR minerals had).

What I don’t have is any relevant reference material. I seem to remember that at least one of the GWR wagon books has a detailed drawing of one rye of steel-built wagon and Swindon’s way of doing was relatively consistent for details like that, even if it’s not of an N30. This is of more than academic interest as I’ve an N23 to build once Rumney Models reopens later in the year and I’ll have to add those sorts of details to the body.

Adam