Talerddig Mk ll: finally some fact instead of a lot of fiction

matto21

Western Thunderer
Well mineral wagon #1 has had its first coat of paint on the underframe. While that dries, and inspired both by a photo in the 4mm wagon book by Geoff Kent, and recent Dogfish talk on @AJC's thread, I decided to start a Cambrian Catfish kit myself.

Bit nostalgic because a Cambrian Dogfish kit was the first wagon kit I ever built (badly, very badly). Going to make a couple of modifications to the handrails as I go...

IMG_20190426_224939260.jpg

Matt
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Oh good!

Here's an upside down view of one of my Dogfish, which uses the same chassis moudlings.

Dogs 003.JPG

The most important useful change (for the sake of durability) is the lump of 40 thou' (or is it 60 thou'?) just visible next to the left hand wheelset. This gives the hopper moulding something to stick to. Something that would also be worthwhile, is to reinforce the headstocks before assembly with more 40 thou'. Do this with a strip that is slightly under height and under width so as to form a rebate to add the floor and solebars (just like an Airfix kit) and allow to set thoroughly.

Dogs 004.JPG

One other thing to note is that the bearing holes have collars to them which will need trimming back a bit to allow the wheels to run properly without splaying the solebars out. Oh, and drill for wire to mount the brakewheels in the before assembly: it's much, much easier!

I would recommend replacing the handwheels with the Stenson Models ones. You can tidy up the plastic ones, but it's nerve-wracking and fiddly. I've got enough for a Catfish spare if you like? http://www.stensonmodels.co.uk/product-category/all-products/4mm-products/

Adam
 

matto21

Western Thunderer
Hi Adam,

Thanks for a very informative post, and some useful photos.

I've not got any further than cleaning up the mould lines on the solebars and removing the plastic handrail from the headstock yet. Interesting that you suggest reinforcing the headstocks - I had already thought of that because I seem to recall, and have read elsewhere, the headstock to solebar joint as being iffy.

I'll have to do something with regards the handwheels as the smaller ones are mis-moulded in my kit. Was not aware of Stenson Models - theirs look excellent. Your offer is very kind, and I'd definitely take you up on it however, having looked at the instructions on Stenson Models website, I'm not confident in my ability to solder these tidily enough. My soldering is akin to painting a 1:72nd scale kit with a paint roller! :D

As an aside, is that a (scratchbuilt?) Lowmac in the background of your photos?

Matt
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Yes, that's my Southern Lowmac.

Brizzle 055.JPG

I can't find a fully-lettered picture, but the Commer-cabbed Ford will probably form its load. Eventually. I'm slightly surprised that the all plastic construction worked but it's been stable for the better part of a decade.


Handwheels: I can solder them up for you if you want? The only really difficult bit is adding the 0.3mm wire for the handle and that's simply a fiddle rather than anything else. PM me your address.

Adam
 

matto21

Western Thunderer
Lovely Lowmac! There's something about them that I love, think it's the low, almost squat nature of their appearance. I actually started reworking a Dapol example about 10 years ago but the deck developed a slight twist that I couldn't rectify and the running was poor as a result. The buffers recently found a new lease of life on my (still unfinished) Cowan's Sheldon crane. Might have to have another go one day.

PM on its way!

Matt
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
And received. I'll fire up the iron this afternoon.

That Lowmac has even appeared in MRJ (alongside a GW-designed one whose construction was the actual subject of the accompanying article). Here's that vehicle before it was painted:

Lowmac_MRJ_002.gif

I'd quite like to make one of the SR Flatrols - either the riveted version or the ingenious cast steel affair which Mr Bulleid had a hand in.

Adam
 
Last edited:

matto21

Western Thunderer
Bravo! And congratulations on an article in MRJ. Love scratchbuilt wagons in their pre-painted state where you can see the materials involved in the construction.

Feel free to build me one!

Matt
 

matto21

Western Thunderer
Oh good!

Here's an upside down view of one of my Dogfish, which uses the same chassis moudlings.

I meant to ask, whose cast buffers did you use? I thought Lanarkshire Models did some but can't find them now.

Matt
 
Last edited:

matto21

Western Thunderer
Morning all,

Apart from a little bit of additional airbrush weathering of the underframes, I'm calling these two 16 tonners done.

IMG_20190428_104835890_HDR.jpg

IMG_20190428_104810322_HDR.jpg

The second is a bit darker grey than I'd intended, however these wagons were such a range of colours I reckon I can get away with it?

Replating and patched paintwork based on photos on the Bartlett site.

Thanks for looking!

Matt
 

matto21

Western Thunderer
Catfish progress:

I've made some progress with the Catfish's underframe, getting the b***er square and level was as difficult as I remember.

I took the opportunity to thin down the steps slightly, and I've replaced the buffers with some nice Lanarkshire ones.

IMG_20190502_200502312.jpg

Yes that's a baby monitor in the background!

The illusion of square and level isn't helped by my dodgy drilling of the brake shoes for the rigging - despite my best efforts, it isn't level. Let's not look too closely end on, eh?

Matt
 

Stubby47

Western Thunderer
A general question- why do the buffers need replacing? Are the kit's originals wrong, or did the prototype ones differ over time?
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
A general question- why do the buffers need replacing? Are the kit's originals wrong, or did the prototype ones differ over time?

There's not much wrong with the kit buffers (they're good enough for Geoff Kent) but getting the best from them is a bit of a fiddle and simply lopping them off and replacing is quicker and lends a spot of weight. On the Catfish in particular there isn't much space to add it.

Adam

PS - Matt: what with one thing and another I've not made it to the Post Office. TOMORROW.
 

matto21

Western Thunderer
Hi Stu,

Yeah I agree with Adam, there's nothing really wrong with the kit ones, the cast ones are just that bit nicer!

Matt: what with one thing and another I've not made it to the Post Office. TOMORROW.

Jeepers, no worries at all. It's a miracle I've got this far so quickly tbh!

Matt
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Both very pleasing! Glad the handwheels survived their trip through the post.

Adam
 
Top