Unklian's G3 workbench .

Mike W

Western Thunderer
I don't think timber would be transhipped, so these could turn up anywhere, as indeed could the LNWR ones! I'm sure I could make the case for a pair at Wellingborouh.

Mike
 

geoff_nicholls

Western Thunderer
Of course, what we need after this is an LBSC brake van. Which would fit nicely with unklian's marketing strategy, as, according to this website:
Brake Vans 1
all LBSC goods trains had to have TWO brake vans, one at each end.
Sorry Ian, joking aside, I'd encourage anyone who produces a wagon kit, to consider following it up with a matching brake van. Brake vans are usually a bit more complicated than other wagons, so I believe a kit might be welcomed even more than a particular wagon. Though admittedly few brake vans travelled outside their own territory like wagons did. But after all, a loco with a wagon is just shunting, a loco with a brake van is a train!
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Geoff, at least one customer has taken our GER brake van and changed the roof profile to approximate an LBSC van. I don't know how accurate it is, but they do look similar. I have also seen one of our GER vans painted up as an early GWR Mink - fooled me for a while as I wondered whose model it was and then realised it was mine!
 

geoff_nicholls

Western Thunderer
I had noticed the similarity of the GER and LBSC brake vans, it'd be nice to see a photo of that conversion.
I hate to admit it, but Holden, who introduced that van on the GER, did come from the GWR. The vans are very similar. He was responsible for the round topped carriage doors of the London commuter carriages of both companies as well.
 

unklian

Western Thunderer
Gentlemen,
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement . I have considered many different vehicles to follow the Brighton bolsters. However I must walk before I can run with more kits. Brake vans do make most attractive models and as Geoff points out every goods loco should come with a matching one. But I reckon that compared to a simple goods van, there is twice as much pattern making involved. Most brake vans being asymmetrical means all four sides are different. The running gear is also often different to standard wagons and often more related to carriage stock. I like horse boxes too, but they have the same idiosyncrasy's .
These factors aside, I have set some rules for choosing another kit to do .

First I must have a very good drawing and some good photos, no more models from weight diagrams and one fuzzy photo, I have been caught out like that before.
Second it must have run on the Isle of Wight or a typical GWR branch line (in pregrouping times) , preferably both . And if you know anything about the I of Wight that is not narrowing things down as much as you might think .
Thirdly it must have the potential to share lots of parts with more kits.

Now all I have to do is finish the current project first ........

Ian
 

Simon

Flying Squad
That is a very nice wagon that you have created Ian, there is something very appealing about the IoW stock - it all "ticks lots of boxes" I think.

I am still intrigued by the car truck DS60568, pictured at Ryde St Johns on 30th May 1964, pictured on p60 of British Railway Goods Wagons in colour.

Cookie made a beautiful model of the FYNR tool truck converted from an open wagon in 1/32 scale, it really is quite something and all it needs is some gentle weathering. Perhaps Steve will show us.

Sorry for the thread hijack, if I ever get myself back into pre grouping land a set of bolsters similar to yours are defo a possibility!

I look forward to seeing whatever you next reveal…..

Simon
 

unklian

Western Thunderer
No worries Simon, if we keep nudging his conscience he might finish it ! Anyway it is good to see, I have the drawing and hopefully one day I will make one in G3 .
 

unklian

Western Thunderer
Been chipping away at a few things, but generally things have been slow, don't know why really !
Been a bit distracted of course ...

RIMG0477.JPG

But I have resurrected the boxfile Diorama/layout and my first job has been to sort out a fourth box to use as a fiddle yard . The day being dry, I searched out some 6mm MDF ( very dusty ) and cut up the basic lining and track bed out in the garden. Now I have to make up some more lengths of inset rail section.

RIMG0475.JPG

Most important though I have made some more progress on the bolster wagon first build, to see how things are going to go together. I had to cut the laser cut w-iron parts from Mike Williams, as obviously they suit a longer wheelbase .

RIMG0469.JPG

My casting man had given me a couple of rejects from the run he did for me , the main issue being some bubbles on the underneath. So I filled them and repaired a few other faults so I could use it as a trial.

RIMG0473.JPG

I now have a mould for the bolsters and so I should have everything I need for this build. Here the floor has had packing ( white panels ) added for the w-irons, which in turn have been soldered together and had springs glued on. Axle boxes have been drilled. Bolsters and buffers to clean up and more push rods to shorten.

RIMG0474.JPG

Cruel close up time ! W-irons glued to packing and chassis . The axlebox keeps are held on with 12BA screws which I have soldered to the w-irons. I find this easier than trying to fit them with the wheels in place. The heads do need a flat filed on them to clear the axleboxes when they are slid in. You can also see the horse hook fitted from brass wire. The grey bolt head is a replacement for one that didn't cast. I used the Cambrian Models plastic nut and bolt mouldings on the pattern so they have been easy to replace. Of course the production castings don't have these faults .

And finally up on its wheels for the first time .

RIMG0476.JPG
 

Jon Nazareth

Western Thunderer
The next stage to finish the wagons was nearly a disaster. Some of the transfers had lifted at the edges a little and there were a few bits of 'silvering' too. So I thought I could run a bit of thinned varnish over them with a brush before I did an overall spray. Well the transfers bubbled up and turned to mush. It appears that they are not compatible with oil/spirit varnish. I experimented with Precision satin varnish and Humbrol Satincote with the same result. A rummage in the paint store and I dug out the old stand by, Tamiya XF22 Clear with matting base and acrylic thinners, and it went on with no ill effect, phew.View attachment 50214

The other advantage was that the Tamiya acrylic was dry in a couple of hours, so I was able to get on and do the final assembly.View attachment 50215

I guess I will have to think about tackling the Iron Minks in the background next, at least the livery is simple on those. Hope you all liked the build description, I tried to make it warts and all without going on too much .

Ian,
I've never had much success with spray matt varnish but, I' willing to give Tamiya a try. What do you mean by, 'with matting base?'

Jon
 

unklian

Western Thunderer
Hi Jon

Tamiya sell three kinds of lacquer Gloss X22, Semi Gloss X35 and Matt XF86. You can also make your own level of mattness by adding Flat Base X21 to Gloss X22. Don't use Flat Base on its own it is a matting agent and not a paint. You may have to use Thinner X20A to make the lacquer spraying consistency. Spray thin and in light coats. It takes a little while to dry and achieve full mattness too, so be patient . The old adage of try it on scrap first definitely applies . The advantage is that Tamiya lacquer is acrylic and water based and so much kinder to transfers, weathering and other previous finishes .

Hope that helps
Ian
 

unklian

Western Thunderer
Progress on the LBSC bolster wagons , I now have two ! Which is good cos' they are fairly useless on their own . I am making the latest and nearest one a bit different with more 'modern' brake gear . They should be ready for paint soon, so has anyone seen a better spec. for Brighton wagon colour than " lead grey that got darker as time went on " ?

RIMG0542.JPG
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
How dinky. Like the brakegear with such short pushrods!

Hope we will see them at the BIG Gauge 3 do next Saturday.
 

geoff_nicholls

Western Thunderer
They do look neat, I'd be happy to have you running them on Aldeburgh Harbour next Saturday at the G3 Soc annual show, in Ampthill. I've heard it described as 'Lavender grey'. I used the Pheonix paint for my LBSC wagon. It pretty much matches the colour they used for the same wagon on the Bluebell Railway.
Bluebell Railway Photo Gallery - LBSCR 3346
 
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