Gadgie’s workbench (EM)

[John57sharp]

No, but I purchased this whiting from T&S on eBay.

The only real issue was that the brakes were far too far outboard so they have been removed.

John

 

[Gadgie]

Interesting, thanks for sharing these photos John. It looks pretty good apart from the brake lever, which could be a little fragile. Certainly an excellent basis. It looks like one of Jonny Duffett's designs as seen on EMgauge70s, and I wonder if he is printing and selling them or if it is someone else.

Richard
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(edited to fix typo)

 

[Gadgie]

Just had a deeper dive into these eBay sellers' listings, and they are indeed Jonny Duffett's designs, and I'm pleased to see he is acknowledged in the product descriptions. The LNER ballast brake looks like a cost effective alternative to the D&S kit, and I am somewhat tempted. We'll see.

 

[AJC]

I've picked up a couple of ferry opens (from two different suppliers), by way of comparison. I'd wanted one of these for a long time - I'd sourced most of the bits, in fact - but now I have two! I'm sure that I can find a use for the various RIV bits in time...

To summarise, I think they'll take having bearings, etc. added though the material is a bit brittle and the sides on one a little wavy. That's not a problem, I can put stiffeners in and add sheets on top. The brakeshoes were not up to much on the design, but I have a stock of those. I'm not sure what a typical load would be for these - because you obviously can't see in in most photos - but I'm sure that I can come up with something.

Adam

 

[Gadgie]

So I decided to begin the Cambrian Catfish kit. After looking at the parts and giving some thought to issues of squareness I wondered if a simple jig might help, especially as I’ll be building at least two of these. It’s an offcut from some old oak flooring, so quite tough, with holes drilled to absorb the stanchions and other projecting bits.



The holes were intentionally quite a tight fit, but I also used some blu tack to support everything. Don’t follow my example though; it turns out that blu tack and butanone make a horrid mess. I’ve added some plasticard corner pieces to beef up the joints.



A couple of hours hardening, and we have what appears to be a square and free running, though rather flexible, chassis.


More soon.

Richard
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[Gadgie]

A bit more progress over the last couple of evenings. The hopper is (at last) in place. This was tricky to do without distorting the chassis, so was done by placing the chassis on the inverted hopper, as indicated in the instructions, and fixing one joint at a time. It took ages to get right. However, nothing bad happened, and the wagon still sits nicely on my sheet of glass.

It was hard to see how the three small stanchions on each side could be made to lie adjacent to the ribs on the hopper, so I chopped them off and replaced with plastic T section of unknown origin.



Brakes etc. next, and I’m hoping a package of lovely etched handwheels will arrive from Will’s workbench shortly. So far so good.

Richard
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[Gadgie]

The hand wheels have arrived and are super delicate compared to the Heljan offering. I’m now wondering about the steps; but will have to stop somewhere, so we shall see.



Underneath the Catfish, I have managed to cram in some lead. Unless it has a load it is unlikely I’ll be able to fit any more in. I have guessed where the vacuum pipe goes based on incomplete evidence, so if anyone has been underneath one of these wagons then I would love to hear from you.



And in other news, a package of goodies has arrived from Justin. These should keep me quiet for a while …



Richard
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[Dave Holt]

I think it's more likely the vacuum pipe was a series of straight lengths joined by 45 and 90 degree elbows rather than a sweeping curve.
Dave.

 

[AJC]

I think it's more likely the vacuum pipe was a series of straight lengths joined by 45 and 90 degree elbows rather than a sweeping curve.
Dave.

It was - it ran along the top of the solebar behind the hopper supports before going off at right angles and disappearing under the end platforms. Once you know where it is, it’s relatively easy to see in pictures. It is quite a fiddle to add with the hopper on (been there, done that!).

See here: BR Dogfish ballast hopper ZFV | DB983021 ZFV DOGFISH

Adam

 

[Gadgie]

Thanks both for your replies. @AJC , the vac pipe ran above the solebar on Dogfish and is featured on the Heljan model. However Catfish seem to be a different, er, kettle of fish. Photos of Catfish on Paul Bartlett's site give tantalising glimpses of something, I presume the vac pipe, running under the solebar on one side. It looks to be curved, but @Dave Holt I agree it might make more sense if it was straight sections joined together.

Maybe a visit to a preserved wagon will be in order...

Richard
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[Intercity126]

I have some detail photos of one of the two Dogfish at Bo'ness that might help. I thought we had a Catfish too, but I don't seem to have taken any photos of it if so.

Most of the bends seem to be pulled, rather than standard elbows used.

 

[Gadgie]

That’s fabulous, thank you!

 

[Gadgie]

They seem to be multiplying …



This one has plate axle boxes from Rumney Models, and rather nice Oleo buffers from Accurascale. A rather esoteric combination, but not unheard of — there is a photo of DB983257 in this state in MRJ163.

Richard
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[Gadgie]

I’m still deep diving into departmental wagons, and have got as far as a Parkside Grampus, with the superb Rumney Models detailing bits. It still needs vacuum pipes and couplings, obviously. I’m not 100% sure about the buffers, which are steel heads fixed to the Parkside shanks. The whole assembly looks a bit long. Strange, because otherwise the quality of the mouldings is superb, and much better than the older version.



Next will be another Grampus on a Rumney unfitted chassis, and then when we eventually get some warmer weather, an awful lot of painting.

Richard
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[Gadgie]

Well as promised in the previous post, some painting and decaling (is that actually a word?) has taken place. No weathering yet, but that will come. Decals are a mixture of Old Time Workshop, Railtec, and restored Woodhead. Here are the first two Heljan Dogfish. The olive green one has kept its Heljan numbers.



The Will’s Workbench hand wheels are very fine. Here is the first Catfish, and a vacuum fitted Grampus.



Meanwhile, there are some more items of departmental stock taking shape on the bench. Another Catfish, a Grampus on a (lovely) Rumney Models chassis, and a 3D print of an LNER Ballast Brake purchased from eBay — which is very fine, but lacking brakes. I may rebuild beneath the solebar.





Richard (edited to include photos … doh!)
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[Gadgie]

So I decided to rebuild the 3D printed ballast brake below the solebar. The truss rods and steps were quite wobbly, and the axle boxes not quite right. A few minutes with a damp razor saw (I don’t think resin dust is good to breathe) achieved the desired result.



A 60 thou plasticard floor was cut out, and MJT W-irons glued in place. This was then screwed into plasticard cross members.



And, more by luck than judgement, the new floor is both level and at just the right height, at least compared to a randomly selected Catfish. One day I will make a buffer height tool.



Brakes, truss rods, axlebox and spring castings, and steps will be next.

I’m wondering about adding some internal detail. According to Peter Tatlow’s book, these vans had a stove in each compartment, as well as storage boxes, a table, and, in some cases, beds in the larger space. I suspect any internal detail will be more visible than in, say, a BR standard brake van by virtue of the windows, though photographic evidence suggests these were typically quite filthy.

Richard
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[simond]

There’s a buffer height tool in the resources section, you’ll have to scale it from 7mm, but it’s a resin print.

 

[45609]

Hi Richard,

There’s also a buffer height tool I designed available from the S4 stores if you’re a member or you go to a show where Jeremy is attending with the stores. If not drop me a PM as I may have one spare somewhere. I’m sure I also supplied a batch to the EM gauge society stores but it no longer seems to be listed. Sold out I guess. It was when Doug Fairhurst was that stores officer so a very long time ago.



Cheers…Morgan

 

[45609]

I should have also said that it is a universal gauge and can be built to suit 00, EM or P4 track.

 

[Phil O]

Don't get too hung up on buffer heights, they do vary, a loaded vehicle will sit lower on it's springs than an empty one.