4mm An EM Workbench: Mini-Signwriting (rough)
- Thread starter AJC
- Start date
AJC
Western Thunderer
That's useful to know. I can see that one small would need to be roped - and that would be a challenge to do in 4mm, but it seems to have been relatively unusual when I've been looking for pictures. In this instance, phew! No roping required... Thanks Richard!
Adam
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SECR/SR Lowmac (from plastic sheet!)
AJC
Western Thunderer
This was the other railway-related Christmas item - a Bachmann grain hopper. There is, of course, the usual, heat, glimmer and froth thread over there, but I'm concerned with improving the thing. An update on the flatpack lowmac is at the bottom.
All I have done to the grain hopper thus far is to change the wheels (EM wheels just drop in), remove the tension lock couplings, add some three-links and to trim off various moulded grab handles before drilling for replacements (there's more to do of these). I have also filled the larger than acceptable gaps with Milliput and taken off the extraneous step moulding on the side without the inspection hatch. The damage to the paint finish doesn't matter because the vehicle will be repainted. Bachmann, btw, have clearly used this picture as their exemplar: BR Grain welded Unfit Diag 1/271 CGO | B885467_BR_Grain__m_
Otherwise, the Lowmac has inched forwards, with chain rings (on the deck and on the headstocks - the latter were a right pain to do; more bits of Masokits screw couplings), spring hangers completed and a crop of rivets on the headstocks. It's still a pig to photograph!
Adam
All I have done to the grain hopper thus far is to change the wheels (EM wheels just drop in), remove the tension lock couplings, add some three-links and to trim off various moulded grab handles before drilling for replacements (there's more to do of these). I have also filled the larger than acceptable gaps with Milliput and taken off the extraneous step moulding on the side without the inspection hatch. The damage to the paint finish doesn't matter because the vehicle will be repainted. Bachmann, btw, have clearly used this picture as their exemplar: BR Grain welded Unfit Diag 1/271 CGO | B885467_BR_Grain__m_
Otherwise, the Lowmac has inched forwards, with chain rings (on the deck and on the headstocks - the latter were a right pain to do; more bits of Masokits screw couplings), spring hangers completed and a crop of rivets on the headstocks. It's still a pig to photograph!
Adam
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SECR/SR Lowmac (from plastic sheet!)
SECR/SR Lowmac (from plastic sheet!)
AJC
Western Thunderer
A couple of project updates, one from a slow-burning construction programme and another showing one in paint. First, the Lowmac, with load:
And without:
The chassis has been painted matt black from a spraycan - I'm after a fairly tidy finish for this - with a wash of thinned Himbrol matt chocolate. I'll work back into this is due course. The deck was treated to a coat of brownish grey - a mix of metalcote gunmetal, matt leather and some matt light grey. Once that had dried thoroughly, I worked back into that base coat with the same colours in a lighter mix, watercolour fashion with several very thin coats. The metal elements on the deck were picked out in matt chocolate at the same time. I left the result for a couple of days before working back in with washes of heavily thinned metalcote gunmetal with more, or less matt red orange (Humbrol no. 100), worked along the grain and in light streaks down the ramps from the metal panels which were treated to thicker versions of that mix. The effect could be a bit more subtle, but since there'll be an army ambulance parked on top...
The Palbricks, meanwhile are causing a certain amount of head scratching while I work out the best construction sequence. These are quite complicated and, in 4mm, relatively flimsy, which is why they'll be modelled with the pallet brick loads as fixtures. Four at a time is hard work...
Adam
And without:
The chassis has been painted matt black from a spraycan - I'm after a fairly tidy finish for this - with a wash of thinned Himbrol matt chocolate. I'll work back into this is due course. The deck was treated to a coat of brownish grey - a mix of metalcote gunmetal, matt leather and some matt light grey. Once that had dried thoroughly, I worked back into that base coat with the same colours in a lighter mix, watercolour fashion with several very thin coats. The metal elements on the deck were picked out in matt chocolate at the same time. I left the result for a couple of days before working back in with washes of heavily thinned metalcote gunmetal with more, or less matt red orange (Humbrol no. 100), worked along the grain and in light streaks down the ramps from the metal panels which were treated to thicker versions of that mix. The effect could be a bit more subtle, but since there'll be an army ambulance parked on top...
The Palbricks, meanwhile are causing a certain amount of head scratching while I work out the best construction sequence. These are quite complicated and, in 4mm, relatively flimsy, which is why they'll be modelled with the pallet brick loads as fixtures. Four at a time is hard work...
Adam
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Palbricks
AJC
Western Thunderer
Palbricks were quite unlike anything else (or at least, anything else built in quantity) were quite thin and had edges and handholds/lifting holes edged with, I think, some sort of metal sheet. The edges were similarly treated. As ever, @hrmspaul has some useful pictures: BR Palbricks and rebuilds as match wagon, internal use | B462073_Palbrick_B_lot_2724__m_
Obviously if someone is daft enough to make a batch of four of the things, it makes sense to mark them all out at the same time on a strip of 20 thou' (probably too thick). Of course, I had to make life difficult at this stage by making one Palbrick A which had a slightly different sort of centre stanchion...
The holes required a new scalpel blade and a bit of care, but even so I've marked out a couple of spares. Note that I've done one where the sheet has been replaced upside down. This seems to have been quite common (indeed, I have pictures with both panels upside down - ) but I may or may not use it. I then made the liners for the handhold which even on a loaded wagon are visible on the inside too. I cut these from 5 thou', slightly oversize, and have solvent welded them in place. These will be left to harden up for a few days before tidying up and adding the edge strips. Even 5 thou' is probably a bit over scale.
No, I'm in no hurry to do any more, but since I've started, I may as well carry on.
Adam
Obviously if someone is daft enough to make a batch of four of the things, it makes sense to mark them all out at the same time on a strip of 20 thou' (probably too thick). Of course, I had to make life difficult at this stage by making one Palbrick A which had a slightly different sort of centre stanchion...
The holes required a new scalpel blade and a bit of care, but even so I've marked out a couple of spares. Note that I've done one where the sheet has been replaced upside down. This seems to have been quite common (indeed, I have pictures with both panels upside down - ) but I may or may not use it. I then made the liners for the handhold which even on a loaded wagon are visible on the inside too. I cut these from 5 thou', slightly oversize, and have solvent welded them in place. These will be left to harden up for a few days before tidying up and adding the edge strips. Even 5 thou' is probably a bit over scale.
No, I'm in no hurry to do any more, but since I've started, I may as well carry on.
Adam
Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
I do like an unusual wagon like the Palbrick. It's nice to see someone tackle more than one!
It's only just struck me that the holes in the removable sides are probably spaced to allow a forklift to lift them out. As the load was palletised and would have been shifted by forklift, why not use the same machine to clear the sides?
It's only just struck me that the holes in the removable sides are probably spaced to allow a forklift to lift them out. As the load was palletised and would have been shifted by forklift, why not use the same machine to clear the sides?
Palbricks
AJC
Western Thunderer
That's almost certainly right, Heather, but without spec' sheets for 1950s forklifts (or indeed, an actual '50s forklift) to hand, I can't be sure!
EDIT - a quick search for Lansing Bagnall - the only forklift manufacturer of the period I can name! - suggests that yes, that would be about right.
Gallery of all models of Lansing Bagnall: Lansing Bagnall FOER 3, Lansing Bagnall FOER 5 Rapide, Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2, Lansing Bagnall FOER 9, Lansing Bagnall FRER ...
I'm doing more than one because pretty much all of the pictures I have of them in traffic show multiples. The fact that it would take two or three palbricks to carry the equivalent load to an 8-wheel road wagon probably goes a long way towards explaining why they weren't desperately successful and relatively short-lived. That said, changes in the brick industry must also have played a part. I gather that most of them ended up carrying specialist products such as refractory bricks, more suited to being shipped in relatively small quantities.
Adam
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Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Lovely stuff again, Adam.
I like a Palbrick, but not enough to hew one from a variety of substrates. I'll wait for the Bill Bedford resin version, I think.
Cheers
Jan
I like a Palbrick, but not enough to hew one from a variety of substrates. I'll wait for the Bill Bedford resin version, I think.
Cheers
Jan
AJC
Western Thunderer
Interesting that you should say that Jan - the Bill Bedford effort will be interesting to see when it appears, especially in light of the coaches he is currently working on which I've just set eyes on over there - Mousa Models Coach Kits - Page 3 - Smaller Suppliers - seriously impressive.
I reckon that I might have finished mine by then, however, and probably at a fraction of the cost. I have a desire for ferry vehicles next...
Adam
I reckon that I might have finished mine by then, however, and probably at a fraction of the cost. I have a desire for ferry vehicles next...
Adam
Palbricks
Jon Gwinnett
Western Thunderer
I should declare an interest since my Dad did his apprenticeship at Lansings and worked there for 32 years! Lovely work.
I wonder if the panels were really forklifted out. They look so thin that a misplaced fork would wreck them, yet I don't recall seeing any photos with such damage? As they were so thin, I suspect they were hoisted out by hand before the lift truck headed in.
As an aside, one of my first jobs involved a very ancient Lansing lift truck which was of the "walk behind" rather than ride on variety. It was at least as old as I was, and seemingly bulletproof. Not every use we found for it was exactly as envisaged by the manufacturer
I wonder if the panels were really forklifted out. They look so thin that a misplaced fork would wreck them, yet I don't recall seeing any photos with such damage? As they were so thin, I suspect they were hoisted out by hand before the lift truck headed in.
As an aside, one of my first jobs involved a very ancient Lansing lift truck which was of the "walk behind" rather than ride on variety. It was at least as old as I was, and seemingly bulletproof. Not every use we found for it was exactly as envisaged by the manufacturer
Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Hi Adam,
Just as an aside, my current "I wonder how I can model that?" pie-in-the-sky wagon is one of these:
https://www.rcts.org.uk/photographs/archive/380/CH/CH06469C.jpg
Fishbowls. According to a quick squizz, these were so designed to enable visibility of the what the goods got up to after the lights went out.
I only came across them by accident. Now I view all sorts of mesh with a view to modelling one...
Cheers
Jan
Just as an aside, my current "I wonder how I can model that?" pie-in-the-sky wagon is one of these:
https://www.rcts.org.uk/photographs/archive/380/CH/CH06469C.jpg
Fishbowls. According to a quick squizz, these were so designed to enable visibility of the what the goods got up to after the lights went out.
I only came across them by accident. Now I view all sorts of mesh with a view to modelling one...
Cheers
Jan
Mike Sheardown
Western Thunderer
That'd look really good - and really different too !!
Good potential for modelling an interesting load of ....... ?? .....what did they carry ??
Cheers
Mike
Good potential for modelling an interesting load of ....... ?? .....what did they carry ??
Cheers
Mike
SECR/SR Lowmac (from plastic sheet!)
Simon
Flying Squad
All looking really good, you can't beat a wagon or two, or three...
I especially like your Southern lowmac, a really effective and purposeful looking model and a great base for all sorts of good looking loads, like your lorry
It'd make a great scratch building project in 1/32.....
Simon
I especially like your Southern lowmac, a really effective and purposeful looking model and a great base for all sorts of good looking loads, like your lorry
It'd make a great scratch building project in 1/32.....
Simon
Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Hi Mike,
Not sure, but in the image it looks like stuff wrapped in brown paper, so maybe just parcel stuff. There's bit of extra here 083189 - IU training vehicle « Test Trains, Departmental railway stock & Internal Users - departmentals.com, which indicates they were for training purposes.
Cheers
Jan
Mike Sheardown
Western Thunderer
Thanks Jan - that's really helpful.
A bit of a one (two) off then ?
Cheers
Mike
A bit of a one (two) off then ?
Cheers
Mike
AJC
Western Thunderer
Back to the Fordson ambulances. One area where cast resin can be a weakness is in elements made of thin sheet metal, such as mudguards/wheel arches. In the case of these vehicles, I reckon that the arches are a little too far back on the body mouldings and, in order to resolve both issues, I'm going to replace them with new ones made from brass shim - though paper or thin card might work in this instance. So, before:
The new mudguard, scored and folded from shim and reinforced with solder. I've made a bending jig as it happens but that isn't in the pictures...
Finally, the mudguard in place, stuck with cyanocrylate and located with scraps of styrene. Resin really likes cyano' but I might reinforce the joins with epoxy later. This way of making mudguards seems to work quite nicely and I have some curved ones to do so...
Adam
The new mudguard, scored and folded from shim and reinforced with solder. I've made a bending jig as it happens but that isn't in the pictures...
Finally, the mudguard in place, stuck with cyanocrylate and located with scraps of styrene. Resin really likes cyano' but I might reinforce the joins with epoxy later. This way of making mudguards seems to work quite nicely and I have some curved ones to do so...
Adam
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AJC
Western Thunderer
I've been thinking about these... It strikes me that in 4mm, you're never likely to find mesh fine enough to suit. Therefore, my thinking is that the thing to do instead would be to scribe lines on the reverse of clear sheet. You'd need to take a lot of care over it, but it's certainly possible.
EDIT - on second thoughts, perhaps 'the thing to do' would be to make the external sheeting as neat as possible and to install a layer of secondary glazing with the mesh scribed on? That would ensure that the mesh pattern was scribed evenly.
Adam
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Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Hi Adam,
Yes. I think this might be the way to go. The one on Paul Bartlett's site here LNER and constituents vans, includes Fruit, Fish, Meat seems to indicate that the external sheeting isn't that thick, so I think a single layer with the scrible lines on reverse might be the best solution. Next job; working out the grid spacing....
Cheers
Jan
