4mm Jan's 4mm WB: Hello, Old Friend

[Lyndhurstman]

The Jig Is Up....
side down (cue Diana Ross).

Some wheelbase setting work, via a(nother) home made jig. This one is a direct cadge from the one in the Underframes chapter of John Hayes’ ‘4mm Wagon’. Every wagon buff should have a copy, I think. Just to marvel at the artistry on display. And the attention to detail is second to none (second to monks, too). I love that book. I love that level of skill. I love that level of commitment and passion, writ large in tiny boxes.

Anyway... here’s the Watkins Wharf wheelbase setting jig - two bits of 20 thou joined in a box. Slotted fir 2.0mm axles. The most difficult part was making the initial holes; I tend to start at 0.5mm and go up in 0.5mm increments. This stops the drill catching, I find. And there’s something very soothing about drilling Plasticard... no? Just me then... I put the stretchers in after, pushing them tight against the axles before glueing.

It’s all progress. Not leaps and bounds. More of a determined limp into the headwind. But we’re used to that. As long as the thing we’re getting is somewhere.

Cheers

Jan

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Too Thick, Or Not Too Thick; That Is The Question

There’s an opening, opening.
The adjuster end of the PalBrick needs some serious modification (read total replacement). So we’ve set to on some stock 40 thou sheet. The intention is to match the opposite end of the wagon. However, Volume 1 of Kent (Wild Swan) has a more realistic rendering beautifully constructed using 5 thou. So now we’re in Enhanced Quandary Mode. There may be some Time & Motion consternation whilst we contemplate our next move...

Cheers

Jan

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Open Ended Ending in the East End
As the 40 thou had already been cut, we carried on with it. Today’s shift has been to add some fillets to make it vertical.

It’s not perfect, but it serves. The pliability of the floor doesn’t help, as the rigidity of the structure, (and it’s plethora of right angles) are not mirrored by the whitemetal platform it’s supposed to sit upon.

It will probably look better under paint, and we may yet still visit the 5 thou option, but we’ll see what a rest does for our eyes.

Cheers

Jan

 

[AJC]

You think you've got problems, Jan. Some benighted souls try and do these things the hard way (not just Geoff, mere mortals!):



These four have been at the back of the box file for *some time*. Lots of 10 thou' in evidence and (I think), a bit of 5 thou' detailing.

Adam

 

[Lyndhurstman]

You think you've got problems, Jan. Some benighted souls try and do these things the hard way (not just Geoff, mere mortals!):

View attachment 106533

These four have been at the back of the box file for *some time*. Lots of 10 thou' in evidence and (I think), a bit of 5 thou' detailing.

Adam

Oh... they’re pretty. Very pretty. And so much better for doing things the right (but hard) way.

I think that’s part of my problem; I can see that the whitemetal is a compromise detail-wise, and so am caught on the cusp of wanting to Do What’s Right or just finishing the fudge that they are. But I can’t let them go with both ends solid. My pet Ard is well and truly hoisted!

Cheers

Jan

 

[AJC]

Much better to have something that is internally consistent - and the best it can be for what it is - than have some bits that sing out and show the rest up. Which is where this rod I've made for my own back comes in... Mine will be modelled loaded with the load structural and that's been 'the next bit' for at least a couple of years. What's in the pic's hasn't warped yet though, which is something!

Adam

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Much better to have something that is internally consistent - and the best it can be for what it is - than have some bits that sing out and show the rest up. Which is where this rod I've made for my own back comes in... Mine will be modelled loaded with the load structural and that's been 'the next bit' for at least a couple of years. What's in the pic's hasn't warped yet though, which is something!

Adam

Indeed. Indeed. You’re point is a good one. I may well stick with the 40 thou for these, and make the Ian Macdonald NS one sing. But they are interesting wagons, in any format.

Cheers

Jan

 

[jonte]

Wot Adam said, I think, Jan

Making the best of a bad deal sounds the most agreeable approach to me; your expertise below waist level will more than compensate for any inherent inadequacies.

The triangular supports remind me that I may have to start taking more of an interest myself in these ‘trays on wheels’ that have erstwhile gone unnoticed in the grand scheme of model railway priorities. My current little assignation requires two or three ‘hoppers’ (P22?), not available off the shelf, although Cambrian produces a kit (currently n/a). Even then, I fear the triangular bits may need attention if I’m to replicate , so I shall watch this space a little more closely. Provided I haven’t lost interest by then

Apart from that, it’s good to admire proper modelling.

Bestest,

Jonte

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Wot Adam said, I think, Jan

Making the best of a bad deal sounds the most agreeable approach to me; your expertise below waist level will more than compensate for any inherent inadequacies.

The triangular supports remind me that I may have to start taking more of an interest myself in these ‘trays on wheels’ that have erstwhile gone unnoticed in the grand scheme of model railway priorities. My current little assignation requires two or three ‘hoppers’ (P22?), not available off the shelf, although Cambrian produces a kit (currently n/a). Even then, I fear the triangular bits may need attention if I’m to replicate , so I shall watch this space a little more closely. Provided I haven’t lost interest by then

Apart from that, it’s good to admire proper modelling.

Bestest,

Jonte

Hello Jonte
Thanks for your input: yes, that Adam speaks a lot of sense. I shall go for the ‘doing the best I can but not going overboard’ - like what I did on that there Medfit.


I’m not sure that this is proper modelling - @P A D is your man there, I think - but thanks. I hope your interest lasts: I do enjoy your posts, and your artistry.

Cheers

Jan

 

[Lyndhurstman]

(Indian) Pale Imitations

After a fabulous few hours in the company of my mate @TimC and his lovely wife Judith, the adjuster end of the Palbrick is taking shape. Not my best work, but it serves as an improvement on What Was There.

I can blame the IPA, I think. It was very nice.

Screw adjusters next.

Cheers

Jan

 

[P A D]

Hello Jonte
Thanks for your input: yes, that Adam speaks a lot of sense. I shall go for the ‘doing the best I can but not going overboard’ - like what I did on that there Medfit.
View attachment 106568

I’m not sure that this is proper modelling - @P A D is your man there, I think - but thanks. I hope your interest lasts: I do enjoy your posts, and your artistry.

Cheers

Jan

Thanks for the kind word Jan, but just because the medium is not metal, or scratch or kitbuilding, doesnt mean it not propper modelling.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[matto21]

I've been enjoying your progress with the Palbrick's (and Adam's information too) and I find these wagons interesting.

I'm tempted to scratchbuilt one of the rebuilt ones that retained the ends around a spare Parkside underframe because there were 2 abandoned in Holyhead for years. The thing that puts me off is the floorless chassis!

BR Palbricks and rebuilds as match wagon, internal use | B462749_Liner_train_match__m_

Matt

 

[Lyndhurstman]

I've been enjoying your progress with the Palbrick's (and Adam's information too) and I find these wagons interesting.

I'm tempted to scratchbuilt one of the rebuilt ones that retained the ends around a spare Parkside underframe because there were 2 abandoned in Holyhead for years. The thing that puts me off is the floorless chassis!

BR Palbricks and rebuilds as match wagon, internal use | B462749_Liner_train_match__m_

Matt

Thank you @matto21
Ah... your inspiration sounds like an interesting choice. I’d be interested in it, for sure. I really would like to find. There’s a chap who restored one - I think the link is in this thread somewhere - so that may be a source of info on What Goes Where. And there’s a fair few on Paul’s pages, too. I’m looking for a picture of them being loaded - so I can model the arrangement faithfully.

Thanks again

Cheers

Jan

 

[matto21]

I think they call the modified ones liner wagons. There were two abandoned in Holyhead but it seems they were moved in 2009.

Here's a picture and there are a few more if you search on Google) :

http://www.nwrail.org.uk/co161019-brake-holyhead.jpg

Matt

 

[AJC]

Based on what Geoff Kent has done (I know, modelling a model), it seems each palbrick took four pallets (so square) which butted up against the fixed end, held in place by clamps at the open end. The best pictures are in Geoff’s Wagons vol. 3. I think I have scans somewhere.

Adam

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Based on what Geoff Kent has done (I know, modelling a model), it seems each palbrick took four pallets (so square) which butted up against the fixed end, held in place by clamps at the open end. The best pictures are in Geoff’s Wagons vol. 3. I think I have scans somewhere.

Adam

Thanks again, Adam
V3 is the V I don’t have. But I’ve just ordered it from that nice Mr Casten’s emporium of delight. A present to myself when I get back from holiday next week. The Works is closed until the 18th

Cheers

Jan

 

[AJC]

A couple of views featuring Palbricks from the RCTS:

RCTS Mystery Photographs

RCTS Mystery Photographs

Only the first is close enough to be any use at all, of course (and actually spotting the one at 'Pen Mill is not the easiest task).

There's this, too, of course: British Railways Palbrick Wagons

Adam

 

[Lyndhurstman]

A couple of views featuring Palbricks from the RCTS:

RCTS Mystery Photographs

RCTS Mystery Photographs

Only the first is close enough to be any use at all, of course (and actually spotting the one at 'Pen Mill is not the easiest task).

There's this, too, of course: British Railways Palbrick Wagons

Adam

Hello Adam
Greetings from New York
Thank you for those. I’ll take a squizz on a bigger screen when I return. You have an eagle eye, sir. I noted the Palbrick restoration - very useful for shots of all those difficult to get to places - and this should be of use to @matto21 if he needs help in his Holyhead rendition of the last throes of these relative oddities.

Cheers

Jan

 

[matto21]

Very useful indeed - I'm still pondering whether to have a go at making one of those liner wagons but have been distracted by other issues (like scratchbuilding a signal box). One day I'll stop this scattergun approach!

Matt

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Do Not Adjust Your Set
A return to Works business sees some positive movement on the Palbrick B. We have completed the adjuster subassembly. This work was very much a following-in-the-footsteps moment, thanks to the well documented (and thankfully well illustrated) plastic version undertaken by Geoff Kent.

The passage of time favoured our attempts; we didn’t have to resort to filing 40 thou square into round for our screws like Mr Kent did, and I’m guessing our Inspector is lot more tolerant of our indifference in finishing such details than Mr Kent’s is! Arranging visits for a Friday afternoon, and plying him with beer seems to help no end, here).

We’ll let the adhesive harden off before installing it on the wagon proper. But - even to my critical eye - it looks significantly better than What Was There Before.

Cheers

Jan