7mm Slaters GWR MEX Cattle Wagons (Six of them)
- Thread starter Rob Pulham
- Start date
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
As promised here are a few shots of the little bit of progress.
This shot shows the bows in the top rails which will get sorted when I make the inner frame for the roof.
Last but not least one of the remaining pairs of sides with the partition supports in place. Before doing anything else I need to study the photos and emails that Graham has sent to make sure that I know which running numbers have the head bars at what height before fitting any of them.
Now that I have proved the concept I will make a start on flattening and drilling out the head bars for the rest of the sides.
This shot shows the bows in the top rails which will get sorted when I make the inner frame for the roof.
Last but not least one of the remaining pairs of sides with the partition supports in place. Before doing anything else I need to study the photos and emails that Graham has sent to make sure that I know which running numbers have the head bars at what height before fitting any of them.
Now that I have proved the concept I will make a start on flattening and drilling out the head bars for the rest of the sides.
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Seeing the rate at which you have progressed makes me realise that we might not have discussed the patent device for locking the partition in place... there is a drawing of the locking bar in the appropriate section of GWR Wagons (Tourret). I think that making the bar and the attachment to the opening door flap is not difficult, I have not thought through how to reproduce the hook which retains the partition.
Suggestions welcome, regards Graham
Suggestions welcome, regards Graham
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
Hi Graham,
The drawing was among the stuff that you sent and like you I have been thinking about it too. The issue that I can see is that it will need to be made from quite thin material to make it look authentic. I can feel a jig in the making
The drawing was among the stuff that you sent and like you I have been thinking about it too. The issue that I can see is that it will need to be made from quite thin material to make it look authentic. I can feel a jig in the making
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
A good idea Rob, especially as there are at least ten of the little blighters to be made.... I can feel a jig in the making
For those of a nervous disposition, the last couple of posts are referring to a patented device known to GWR afficiandos as the "Wright-Marillier" locking bar.... this device locked the movable partition so that the an unscrupulous demon would not be able to use more space than ordered / paid. The best photo that I have of this piece of kit is to be found on the Ale wagon (posted here).
One of the many benefits of WT is that WTers are so willing to help others and in this case Rob came to my aid when I was puzzled by the workings of the locking bar. As far as I can see from the photos the locking bar locks the partition when the top door flap is shut... and that there is a locking bar on both sides of the wagon. I did not and might not understand how the device worked in practice and a telephone conversation with Rob confirmed that I was not alone in this matter.
Given that there appears to be a locking bar on both sides of a wagon... and that the top door has to be open to unlock the partition... then I presume that the top door on each side of the wagon needs to be open before the partition can be moved. Opening the top door on the side of the wagon against the cattle dock is easy - how was the top door opened on the other side of the wagon?
Seems to Rob and I that the person looking after the loading of the wagons has to open the far door from the inside of the wagon. Anyone any better suggestion?
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
After a long hiatus while the northern workbench moved, I managed a little more on these last week. The progress took the form of blackening the remaining S7 wheels - rather stupidly I had taken the wrong wheels for mine so I still have mine to do, Doh!!!!
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
The last couple of weekends has seen more progress on these. Of Graham's five, two now have the basic sides/ends/floor made up. The third has the sides and ends paired up in to 'L' shapes and the fourth has one end and one side glued together.
No photos because I forgot to take the camera......
No photos because I forgot to take the camera......
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
That is a new way of keeping us coming back for more.
Les Golledge
Active Member
Hi Graham,
Opening the upper door from the inside just requires placing your arm through the opening in the top door (don't forget that when standing inside your shoulder would be about half way up the top door). If you remember the old Airfix 4mm Cattle wagon one of the top doors each side had a large round hole which as I understand it was provided for staff to reach through and open the top doors from inside.
Regards,
Les.
simond
Western Thunderer
I thought that the whole point of the locking bars was to ensure that the customer only got the space that had paid for - thus presumably, there is a means of ensuring that a drover cannot change the position of the partition - but conversely, one of the railway staff must have been able to.
I'm nowhere near home at the mo, so can't look things up, so forgive me please if this is apparent nonsense.
Best
Simon
I'm nowhere near home at the mo, so can't look things up, so forgive me please if this is apparent nonsense.
Best
Simon
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Agreed - the root of the original musing is that there was a locking bar on each side of the wagon hence the relevant top door on each side of the wagon had to be opened... how did the Company Servant open the top door which was furthest away from the cattle dock? After re-reading my post and that by @Les Golledge the answer might be that the far side door was opened by somebody who was standing inside of the wagon.
Dave Bowden
Western Thunderer
Hi Mark
Would that be Cattle Wagon Variants Part 1 & 2 in MRJ numbers 24/25 by Martin Goodall?
Dave
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
This weekend saw the last of Graham's wagons get their basic bodies assembled.
The floors are just glued at each end at the moment but it feels like progress is being made at last.
The floors are just glued at each end at the moment but it feels like progress is being made at last.
simond
Western Thunderer
When my kids were little, the Early Learning Centre sold a device about the size of a small soup can, which when inverted, gave a very satisfying "mmoooooh". I often wondered whether the surging of the wagons would be enough to make it work, but I never tried it out.
Probably not what you'd call "finescale"...
Best
Simon
Probably not what you'd call "finescale"...
Best
Simon
I think it was a much earlier issue. It was an article showing how one guy had improved the Slaters kit and also a similar article on the Peco/Webster GWR brake vans....
Railwaymaniac
Western Thunderer
My info retrieval system isn't as good as Daifly's (so I can't give you chapter and verse), but I believe that the article on refining the Peco/Webster's brake vans was MRJ Issue 3 ...
Ian
Ian