A Barclay pug in 7mm scale

[George M]

As a bit of light relief I put together one of the new 7mm scale Scottish Wagon Works R Y Pickering end-door wagons:



These are high quality 3D prints, the level of detail is amazing and makes the whole painting and weathering process a real pleasure.



Hard to believe those end-door clips are plastic!







When I bought this kit, my one thought was that they need to carry a stock of those extras you need to, or might want to buy for this kit. In this day of predominantly internet shopping, a one-stop-shop is definitely preferred, especially for us internationals! I don't mind (too much) paying the import duties, I do after all work for the (Swedish) government, taxes pay my salary and fund my work. I do however object to paying an exorbitant fee on each parcel to a failing privatised public service for the privilage of taking my money. So limiting the number of parcels is welcome.

When I checked back to their website today I was very pleased to see they now carry a stock of wheels, couplings and steel buffer-heads! I'll definitely be back for more from these people.

best regards from Sweden, George!

 

[George M]

With the cupboard door wagon/tender nearing completion, complete the brakes (I need to make a new v-hanger, the one in the kit pinged off into oblivion), couplings and some more weathering to do, thoughts turn to the next project. 2 weeks in Scotland with the wee guy for some serious grandmother time also gave the chance to re-stock from UK suppliers without the exorbitant import processing fees.

This also gave me a bunch of uninterrupted evenings at the "away bench". This time I fancied one of the 7mm scale NBR 3rd class 6-wheelers from 62C Models, which awaited me when we arrived in Berwickshire.

The kit is a fairly conventional but well designed etched brass carriage, all the bits fit well, there are plenty of mainly brass castings and it is supplied complete with wheels, couplings, injection moulded roof and a routered wood strip for seats. Also supplied separately by 62C Models is the correct transfers so everything except paint and solder.




The chassis/floor folds up into a basic tray which includes headstocks and the upper footboards. An eched overlay contains the detail of the solebar sides as well as the central outer w-irons.



The only error I've noted on the kit is the omission of part of a w-iron on the etch overlay, a matter of a minute or so to fix with a bit of scrap etch.



The only major departure from prototype is the provision of a simplified Cleminson underframe. The NBR usually used fixed end axles and a sliding central axle, hence the double w-irons in the centre. This arrangement will certainly work better on our model trackwork and is not visibility apparent once the carriage is on the track. This is as far as I got on the away bench, back to Sweden for the bodywork.



Bodywork is being built up from multiple layers of etch. Inserts represent the distinctive raised lower panels, with handy holes so they can be soldered in from behind. Solder paint and a gas torch are very useful here. Etched droplights also carry the upper hinges and nice brass castings are provided for the vent covers.

All in all very conventional but well designed and certainly so far a pleasure to build.

Best regards from Stockholm, George!

 

[George M]

While looking for something else, is that not always the way, I came across 2 prototype pictures of NBR horseboxes.
https://rchsimagearchive.org.uk/cac..._RCHS_Logo_Mstr_trans_2.jpg?cached=1716832893

https://rchsimagearchive.org.uk/cac..._RCHS_Logo_Mstr_trans_2.jpg?cached=1728034338

That reminded me that one of the first etched brass kits I built was of one of these, but it had been abandoned for various reasons (the attention span of a cat to be honest). So I dug it out.



It was not a great job anyway, and time had not been too kind to it. I had yet to discover etch primer in those days.

So far I've tackled one side.

Door handles off and thinned down/re-shaped.
Peeled paint patches patched. On this side I think I'll leave the rough edges and paint the metal weathered wood efgect to mimic actual peeled paint.
Transfers. The HRMS Scottish wagon sheet has the correct ones.
Pins and chains on the horse door catches.
Detailed painting (underframe already started in the above photo) and a start on weathering.



Thats a bit better! Once I've finished the other side and the ends a bit of weathering and some microscope slide coverslip glazing.

A pleasant distraction but I really must get back to the Barclay some day ...

Best regards from Stockholm, George!