Gadgie’s workbench (EM)

[Gadgie]

Regarding the Airfix brakevan in post #71 above, I note that you’ve shaved off the handrails and replaced the roof with a thinner plastikard one. Will you be glazing it?
Tim T

That is the plan. Following in the footsteps of Geoff Kent in vol 3 of The 4mm Wagon, I’ve filed a rebate in the back of the inner ends leaving a window bar and frame thickness of about 0.7 mm. It would have been nice to go a bit further, but the ends were becoming a bit fragile, and I decided to stop there. I’ll add glazing after paint, and probably glaze the duckets with Kristal Klear.



I’ve had a marathon session to fit handrails today. This one is going to be one of the early lots, with two part vertical handrails and horizontal end handrails that fit in between the two parts. These were awkward to fit and looked odd, because the handrails slanted inwards towards the ends. Eventually I found evidence that these handrails were actually kinked to run parallel to the concrete end weights, some from the photo collection of preserved vans on WT, and more of from this fabulous collection of photos and recollections on Flickr.

The rest of the van is almost ready for paint. Looking at these photos though, I realise I need to add the door safety rails.




Richard
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[Gadgie]

It is nearly finished now. The roof is just perched on top for the time being. Once the transfers (Modelmaster) are dry I’ll apply some weathering, possibly based on this photo.



The glazing behind the inner ends was tricky to cut to the right size and fit. Eventually I realised it would be much easier to cut and fit three pieces, one behind each window, and so it proved. As mentioned above, the duckets were glazed with Krystal Kleer, much easier than faffing with small pieces of clear styrene sheet.



Now I need to get to a similar stage with this one.



Oh, and then there is this one too!



Richard
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(Edited to correct autocorrect, which changed duckets to Dickey’s …)

 

[Gadgie]

The second brake van is progressing, with a flurry of handrails and other detailing. Just the guard’s safety bars to fit.



In other news, some NPCS items have started to appear. I picked up a Bachmann CCT cheaply at a Rails of Sheffield ‘rummage’ on Saturday. It’s a very nice model, easy to EM, but missing a detail pack that presumably includes brake yokes — Mainly Trains detailing etch to the rescue.



I have also dug out a very old Lima GUV, which is currently receiving new door furniture, needs some work on the chassis, and will have flush glazing, some replacement buffers and new bogies at some point.



To add to the fun I have also bought a coach kit.



I know there are perfectly good RTR Mk1 BGs out there, but finding a reasonably priced one in BR blue grey was proving difficult, and after all I do enjoy making stuff.

These slightly different models indicate a wind of change blowing through planet Gadgie. After 15 years or so of building locos and wagons for our 1960s (ish) model of South Pelaw, I’ve decided to build a model set in northwest Scotland in the early 1970s — Sulzers, blue grey coaches, grubby wagons, Formica, the lot. Lots of NPCS, and potential for mixed trains to boot. Not especially original I’ll admit, but the excellent Portchullin, Kinlochmore over on RMweb, and Ian Futers’ Lochside have all been strong inspirations, and the brilliant modelling showcased on the emgauge70s web pages has been nagging away for some time. I started train spotting just as TOPS re numbering was beginning, so this feels a very comfortable and familiar era, despite being a worryingly long time ago. I did think about making a move to P4 at the same time, but will probably stick with EM. Probably…

Richard
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Edited to fix typo

 

[Gadgie]

At long last the brake vans are almost finished — they still need some lamps, and B951472 has its roof balanced on for now.







Can you guess which one has the Bradwell underframe?

Ducket glazing is Krystal Kleer, transfers are mostly Railtec — including the rather cool works plates — with some Modelmaster. Weathering used a cheap set of artists acrylics, formerly used by our kids for GCSE art, which dry dead matt and allow for quite a bit of subtle colour variation. I’m wondering if this could be an interesting way forward.

These two will be off up north for a turn round South Pelaw next weekend, when we’ll find out how well they run.

Richard
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[Gadgie]

After a bit of a break for the usual work/family related reasons, I’ve started a batch of three Kitmaster/Airfix/Dapol tank wagons for my Ullapool project. I am imagining a light oils terminal similar to the one at Thurso, so class A tanks with Esso branding will be part of the traffic.

I know there are perfectly good Heljan models of these, but I am a citizen of Yorkshire and the kits are much cheaper, even with wheels, buffers (Dave Franks), and ladders/walkways (RT models). I considered Masokits etches for the chassis after reading Chas Levin’s thread, but eventually decided a plastic chassis would be the pragmatic approach.

I’ve extended the tank by 11mm STH the Geoff Kent approach of a 5.5mm disc stuck to each end then filed and sanded to shape, which resulted in a lot of mess but was otherwise quite effective.



There's much more fun to be had with the detailing etch, and underneath too, but here is the current state of affairs.



The cutest detailing part so far is the RT models hand wheel for the valve on top of the tank.



Hopefully some more progress will be made during the festive season. But we’ve got local Sheffield carols in our pub tonight (raucous singing, brass band, and locally brewed beer; what’s not to like!), so don’t expect an update anytime soon!

Richard
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[Herb Garden]

But we’ve got local Sheffield carols in our pub tonight (raucous singing, brass band, and locally brewed beer; what’s not to like!)

That sounds like a great night!

Good to finally catch up in person at the Newcastle show btw

 

[Gadgie]

Nice to meet you too George — I’ll pm you when we next have a running session for South Pelaw.

And yes, the carols were great — the bar was rammed and a thoroughly good time was had, although the local blue beer had run out so we had to make do with Timothy Taylor’s. Plenty more singing to come over the next week or so.

 

[Gadgie]

Earlier today I was very pleased to find that Father Christmas (aka Mrs Gadgie) had managed to put one of these under the Christmas tree. Everyone else was a bit nonplussed however …



When this mine of information has been exhausted, I have the book on the Aberllefenni slate mines that was also under the tree to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest. I may be some time.

Richard
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[Gadgie]

While I have made some progress on the tank wagons in recent weeks, I have given in to my stash of aircraft kits and so they have been evicted by a 1/48 Phantom FGR2. One of my formative experiences as a small child was being taken to air shows, and I can recall hiding under a chair as one of these terrifyingly noisy machines went into a vertical climb directly above RAF Valley sometime in the 1970s. So I’ve been enjoying making one.

But today I’ve been to visit my friend Richard Nice with the aim of learning how to operate his model of Barnard Castle, which is the successor to Stainmore Summit and will be appearing at ExpoEM north in a few weeks time. It is an interesting station layout, with a single through platform face on the busy, and double track, Stainmore route. So there is plenty of opportunity for conflicting moves and general mayhem. Fortunately there are working signals, which are interlocked with the points.

A couple of not great photos. The first shows the platform and multiplicity of goods loops.



The second shows off Rich’s scenic work and the magnificent (and working) gantry at the eastern end of the station,


Do come and say hello at Wakefield, and before that we are taking South Pelaw to Railex NE. Hopefully the weather will have cooled off by then.

Richard
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[Herb Garden]

Hopefully the weather will have cooled off by then.

Heres hoping, otherwise that will be one very hot sports hall.

I'm helping operate Corrishaloch on the Saturday so see you there!

 

[MarkR]

While I have made some progress on the tank wagons in recent weeks, I have given in to my stash of aircraft kits and so they have been evicted by a 1/48 Phantom FGR2. One of my formative experiences as a small child was being taken to air shows, and I can recall hiding under a chair as one of these terrifyingly noisy machines went into a vertical climb directly above RAF Valley sometime in the 1970s. So I’ve been enjoying making one.

I had the same experience of the Royal Navy Phantoms of 767 and 892 Squadrons at RNAS Yeovilton in the 1970's!
Mark

 

[Gadgie]

The Phantom has gone away for the time being, and work on various wagons has resumed over recent weeks. There are now three 35T tank wagons awaiting a warm day so they can be painted. The main topic of this post however, is a package of four Heljan Dogfish that I picked up ludicrously cheaply at Railex NE. I’ve wanted to do a deep dive into Engineers’ wagons for a while, and this seemed like an excellent way in.

You know there is a but coming … and you are right. They are lovely models in many respects, but conversion to EM is not straightforward as the Heljan axles are shorter than Gibsons so a drop in replacement doesn’t work. I ended up drilling all the way through, and inserting some of my dwindling stock of Romford shoulderless bearings, they will pass muster as roller bearings I think. On three of the wagons, the flimsy plastic handrails were broken (hence the bargain price), but that was easily fixed with .5mm wire. The coupling mount was awkward to remove, but I prevailed in the end. Then it was fairly straightforward to fit couplings, vac pipe, and lamp irons on the correct side.



At this point several potential compromises start to emerge. Some have been critical of the way the stanchions look, and in MRJ 163 Steve Hall replaced them with plastic section in his model. I can live with the Heljan mouldings. I can just about live with the rather undernourished springs and axleboxes, but the other three are going to have replacements. But could I live with the missing rivets on the solar and buffer beam? I thought I could, but then realised I couldn’t. I tried some Railtec rivet transfers, but these were a bit weedy, so this evening I went down the tiny cubes of plasticard route. It went surprisingly well, with both ends and one side completed without major drama, helped along with some chilled tunes from the Peatbog Faeries and a glass of red. The next question is whether the handwheels should stay or not …



As usual, I’m left wondering whether this is a good use of time. Should I go further? Will anyone apart from me actually notice, or care? I suppose at the end of the day I find this kind of thing deeply relaxing, and that makes it a good thing. And WT is a great place to indulge in group therapy for those of us afflicted by fear of compromise

Richard
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[AJC]

Good work - and I care about the result, it makes a useful comparison for my rake of Cambrian Dogfish. Were I in the market for an addition to that, I know know what might need doing were I to get a Heljan one. In short, the detail on the Cambrian is better, but of course, you have to make them square...

Adam

 

[Gadgie]

Thanks — I have gathered that the Cambrian Dogfish is a challenge, which is why the Heljan ones were so appealing, and hence why I’ve ended up a bit frustrated. I do have a couple of Cambrian Catfish kits in my stash, so there will no doubt be some struggles to come, but I’m planning to finish at least one more Heljan Dogfish first.

Richard
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[AJC]

Thanks — I have gathered that the Cambrian Dogfish is a challenge, which is why the Heljan ones were so appealing, and hence why I’ve ended up a bit frustrated. I do have a couple of Cambrian Catfish kits in my stash, so there will no doubt be some struggles to come, but I’m planning to finish at least one more Heljan Dogfish first.

Richard
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This might help - they're not too bad once you work out a MO that ignores the designed location:

Talerddig Mk ll: finally some fact instead of a lot of fiction

Then there were two... Top one is based on a photo of a replated wagon on the Bartlett site. Note I've represented the replating with paint only as an overlay of even the thinnest plastic sheet is overscale. Underframes not yet touched on either! Matt

www.westernthunder.co.uk

Adam

 

[Gadgie]

This might help - they're not too bad once you work out a MO that ignores the designed location:

Talerddig Mk ll: finally some fact instead of a lot of fiction

Then there were two... Top one is based on a photo of a replated wagon on the Bartlett site. Note I've represented the replating with paint only as an overlay of even the thinnest plastic sheet is overscale. Underframes not yet touched on either! Matt

www.westernthunder.co.uk

Adam

Thank you again -- this one had passed me by, but I guess WT is a deep rabbit warren. The Stenson Models handwheels are especially tasty. I don't think I will be able to live with the Heljan models ones now, so have just ordered some!

Richard
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[AJC]

Thank you again -- this one had passed me by, but I guess WT is a deep rabbit warren. The Stenson Models handwheels are especially tasty. I don't think I will be able to live with the Heljan models ones now, so have just ordered some!

Richard
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No problem - this shot of the same wagons the other way up might also help (it might help me - there's another Catfish in the drawer!):

4mm - An EM Workbench - Any Old Oil

Really useful and promising stuff re-Railtec. At some stage I'll need transfers for my 7mm Met electric loco and Dreadnought coaches all in LT livery. These are, nominally, available from Radley Models but they are not quite right, so I intend to visit the London Transport Museum with camera...

www.westernthunder.co.uk

Adam

 

[Phil O]

Thanks — I have gathered that the Cambrian Dogfish is a challenge, which is why the Heljan ones were so appealing, and hence why I’ve ended up a bit frustrated. I do have a couple of Cambrian Catfish kits in my stash, so there will no doubt be some struggles to come, but I’m planning to finish at least one more Heljan Dogfish first.

Richard
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Richard, the dogfish is not as bad as the grampus, the baskets for the end planks are real pain, I would like to be more explicit, but this is a family forum.

 

[AJC]

Richard, the dogfish is not as bad as the grampus, the baskets for the end planks are real pain, I would like to be more explicit, but this is a family forum.

Ah yes - Rumney Models do some etched ones now (I would order those and bin the sprue without thinking...).

Adam

 

[Gadgie]

Thanks both — I built a Parkside Grampus a long time (possibly 35 years, gulp) ago, and have very clear memories of wrestling not entirely successfully with the baskets, so Rumney etches, and maybe an etched chassis, will be the way to go.

On a related note, I’ve seen that at least one eBay seller is offering 3D prints of engineers wagons, which look great and possibly a better option than a scratch build. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of what these prints are like?

Richard
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