The Gingerbread Line

Looking forward to seeing this develop. From the first photo it appears to be a very well detailed etch. I've built a couple of these in 4mm from the ABS white metal kit, one in early form and one as AA16 (see this blog entry).

 

There are a couple of other photos in Russell's original Pictorial Record of GW Wagons, figs 238-9. Neither are dated, though one is still in service and the other in use as an S&T tool van. Between them they give good views of each end.

 

Nick

 

Edit: one detail that I can't make out on your photos is that the top edge of the floor-level horizontal part of the outside frame has a chamfered edge all round. You can see this on my photos, though I think the ABS casting exaggerates the feature.

Thanks for the comments Nick.

 

Yes the etch appears to be good quality - deficiencies are more likely to arise from my soldering and/or photographic skills (or lack of). Photographing tiny models at small range is still difficult for me, whereas I manage relatively well at greater distances. Perhaps there will be a bit of sunshine in the next day or two and I will try for some better pictures..

 

I had forgotten that entry in your blog - thanks for reminding me. There is also a 2mm etch for the W2 cattle wagon which is the third item on that page, which is on my "to do" list, but I haven't obtained one yet.

 

I appear to have mislaid my copy of Russell's original Pictorial Record of GW Wagons some years ago - if it doesn't turn up again, I will need to buy another one.

 

I see that you have painted your brake standard in grey - I was considering painting mine in white, based on the one I photographed at STEAM, but having looked again at various photographs grey looks more likely (though not conclusive).

 

I suspect that the etch was largely based on the Atkins/RWA photograph, which appears to have no significant chamfering. I will see if I can add a small fillet of solder to suggest the chamfer when I finish it off.

 

Having looked again more closely, I see one thing that appears wrong for the 2mm etch, against either your cast 4mm models or the Atkins drawings or the Atkins/RWA photograph. The position of the chimney - in the centre of the length of the wagon, instead of the centre of the enclosed part

 

David

Hi David, I shall be following this build with interest. I have built a couple of these and they go together very nicely. There is a picture on my thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38581-highbury-colliery/page__st__50 of the completed one which represents the van sold to the North Somerset Light Railway.

Best of luck with the build and keep the pictures coming.

 

Jerry

Nice to see your progress David and some thing concrete to spur you on.. looking forward to more and the layout..

Tom

I hadn't really thought much about the brake standard. If anything, I'd assumed a grey column with a white handle, probably with most of the paint rubbed off the handle and showing as polished steel. Maybe it was something that varied over time or between depots? I recall a discussion some time ago on RMweb about whether the handrails on early AA3s should be white. IIRC the conclusion was that this started around or after WW1 and earlier examples were grey.

 

I suspect there may have been some variations in stove and chimney positions. The one reused as an S&T tool van has it further towards the end and close to the side.

 

Nick

Thanks for the comments

 

Jerry -

I admired your brake van at STEAM a couple of months ago. As I recall, you said that it took about four hours to build - mine took rather longer, split over several sessions, but I agree that it goes together well. There's a few minor traps in the process to fall into, which I hope to point out in the narrative (which reminds me - one was that the v-hangers bent the non-usual way, namely with the half-etch on the inside of a 180 degree bend, so I need to add a note on that).

 

Tom -

Yes, it will be something to show off at the next WLAG Meeting, instead of an armchair planning session - another "almost finished" wagon. When one of the promised underframe conversions comes out, I will be able to add that and have a complete "almost finished" train - probably about midsummer I forecast...

 

Nick -

Yes grey with a polished (through paint having worn off) handle sounds likely for the brake standard. Alternatively, as you say it's quite likely it varied which would justify alternative treatments. In the photo which is my main reference it is certainly too dark to be white.

 

Variation in chimney positions also sounds likely. I will see how difficult it is to move mine to the "right" position, and use "variation" as an excuse if it doesn't work out.

 

David

I hadn't really thought much about the brake standard. If anything, I'd assumed a grey column with a white handle, probably with most of the paint rubbed off the handle and showing as polished steel. Maybe it was something that varied over time or between depots? I recall a discussion some time ago on RMweb about whether the handrails on early AA3s should be white. IIRC the conclusion was that this started around or after WW1 and earlier examples were grey.

 

I've not seen anything to disagree that painting of brake handles white commenced around the time of WWI, although some were still not painted such. I had assumed that grab handles/handrails and other such items followed the same development around the same time.