GWR O5 5 Plank - Sheet Supporters

[Garethp8873]

Hey guys, I've got a Coopercraft GWR O5 5 Plank Open with awaiting refurbishment. From what I can tell, it resembles the example on P281, Plate 358 of GWR Wagons.

 

At the moment, I'm thinking of having it done as the example I have seen in the above mentioned plate. But before I go ahead and confirm the running number, does anyone know if any of the O5's managed to last with their sheet supports until 1948? Otherwise is it possible to convert an O5 to another diagram?

 

Garethp8873.

[Craigw]

Hey guys, I've got a Coopercraft GWR O5 5 Plank Open with awaiting refurbishment. From what I can tell, it resembles the example on P281, Plate 358 of GWR Wagons.

 

At the moment, I'm thinking of having it done as the example I have seen in the above mentioned plate. But before I go ahead and confirm the running number, does anyone know if any of the O5's managed to last with their sheet supports until 1948? Otherwise is it possible to convert an O5 to another diagram?

 

Garethp8873.

 

Gareth,

 

The 05 is actually the 4 plank wagon and the 04 is the 5 plank wagon. The 04 was the first of the 5 plank wagons and was different in a number of respects from the later wagons. Amongst these was the width of the top plank and the over all wagon width. The other issue is that the Coopercraft sheet support is terrible and better off removed. I have not knowingly seen a photo of an 04 past the 1930s so do not know what they were like post WW2

 

Regards,

 

Craig W

[bécasse]

Don't forget that any O5 wagon surviving after 1939 had to have been fitted with the DC1X brake conversion, so that the brake handle on the side of the wagon without brake-blocks was at the right-, not left-hand side.

[Il Grifone]

As I understand it, the GWR could not convince the lesser railways of the utility of sheet supporters and they were gradually removed from wagons in the common user pool (i.e. unfitted).

[MarkAustin]

As I understand it, the GWR could not convince the lesser railways of the utility of sheet supporters and they were gradually removed from wagons in the common user pool (i.e. unfitted).

Yes, that is the case. However the main reason for removal was that local goods agents liked sheet supporters, so the GWR found that they tended not to come back for a long time, and they didn't see any reason to pay for repairs to sheet supporters when other companies were benefiting without comparable expense.

 

Mark A

[Il Grifone]

Yes, that is the case. However the main reason for removal was that local goods agents liked sheet supporters, so the GWR found that they tended not to come back for a long time, and they didn't see any reason to pay for repairs to sheet supporters when other companies were benefiting without comparable expense.

 

Mark A

 

They ended up sending some at least of other companies broken down wagons back home for repairs. The original common user agreement stated that each company should repair wagons that failed in their territory, which resulted in the GWR repairing more than its fair share of the other lot's rubbish. Like the locomotives, they were scrapping what was still being built elsewhere. Curvy wooden frame wagons (cattle trucks in particular) for example.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Il Grifone

[MarkAustin]

They ended up sending some at least of other companies broken down wagons back home for repairs. The original common user agreement stated that each company should repair wagons that failed in their territory, which resulted in the GWR repairing more than its fair share of the other lot's rubbish. Like the locomotives, they were scrapping what was still being built elsewhere. Curvy wooden frame wagons (cattle trucks in particular) for example.

Also, the GWR was a net receiver of wagons, so the "spares"  were returned on a regular basis. There were a number of recognised transfer points, which I could deredge up if required.

 

Mark A

[2996 Victor]

On 04/05/2018 at 23:50, Craigw said:

The other issue is that the Coopercraft sheet support is terrible and better off removed.

 

Dear All,

 

I'm late to the party, as usual, but does anyone know if a good 4mm scale GWR sheet support is available? I'm just beginning to assemble a CC Diagram O4 5-plank open, and I have started to pare away the moulded effort ready to scratchbuild something better, but I'd prefer to not re-invent the wheel if at all possible!

 

Thanks,

 

Mark 

[Fat Controller]

I don't know if the one fitted to LMS and BR opens can be used:-

http://website.rumneymodels.co.uk/wagon-detailing

[2996 Victor]

On 26/07/2019 at 16:55, Fat Controller said:

I don't know if the one fitted to LMS and BR opens can be used:-

http://website.rumneymodels.co.uk/wagon-detailing

 

Hi FC,

 

Many thanks for that pointer!

 

Oddly, I was wondering whether it would be possible to use some very small angle to represent the sheet support "loop", so I went shopping today and got some 1mm X 1mm brass and some 1.2mm X 1.2mm styrene to try. The styrene is definitely too chunky, but the brass looks promising.

 

Whilst in the shop, I picked up a couple of Parkside kits, one being their BR Hybar, and searching for build info/detailing etc has highlighted up Rumney's detailing parts.

 

So that's basically a very verbose way of saying I'll be having a closer look!

 

Best regards,

 

Mark

[The Johnster]

I doubt it, not without some alteration anyway.  The GW wagons are shorter than the LMS/BR opens, 9 instead of 10’ wheelbase. 

[2996 Victor]

The biggest issue with the CooperCraft GWR O4 5-plank is the horseshoe-shaped guide, which is moulded as part the wagon end so that the sheet rail runs outside it instead of behind it.

 

The CC GWR O2 7-plank has a separate guide which is far better, but they're like hens' teeth, of course!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

[Penrhos1920]

There’s also the ABS / FourMost extras kit for modifications to his opens kits.

[Craigw]

Parkside-Dundas would supply spare sprues and I ordered a number of the under frames for the O11 which had the the sheet supporter on it. That is not too bad if you can still get them from Peco. I have also used the Brake gear detail set produced by Southwark Bridge models. This is etched and fiddly to build but looks great. I am not sure if Roxey have released that etch.

 

Regards,

 

Craig W

[Fat Controller]

On 27/07/2019 at 23:24, The Johnster said:

I doubt it, not without some alteration anyway.  The GW wagons are shorter than the LMS/BR opens, 9 instead of 10’ wheelbase. 

I think the alteration is simply to the rail, which would require bending anyway.

[2996 Victor]

6 hours ago, Craigw said:

Parkside-Dundas would supply spare sprues and I ordered a number of the under frames for the O11 which had the the sheet supporter on it. That is not too bad if you can still get them from Peco. I have also used the Brake gear detail set produced by Southwark Bridge models. This is etched and fiddly to build but looks great. I am not sure if Roxey have released that etch.

 

Regards,

 

Craig W

 

Hi Craig,

 

that would be a good option, and may be worth following up. I've got Parkside's O11/O15 kit on order, so will see what the parts look like when that arrives!

 

14 hours ago, Penrhos1920 said:

There’s also the ABS / FourMost extras kit for modifications to his opens kits.

 

Hi Penrhos,

 

I'll see if I can track these down, as well.

 

Thanks for everyone's suggestions so far! The brass angle hasn't been too successful so far, as it not surprisingly forms a "V" when curved rather than remaining an "L" - I shall try again, a bit at a time and annealing between times. But I strongly suspect that robbing the parts from another kit is the simplest answer.

 

Best regards,

 

Mark

 

 

[cctransuk]

14 hours ago, Penrhos1920 said:

There’s also the ABS / FourMost extras kit for modifications to his opens kits.

 

Those would have to be sourced secondhand - ABS / FourMost products are no longer produced.

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.