WCJS D1/LNWR D15 68' Sleeping Car in 2mm finscale

[Argos]

A few weeks ago, on a whim as I placing an order from some carriage bits from Etched Pixels (http://www.etchedpixels.co.uk/), I dropped a set of Ultima sides into my basket for this carriage.
 
With my 2mm modelling I am intending to focus on the Caledonian Railway and the Callander and Oban line in particular.
It is referenced in various texts that a through sleeping car was worked from Euston to Oban.
This is working is mentioned in July 1913 Marshaling of Trains register (available from the Caledonian Railway society https://www.crassoc.org.uk/web/node/87 ).
The sleeping car was worked up to Oban on the 5.40 AM out of Stirling and returned form Oban at 6.45 PM.
 
Although 12 wheeled stock was banned form the C&O I have seen reference to this not being applied to this sleeper working.
The D1s were built in 1914 which is exactly when I intend to set my model.
 
I think the long modern style of coach will be a nice contrast in a mixed rake containing some older 45' stock.
 
link to a photo:-
 
https://lnwrs.zenfolio.com/p353516549
 
The painting and lining is going to be an interesting challenge!

[LNWR lives on]

I am looking forward to seeing this one develop, especially how you do the lining in 2mm. 

 

Best of luck 

 

David

[Argos]

Thanks David.

I suspect the lining will be simplified somewhat.

 

Hopefully without losing the overall effect though.

 

Angus

[Argos]

The parts for this build are starting to arrive so I had best get underway......

 

First job is to tackle the bogies.

I want to check that the 6 wheels roll true on my less than perfect trackwork or whether I need to fettle some form of springing onto the middle axle.

For now I'll just build as intended.

 

The starting point is the 2mm Scale Association's 12'6" LNWR Bogie etch:-

 

 

Whilst these may look complex the design is well thought through.

The axle bearings act as locators for the various layers so even the hamfisted like me can produce a decent result.

 

Below is a recently completed 8' Fox bogie for a Caledonian Railway coach build.

No need for the Mansell wheel overlays on the LNWR bogie though. 

The LNWR had introduced solid steel disc wheels in 1914 when these 68' D1 Sleeping cars were built.

 

 

A couple of hours modelling should see the first bogie built.

 

[Argos]

Finished the first bogie last night.

 

 

I'm pleased to say that it rolls fine over my less than perfect pointwork and I don't feel the added complexity of springing the centre axle would bring an benefit so I'll leave as is.

 

 

The bogie has turned out well, but the plaudits need to go the the etch designer.

These bogies really are a joy to build.

[Argos]

If you wait a bit another one will be along in a minute.........

 

Ah! here it is now.

 

 

With the bogies finished (I'll add the step boards nearer completion as they are quite delicate and prone to damage) I can start on the body.

[Argos]

Not so productive today. 

 

I laid the etches out on the workbench only to discover the floor was longer than the sides.

 

 

LMS 69' floor is etched into the floor, which is a bit odd as I thought I had ordered a 68' floor. 

 

A quick check of the order reveals I had ordered the wrong size floor. 

 

Never mind all in need to do is trim a mm off each end 

 

 

Hang on a minute.... the width of the floor is also out 

 

 

Ok, so I scribe some fold line further in and bend up the sides on these.

 

I lose the locating slots for the solebars but I can file the lugs off...

 

 

Hang on those bogie centers don't look right....

 

A quick check of Jenkinson's LMS carriages, yep, the 69 footers had a longer wheel base, 

 

Well I could extended the hole for the bogie mount, but then I'd lose the slots for the bolster. 

But then I just need to file the tabs off the bolster and I can align with the hole for the bogie pivot............

 

Work bench abandoned to go and order the correct 68' floor........

Edited August 12, 2018 by Argos

[Argos]

As the new floor has arrived it is time to start building again.

 

The floor is designed for the LMS 68' coaches which are wider bodied, so again, this floor is too wide for the LNWR coach.

 

Once the sides were bent up on a scored lines to create a narrower base the upstand now sits immediately below the window line.

 

 

 

Whilst not visible I am worried that this would make glazing the coach difficult.

So I've reduced the height of the upstands a mm or so.

The photo below shows one side done.

 

 

 

[Argos]

Can't let the signal box boys have it all their own way...
 
Bogies and buffers now installed, posed with a Caledonian 45' brake compo in a similar state of build.
I can't decide whether I need another washer in between bogie and floor to raise the body slightly.
The lack of underframe makes the body look too high, once this is in place the height should be obvious 
 

 

 
The solebar has yet to be added which gives the underframe an airy look.
The solebar supplied with the 68' floor is a tad too short so I'll use the one out of the 69' floor filed down a bit.
 
First I need to to try and punch the distinctive line of rivets on the solebar:-
 

 
​(crop above taken form the LWNR Society's zenfolio site https://lnwrs.zenfolio.com/p353516549 an excellent LNWR resource)
 
There were in fact two lines of rivets at the top and bottom of the solebar but the Westinghouse brake pipe hides the top set.
I'm pretty sure this pipe runs down one side only so I'll need the two rows of rivets on the other side.

[Argos]

I've been a bit distracted resurrecting my 7mm layout and a trip to Telford so no progress to report.

 

I did spot a rather nice 12w sleeping car on Ian Rathbone's demo stand.

Whilst not the 68' D1 I am modelling it is certainly eye catching:-

 

 

 

Whilst photographing the carriage I mentioned in passing I was modelling one in 2mm which drew a derisory snort from Mr Rathbone.

He obviously doesn't approve of such miniatures!

 

Still, if my carriage turns out half as well I shall be a happy man.

[sp1]

I've been a bit distracted resurrecting my 7mm layout and a trip to Telford so no progress to report.

 

I did spot a rather nice 12w sleeping car on Ian Rathbone's demo stand.

Whilst not the 68' D1 I am modelling it is certainly eye catching:-

 

IR stand 1.jpg

 

IR stand 2.jpg

 

Whilst photographing the carriage I mentioned in passing I was modelling one in 2mm which drew a derisory snort from Mr Rathbone.

He obviously doesn't approve of such miniatures!

 

Still, if my carriage turns out half as well I shall be a happy man.

I take you won’t be asking him to paint it for you then :-)

[Argos]

Actually Mr Rathbone has painted several 2mm items and these are displayed on his web page.

 

I think the comments needs to be taken in the context of being at a 7mm society show.

 

It would be a bit of a cheat if i did though.

 

And besides where's the fun in getting someone else to do all the work?

[Compound2632]

I did spot a rather nice 12w sleeping car on Ian Rathbone's demo stand.

 

Point of order: not in fact a sleeper but, I'm fairly sure, a WCJS D22 composite from the stock built for the 2pm "Corridor" in 1908. A magnificent model of a magnificent carriage.

[Argos]

Hi Compound you're probably right. I didn't pay that much attention to the diagram, rather looking at the livery and painting details.

 

I did have a cursory glance at the books when I got home to identify the vehicle bit got distracted.

 

Thanks for the correction.

[Argos]

The rivets have been punched in the first solebar.

 

 

They are a bit over scale and I certainly won't attempt to get two rows of them on the corridor side (without the Westinghouse brake pipe covering them).

Still I am happy enough with these.

 

Although the technique used on the penny coin looks more effective!

Edited September 8, 2018 by Argos