In-between working on the Ivatt 2MT for Cheddar, I've been looking at the ex GER 4 wheel brake, which ran as coach no 14 on the WCPR. The prototype was originally used to convey milk churns but was involved in a fatal accident in Worle in the 1920's, after which it was towed to Clevedon and never used again. There are a couple of photos of it in the dump road in the mid 1930's.

This blog is really a co-ordinated effort because it uses a number of resources of this fair forum (that's RMWeb to you and me).

Last year, a 3D printed model became available through Rue_D_etropal of this parish who designs and draws them up for sale via his Shapeways shop.

A link to the relevant page is here.

Being the last real item of rolling stock I need to complete Clevedon, I decided that I'd like to have one.

I've avoided 3D printed models to date because I haven't been convinced that the surface texture is yet smooth enough. The surface texture looks akin to wet and dry paper in my eyes. To be fair, this is made perfectly clear when you look at the website, so this isn't intended as a complaint. The model looks accurate to me dimensionally, though I decided that everything below the sole bar would be removed. The lower footboard and springs were duly snipped off with a pair of side cutters and filed smooth.

The body was given a trial sanding using my various filing sticks but it soon became apparent that I wouldn't be able to sand back to a flat finish without destroying the detail and defeat the purpose of the exercise.

So, first up I applied a coat of filler primer from a Halfords rattle can. Two coats of Precision gloss varnish were applied with the coach side being held perfectly horizontal. I figured that the varnish would settle to its own level, particularly in the panels. I was inspired to try this by Mikkel in his experimentations on GWR chocolate and cream painting on Ratio GWR 4 wheel coaches, though I can't find the link at the moment. Once that had fully hardened, I then applied two coats of Humbrol orange enamel and have tried to represent the varnished teak effect Mike Trice so skilfully achieved here using Burnt Umber oil paint and 'Liquin'. Mike makes it look very easy is all I'm saying! The coach in the photos is quite a light colour which I presume is the effect of leaving it out in the Somerset weather for 20 years! 

The body is presently under a soot wash and I'll dry that back before I start to add detailing, buffers, handrails, springs, handles, plates and so forth. The plan is to have the coach available for the Preston show in a couple of weeks as it's the only show I'm doing with Clevedon this year.

Overall, I'm satisfied with the finish. It's smooth enough and although I've lost some of the detail, I can still see what it's supposed to be and rule No 1 applies here!

The chassis is a bit more straightforward, being sprung using Bill Bedford NPCS W irons on a false floor base of copper clad. The brakes were simple single sided Morton type and I'm presently making these up using bits from the spares box.