Nice tidy job Mark, I must admit I preferred building an original rather than a soft Dapol one. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/3019-prestwin-dear-packer-no-57/

7 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

Nice tidy job Mark, I must admit I preferred building an original rather than a soft Dapol one. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/3019-prestwin-dear-packer-no-57/

Thanks Andy,

It's lovely to see your modelling once more as well.

I would agree with your sentiments regarding the soft Dapol plastic versions. It's a bit of a minefield.

Thankfully these two kits were not too bad, but the silos took some cleaning up as you say.

I remember seeing your Keyhaven layout when you were exhibiting at either Aylesbury or High Wycombe a few years ago. It was a cracker of a layout. 

If I remember correctly there was a bag of wet seaweed for the full effect! Were there recorded gull effects as well?

Cheers,

Mark 

20 minutes ago, 46444 said:

If I remember correctly there was a bag of wet seaweed for the full effect! Were there recorded gull effects as well?

Correct on both counts Mark along with boat and engineering works sounds, passing aircraft etc., I was a PITA as an exhibitor.

12 minutes ago, wiggoforgold said:

Looking good Mark.  The kits make up well. There was an article in MRJ on detailing them. I subsumed an etched ladder and Hornby wheels on mine. Like you I used buffers from Mr Franks.

I do remember your build Alex. Very nice it was too posed in Diddington Yard.

It would be good to see the MRJ article. I would agree that etched ladders would give the kit a bit more finesse.

Cheers,

Mark 

Was chatting to a mate recently - we'd both built one of these from the Dapol re-reissue, and both encountered the same problem of ending up with holes needing filling in the sides of the tanks, either due to an issue with the instructions leading us astray or something being not quite right with the mouldings (can't remember which). Other than that, we both agreed that they still made up into really nice models, as yours illustrate.

8 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

Was chatting to a mate recently - we'd both built one of these from the Dapol re-reissue, and both encountered the same problem of ending up with holes needing filling in the sides of the tanks, either due to an issue with the instructions leading us astray or something being not quite right with the mouldings (can't remember which). Other than that, we both agreed that they still made up into really nice models, as yours illustrate.

Thanks Al,

I would agree some of the Dapol released kits with the soft plastic are certainly distorted. The Presflo kit was one of the worst. 

Thankfully the BR brake van and 16T mineral wagon do not suffer as badly in my experience.

Cheers,

Mark 

The other great advantage of the original Airfix kits is that they cost less than the soapy flash infested Dapol version, £1 upwards from exhibitions!

Mike.

I always thought he said " Hello, good evening and welcome"...unless that was Mike Yarwood's take on him!

Nice work there Mark finished to your usual high standards 👍

Look forward to see them once they have been through the MB weathering workshop...

3 hours ago, bcnPete said:

I always thought he said " Hello, good evening and welcome"...unless that was Mike Yarwood's take on him!

 

Nice work there Mark finished to your usual high standards 👍

 

Look forward to see them once they have been through the MB weathering workshop...

Hi Pete,

Blimey! Mike Yarwood. There's a blast from the past.

Best not trying any Sir David impersonations by the sounds of things.😅 

Thanks for the kind comments. It will be good to get these wagons  weathered. The ex-works finish is a bit bling.

Cheers,

Mark

15 hours ago, andyman7 said:

Lovely wagon builds!

As something of a KItmaster/Airfix enthusiast its' worth pointing out that Airfix did not take over the Kitmaster company, nor did the latter go bust. What happened is that Rosebud, having overextended itself with their railway plastic kits, sold the tooling to Airfix and withdrew from that market. They carried on with the Rosebud dolls and other sundry products before being taken over by Mattel. Indeed, if you are lucky enough to possess any original UK market Hot Wheels cars from the late 60s, you will see the maker's name as 'Rosebud Mattel', although the cars themselves were made in the US or Hong Kong (the latter normally provided the UK stock). It wasn't long before consolidation saw the final closure of the Raunds facility and whatever Rosebud DNA remained was subsumed into Mattel.

 

Here's a 1968 Pathe film of the Raunds factory making Rosebud Mattel dolls:

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/55852/

Morning Andyman,

What with Sir David quotes and the history of Rosebud I better not give up the day job.

Thanks for the history and the Pathe News film. I never realised that Rosebud eventually moved to Wellingborough.

Thankfully the range of OO kits which made it into to Airfix/Dapol ranges are a blessing for modellers today.

Cheers,

Mark

2 hours ago, westernviscount said:

Excellent work here Mark. I think I might have one of these knocking around also. Might try and unearth it. 

Thanks David,

It's not a bad kit essentially. Thankfully my kits were staight/square helping the build. Some concentration is needed when mounting the bodywork on the chassis.

Like Mike and Al eluded to above, the older Airfix kits may be worth seeking out.

It will be good to see your take on the build.

Cheers,

Mark

On 01/04/2024 at 16:49, MikeJ said:

I enjoy making these kits, but have found the issue with "soft plastic". Out of the three I made, one only ever has three wheels in contact with the rails, which results in it derailing regularly. That really put me off making more, but I'll keep an eye out for original Airfix kits at future shows (though I'm not sure the decals will have aged well)

Very nicely finished Mike.

Thankfully, my two are not in the tricycle league with all four wheels on the track.

It does sound as if the older Airfix kits are the way to go. Keep those eyes peeled.

Cheers,

Mark 

On 01/04/2024 at 16:49, MikeJ said:

I enjoy making these kits, but have found the issue with "soft plastic". Out of the three I made, one only ever has three wheels in contact with the rails, which results in it derailing regularly. That really put me off making more, but I'll keep an eye out for original Airfix kits at future shows (though I'm not sure the decals will have aged well)

If you've used bearings, and you're feeling brave, you can resolve this with a soldering iron. Put the wagon on a flat surface, identify which bearing needs to be adjusted down (you only need to adjust one side of one axle) and then remove the relevant wheelset. Warm the iron and then touch it to the bearing, applying gentle pressure in the desired direction until the bearing just starts to move in the softened plastic. Remove the iron immediately and assess whether the wheels are now closer to level. The plastic will reharden quickly so you can have another go if things need further adjustment. Don't dwell with the iron or the plastic will melt all the way through to the front of the axlebox. It's a method of last resort but I've found it works if done with care! I had to do it on on one or two Dapol cement wagons with the soapy plastic.