Brian's 7mm Workbench JLTRT Class 26

by brian daniels

original page on Old RMweb

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??? posted on Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:08 pm

Thought I would see how I get on with a workbench thread rather than individual threads per topic. Anyway I have been ferreting away on a Modelexpress VAA kit, the same as Ian G has done. As Ian did I too have added the brake rigging down one side, an early style of variable loading valve. I also moved the distributor a bit closer to the air tank. I also shortend it as I also did to the brake piston unit. The big mod I did was to lower the floor into the body. Instead of the floor sitting on a ridge in the body I cut off a bit on all 4 sides so the floor now sits with the bottom level with the ridge in the sides. I used some spare JLTRT air pipes and Appleby buffers and couplings. The wheels are supported on WEP units, floppy at one end, works a treat. Just primed it ready for a coat of dark bauxite. It looks the part although there are 2 things I don't like, the rather thick bufferbeam and the short handbrake levers. But having said that whens it's finished running round a layout I think it will look rather good.

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Comment posted by ham on Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:16 pm

Nae that rocks!!!

That is exquisite stuff - shame about the brake lever mind.

After all those other bits it does look a bit odd or am I being a rivet counting anorak

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Comment posted by lancer1027 on Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:37 pm

Hi Brian. That looks great . who's screw couplings have you used. Also can you still get these vans

Rob.

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??? posted on Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:03 pm

Hi Rob, the couplings are from Appleby and very nice they are to, just 4 bits to them dead easy to put together. These kits are still available from Modelexpress Tel 01934 744195. I think it was about ??????‚??50. Mind you it needs Hayward wheels, WEP compensation units, Appleby buffers and couplings and some air pipes to complete.

I also have their OAA on the go.

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Comment posted by gronk619 on Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:53 pm

Hi Brian,

That's looking very good.

Just out of interest who supplies the Hayward wheels?

Cheers

Andy

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Comment posted by lancer1027 on Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:00 pm

Thanks for the info Brian. . look forward to more progress pics. Great work mate, always a pleasure to read your workbench.

Rob.

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??? posted on Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:02 pm

Oh god now you are asking, I can't remember, I bought them at Telford from the stand and did not take as much interest as I should have as to who I was buying from

Any help with this one anyone

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Comment posted by lancer1027 on Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:08 pm

Unfortunately i can picture a couple of trader's stands but their name is a blank. Think i was on the same stuff as you Brian on that one.

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Comment posted by Ian G on Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:33 pm

Invertrain amongst other smaller traders suppy Haywoods wheels.

Ian G

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??? posted on Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:37 pm

Thanks Ian and for the correct spelling of Haywoods

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Comment posted by PCM on Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:58 am

Hi Brian,

That wagon is looking good. I am quite tempted to have a go at one myself. I had a quick look at the Model Express website and they have the Haywoods wheels listed. I didn't see the VAA listed, do you have the part number for the kit? It looks like they do the VDA and OCA. I noticed also that you are using compensation units, are they a must for O Gauge wagons or just personal choice?

Also, I was wondering if at some point you could post a pic or two of your JLTRT 37 next to your Heljan 37, I was just wondering how they compare.

The copy of Rail Express with some lovely pictures of your locos in arrived here in Oz last week and its really got me thinking about the bigger Gauge.

Cheers Peter.

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??? posted on Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:22 am

Hi Pete, I just went on Model Express web site and you are right they don't mention the VAA. I had a look on the box and there are no numbers or anything on it just VAA in black marker. Looks like a phone job or email to clarify if they have them. I would strongly recomend a compensation unit on long wheelbase stock and in any case it makes it a lot easier to put the wheels on as you would have to drill the white metal axleboxes to take a bearing then line them up square with the wheels in whilst the glue drys. It's a lot easier with these fold up units

I will get round to taking some pics of my 37's together but I want to put some weathering on the Heljan one first but the weather has been very cold and damp here the last couple of weeks, not very good for spraying. It's got milder now so the air brush will be out very soon.

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Comment posted by djparkins on Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:49 am

Brian,

I wonder if its the one that they did a run of for MIGO which they were selling them as well as MIGO - so maybe MIGO might have some left.

Regards,

David Parkins

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Comment posted by Ian G on Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:46 pm

They are the ones made for MIGO, there was a problem with payment from MIGO to the makers, I wont mention any names as I paid and ordered 2 through MIGO, and never got the wagons, but after a few threats I got my money back, then got the low down from Model Express.

Ian G

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Comment posted by The Cutter on Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:54 pm

Hi Brian

Great work! When work eases off a bit I've got one to make a start on myself. Any chance of you including a shot looking at the underside of your VAA and all the brake rigging and extras you've added.

Cheers

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??? posted on Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:26 pm

Forgot that pic TC glad you mentioned it Captions on the picture should be self explanatory I think.

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Comment posted by dibateg on Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:55 pm

looking good Brian - although a bit modern for my taste! Are you just doing the one? Or will it be part of a train of other vehicles? I've been working on a train of 20 minerals, which seems to be going on forever. About 4 wagons at once is more than enough repetition!

If you are not happy with the brake lever, could modified Ambis ones be suitable?

I like the way you add text to the photos, what do you use?

Regards

Tony G.

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??? posted on Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:04 pm

Just doing the one at the moment Tony. No real plan of what to build just doing anything at the moment. Here's a pic of my "air braked train" which will be getting a bit longer bit by bit. Before anyone comments I know I have 2 vac braked 24's on the front!

Still can't get any transfers for the cartics though

The descriptions on the pictures are done in Photoshop which is where I resize all the pictures I put on the forum. Helps to understand things a bit better doesn't it.

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:14 pm

how about letraset rub on letters???

Mike

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Comment posted by d7093 on Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:19 pm

The VAA looks really nice Brian, was tempted to get one before xmas after seeing Ian G's thread and i think your thread has just decided it for me

Am i right in thinking they were introduced in 1969 or are their differences over the early ones, just i model 1970-71 so would be even better if it fits my period.

Trevor

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??? posted on Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:51 pm

Maybe Mike I have gone down that road before in the past. I really should try doing my own on the computer I suppose.

If they were introduced as you say Trevor in 1969 then go for it I have enjoyed doing it and will probably do another. Like all things, now I have done one the next should be easier. Some where coded VAB, pic on my website of one, so had through vac pipe to run in vac fitted freights.

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:54 pm

only thing with letraset now is that theyre hard to get hold of with people using computer printers, theyve been killed off.

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Comment posted by Fat Controller on Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:50 pm

If you were content to model the BR-owned Cartic, then John Isherwood of Cambridge Transfers does them - see

http://www.cctrans.freeserve.co.uk/products.htm.

As regards the VAA/VAB/VBA (all to an identical design, save for twenty with end vents), many of the early ones carried a circular yellow spot (a bigger version of the ones seen on Banana vans) with 'ABN' in black capitals. This stood for 'Air-Braked Network', the precursor to Speedlink- the wagons were painted in 'Freight Brown'.

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Comment posted by onslaught832 on Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:07 pm

..........Definitely on the slippery slope to 0 gauge ...........you know it makes sense

Cheers Phill

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Comment posted by Ressaldar on Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:37 am

Hi Brian,

VAA looking good - as usual.

Re the Car-tic transfers, you could try John Peck at http://www.precisiondecals.com or Frank Warner at http://www.scalemodeltransfers.co.uk both are well into the modern era.

Incidently, regarding the threaded sockets as used by JLTRT, I followed your advice regarding hole sizes on the GUV roof sockets, 3-5mm dia bolt, hand held 4.5mm dia drillbit offered into preformed hole - straight in without touching the sides, great, socket placed into hole - resistance, to the extent that the sockets do not fit flush with the face of the holes and needless to say, screwing the bolt in is not an option. I have spoken to JLTRT and Laurie suggests the a suitable, (3-5mm dia in this instance) tap is run through to remove any resistance. The reason for the trouble is that JLTRT get their sockets from a number of suppliers, who it would seem, all work to differing tolerances - especially on the outside diameters, and JLTRT form the hole to suit the smallest outside diameter socket that their suppliers provide. I mention this so that others can ensure that they have a set of metric taps available on the workbench.

Is 37069 weathered yet?

regards

Mike

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