Congratulations!

M.

Chris,

Nice work, but I'm not sure the body is sitting down on the chassis properly - there looks like there is a gap between the solebars and the chassis?

2mm kits (these are Masterclass Models kits) do generally assume a certain amount of knowledge about things like brake gear arrangements, etc. The two OPC books on Midland wagons by Bob Essery are very good books and well work purchasing if you can. Amazon have both available for £9-99 each, which is pretty reasonable price given the amount of information contained in them.

Andy

Missy - I blunder on in the wake of your excellence!

Don - I personally like diagrams/pictures when constructing kits, especially for the first time. Maybe this is an area where some 2mm manufacturers could improve?

Andy - well spotted.I hadn't noticed what with all the shiny metal going on!

The frame is hard up against the floor. I did have to fettle this a good deal before attaching so I know it to be the case.

I've put it under the magnifier for a closer look, and

the outer ( ornamental)solebar has slipped a tad at one end when it was soldered on. Hopefully I can rectify it, but if not it's something to watch on the next one!Thanks for the pointer on the Essery wagon books - I own two of his carriage ones and they are very useful.

Cheers

Chris

Hi Chris,

That would explain it - the cosmetic solebar looked a bit odd in your photo.

Your success rate with these wagons is better than mine - I have only built one of the MR vans so far, and I managed to get the body sides and ends slightly misaligned, so that the floor won't fit into the wagon very well. Luckily I was intending to build one of them as a grounded van body to use as a goods store on a station platform, so it looks like it'll be that one!

Quite a few of the chassis kits from the 2mm scale association have fairly good diagrams - usually in the form of an exploded diagram. Unfortunately the Midland wagons aren't amongst them.

Andy

Andy,

I don't think I have built ONE of the association wagons, Worsley coaches or my own little engines that I am entirely happy with.

But I guess we strive to improve.In the meantime, they have to take their place on my little railway until I can produce something better.. Remember I am starting from a point of ignorance 2 years ago and have a lot of knowledge and skills to aquire.

I actually found D353 the easiest of the half dozen MR wagons I've built so far.

I have just ordered a 10T brake and a high-sided van, so I'll see how these go.

Hopefully I won't be eating my words...

Regards,

Chris

Chris,

I wasn't criticising - I think we all strive to improve our skills, and building things is the best way to do it. I admire your work with the locos - I've not done much loco building in 2mm scale yet, although I do intend to (if only to reduce the pile of kits I have in the cupboard!).

There is a very useful photo guide for building the 10t brake on the 2mm VAG files area - hidden away in the 'wagon instruction sheets' folder.

Andy

No I wasn't feeling at all got at Andy!

I'm my own worse critic by far...

Thanks for the hint about the ten tonner. I'll look it up. I'm getting a bit of a bug about these little vans now. Oh dear Chequebook out again!

Regards,

Chris