Thanks Pete!

The garden table is a bit of shocker really! I'm off to the N gauge show weekend after next so will be popping by the 2mm stand to learn a bit more. A photo diorama is a good shout though, it would also give me a chance to practice my ballasting before getting messy on a nice new baseboard. Thanks for the thought, much appreciated!

Looks good to me too. No need for any toning down.

Dave

Crikey, now there's a thought....

I don't think it's over done, looks pretty good actually!

One thing missing from that model is the handbrake. These were either the original lever type with clasp brakes;

http://paulbartlett....io.com/bdalever

Or the later hand wheel version with disc brakes. TPM do some nice etches for these;

http://paulbartlett....io.com/bdawheel

Looking at your model, I would go for the disc braked version.

Another vote for the photo plank here - that BDA really does deserve to be shown off with a more realistic background.

One thing missing from that model is the handbrake

You know, I noticed two small holes in one of the bogies. Could it be I'm missing some detailing parts? I did get the stantions and air pipes in a little bag, but no discs. Hmmm...well I guess it will give me an excuse to try some etched details out!

Another vote for the photo plank here - that BDA really does deserve to be shown off with a more realistic background.

Thanks for the encouragement everybody. I will get my thinking cap on...

When you buy the Easitrac you might find you need some Blue-Tak to stop it rolling as it doesn't have the grooves to do that like your garden table has!

Looks good. I scratchbuilt one about 30 years ago but haven't got round to weathering yet. I do have nice wonky stanchions though. As you say, just like the real ones do!

Thank you Mr. TPM - looks like I will be in touch soon to order some hand wheels soon!

Yo Steve

Bad news I'm afraid. The BDA I picked up n brought rnd yours to weather in the spring now looks even more crud now I've seen yours. Mine does have factory fitted discs on the bogies mind! (GF ref 377-601 just to be sure we have the same wagon)

A visit to the 2mm stand would be good. I watched (most) of the videos posted previously. think between us we could make a set of points? Or is that just another no-go area such as dcc lighting 08's? LOL!

The wagon is looking great. I've not forgotten about them coils either. I've got an idea in mind and I'll go and play now n see what I can figure it...

Got a spare piece of knauf foam here I think that might be photoplank sized if you want it!

Keep the pictures rolling boss! I'm sure you have another wagon or two to show off!

Yeah its the same ref, weird they missed the break discs off mine. Hey ho. Etched replacements will look the biz anyway!

As you know there is another wagon but I'm saving it until I do the photoplank after next weekend. If I could please have that bit of foam board that'd be mega!

I have today added the vac pipes and pipe details to the cab end of my 08 - now that was interesting!

Here is me idea on the steel coils.

More a proof of concept than a solution!

I've stripped some multi strand wire (I got from a DCC kit, it's used for track droppers) and unwound the strands. Simply wrapped about 7 strands- each about 20cm - around a paintbrush.

I've made a mess of it as its a quick lets see, but If you made a proper tool to do this, I reckon you could get some excellent results! I tried to put the brace wire through the center and rethread onto the brush, but this distorted it somewhat.

If you could make a dowel with groves along its length and place the brace wire in before wrapping the coils, I think you'll get the neat effect of the real thing. Prob want a jig to hold the dowel while you wrap the coils tigher with both hands. A bit of weathering down n I think the scale would be just right! The brace wires can be wrapped accross the coils on the dowel, then soldered at one end or in the center to hold it all together.

It's a bit of an effort for such a smal item, but I'll throw the idea out there!

edit: for scale reference,

Might also take someone with a little more finese!

Referring to the brake discs on the BDAs, I shall be posting an entry on my Marsh Lane Sidings blog soon of the TPM etched discs that I have used to replace the plastic discs that come with the model. I'll leave it up to you to decide if the etches are worth the money?

The weathering looks great but I would say you need to be careful as to the extent of the weathering will determine how old the wagon is - if you see what I mean. I model the 80s. so the weathering needs to be more subtle than if I was modelling the current scene. Keep up the excellent work you are doing.