More wagon kits
Entry posted by The Fatadder
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Last night I got on with the initial stages of the next batch of wagons, All of which are now waiting for
First up a a Coopercraft Loco Coal open, and a 4 plank open. Coopercraft open wagons are a bit of a pain, given that Coopercraft have moulded the floor much too high.
As a result I have corrected it by removing all of the ribs on the underside of the floor, then glued it in the correct position to the sides / ends. The solbars were then modified to remove the 2mm additional length on the top, getting them back down to scale height. (these have yet to be fitted, pending buying some more springing units.)
Next a pair of Coopercraft Minks, I think this is the diagram V4 Low Mink though I would need to double check. While the floor design for these is the same as for the opens, it is hidden inside the van negating the problem. In fact it actually makes life easier as it means that there is no material to remove from the floor to fit the new w irons. Both have 30g of lead fitted inside the van. The next job on these is to add the rainstrip to the roofs, the solbars need about 0.6mm removed from the inner side to provide clearance to the w irons, they will also need the additional DC linkage adding which was not provided by the kit.
Between the two Coopercraft Minks, is a Ratio GW van which was built last year. This has been stripped down with the chassis removed, and replaced with Evergreen channel. This now provides the clearance for new w irons, although it still needs to have the breakgear built up.
Onto a couple from Parkside, an LMS 3 plank and another LNER Lowfit. As I have probably mentioned before I love how well the body falls together with a Parkside kit. But I hate how they have designed the underside! All those needless ribs which need to be removed in order to fit decent W irons! In both cases I took a large ba***rd file and filed it all away before building up the bodies as per the instructions.
Finally a bit of a random job, a very old Hornby 20t (from my first trainset) which I understand is vaguely like a GW owned private owner wagon. I have tidied up the end and sides removing excess depth of moulding and refining detail where possible. a new chassis has been scratch built with some left overs from Cambrian for the headstocks, Evergreen solbar and bill Bedford w irons. I also have a spur of Parkside brake gear which will be added soon to finish it off.
Not shown in the photo is another Ratio Iron Mink, not made much progress yet on this as I want to get a set of replacement wooden doors for it first...
I have a couple of spare short wheelbase chassis (one steel and one wooden) left from Cambrian kits which hopefully will be used to rechassis a couple of old PO wagons from years ago.
I think this now brings the fleet up to the following
GWR
Open: 4 finished, 2 in progress
Van: 2 finished, 4 in progress
NPCS: 1 finished, 2 in progress (one of which just needs bogies)
Other: 1 Macaw
LMS:
Vans: 3 (finished)
Open: 2 finished, 2 in progress
LNER:
Vans: 2 Finished
Open: 2 finished, 1 in progress
SR
Open: 1 awaiting paint
PO:
2 Finished, 2 more as body only awaiting new chassis, + the 20t awaiting painting and final detailing.
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