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2mm Scale Iron Minks


Ian Smith

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Another entry from my Trefallion P4 blog moved to my 2mm Scale blog...

2mm Scale Iron Minks

 

07 December 2011

Posted by Ian Smith

 

 

After a bit of a ferret about in the loft, I found what I was looking for...

 

Many years ago I had a spell of modelling in 2mm Scale, the only wagons that were ever completed were a pair of GWR Iron Mink built from kits purchased from the 2mm Scale Association. The kit as produced was for a later type where the original iron doors were replaced with wooden ones - not what I wanted at all, so a little work with a square file and a few small pieces of styrene sheet later I had sides that resembled the look that I wanted, Iron Mink in their orignal form.

 

Below are some pics of the pair on a small 18" length of track that I constructed using the original copper clad sleepers and nickel silver strip that the society sold in rolls for track construction - I look now at the Easitrack components just to remind myself how things have moved on :scratchhead:

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When I retire I must build myself a small 2mm scale layout (I seem to have plenty of bits and bobs - loco, coach and wagon wheels, motors, even an etch of a rake of 5 GWR 4 wheel coaches).

 

Roll on retirement :sungum:

 

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-missy-

Dec 07 2011 21:37

 

Hello Ian.

 

Thank you for posting those pctures. I have (somewhere!) some of the N Gauge mink wagons awaiting chassis so I now know they can be done. What bits from the 2mm SA did you use?

 

There is nothing wrong with soldered track and PCB sleepers at all. Easitrack does give a far better appearance but in my opinion you cant beat soldered track and pointwork for robustness as well as the ability to adjust it easily. After all Highclere has been built using exactly the same technique!

 

Missy :)

 

 

Ian Smith

Dec 07 2011 22:20

 

Julia,

 

The parts that I used in the construction of the Iron Mink were :

the plastic body kits themselves,

a small piece of 0.020" stryene for the roof,

Colin Waite compensated W irons and brass bearings,

9'0" Standard Morton Brake Gear (etch of 9'0" and 10'0" wheelbase),

8 spoked wheels,

H/10 Cast white metal plain buffers,

H/7 Cast white metal GWR axleboxes

 

I have no idea whether these items are still available (I was last a member of the 2mm SA in 1995!) - the H numbers are from the packets that some identical parts are in, whether those items have new numbers now I do not know.

 

Hope this helps. Your model of Highclere and other great 2mm scale models are what inspired me to search the attic for these wagons (I knew they were up there in 35mm film canisters somewhere)

 

 

 

 

2mm Andy

Dec 07 2011 22:36

 

Hi Ian,

 

Those look rather nice. I started a similar conversion (removing the timber doors and fitting to the Colin Waite 2mm chassis) a while ago. Based on the fantastic results you've acheived, I think I might dig them out of my gloat box.

 

As far as I know, most of the bits you listed aren't available any more (apart from the body kit), but there are newer alternatives available from the 2mm Scale Assoc shops.

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

Gingerbread

Dec 07 2011 23:18

 

I agree - they look good.

 

It should be rather easier to make them now (if the relevant parts are in stock again) - when I bought some about a year ago, I think the kits came with choice of doors, and choice of ends, and roofs included, so no need to scratchbuild the iron doors (though I have mislaid some of the roofs, so will substitute some of the Association etched ones).

 

Chassis components are completely different now, as Andy says, with the probable exception of the wheels. Those couplings do look rather familiar though.

 

David

 

 

 

 

Donw

Dec 07 2011 23:29

I remember all those bits and still have some. I assume the coaches are from Stuart Hines etches. I have a set unmade myself. I spoke to Stuart at the AGM he said he didn't know what had happens to the masters for the etches.

Don

 

 

 

 

richbrummitt

Dec 08 2011 13:15

David, The choice of doors and the roof suggest that you are looking at the NGS society kit, not the 2mm SA one? The 2mm SA kit has one piece sides with the solebar included. The NGS one does not have the solebar on.

 

 

 

 

richbrummitt

Dec 08 2011 13:16

Oh, and if anyone would like to let their Stuart Hine 4 wheel coaches go to a new home please send me a pm.

 

 

 

 

Gingerbread

Dec 08 2011 15:51

 

richbrummitt, on 08 December 2011 - 13:15 , said:

 

David, The choice of doors and the roof suggest that you are looking at the NGS society kit, not the 2mm SA one? The 2mm SA kit has one piece sides with the solebar included. The NGS one does not have the solebar on.

Richard

Yes, I was referring to the N Gauge Society kit, bought through the 2mm Association. I hadn't realised that the kit Ian referred to as bought from the 2mm Association was totally different.

Nevertheless, I think the point I was trying to make still stands - the problem with absence of "early" doors doesn't apply with the kits currently available from the 2mm Association - though I doubt there are many prospective 2mm early Iron Mink builders, apart from the two of us.

 

David

 

 

 

 

richbrummitt

Dec 08 2011 18:22

On the website 2-522 is showing TOS. Maybe they have/are supplying the NGS kit instead?

 

The 2mm SA kit did (does?) comprise two sprues each with one side featuring a planked door, complete with solebar; an end with a single ventilator and headstock; and a floor. The NGS sprue comprises a side without solebar with an aperture for the door; an end with a single ventilator and headstock; an end without a ventilator plus headstock; floor; roof; flat doors (presumably for a CONE); iron doors (as built).

 

The latter clearly has more choice, but no option for the planked doors of the former. In my opinion the former is a nicer moulding because the ironwork on the side wraps under the body and onto the solebar. I had planned to see if the doors were a straight swap from the NGS kit into the 2mm SA one when I got around to making them up and I'm sure I had more than I found when looking upstairs just now.

 

 

 

 

 

Ian Smith

Dec 08 2011 18:35

 

Guys and Girl,

 

Many thanks for your kind words.

 

Donw, on 07 December 2011 - 23:29 , said:

I remember all those bits and still have some. I assume the coaches are from Stuart Hines etches. I have a set unmade myself. I spoke to Stuart at the AGM he said he didn't know what had happens to the masters for the etches. Don

 

Don,

The etch for the 4 wheel coaches was Stuart Hine's. I think the artwork was originally for 3mm scale. According to the instructions, a note from Stuart implies that the 5 coaches on the etch cost me the princely sum of £10-£12 :-)

 

Gingerbread, on 07 December 2011 - 23:18 , said:

I agree - they look good. It should be rather easier to make them now (if the relevant parts are in stock again) - when I bought some about a year ago, I think the kits came with choice of doors, and choice of ends, and roofs included, so no need to scratchbuild the iron doors (though I have mislaid some of the roofs, so will substitute some of the Association etched ones). Chassis components are completely different now, as Andy says, with the probable exception of the wheels. Those couplings do look rather familiar though. David

The couplings were a recent purchase (for me - probably 1994), I only made up 2 of them one for each wagon so that I could test their action and the gap between the wagons - I also have a set of what I believe are MBM couplings, but preferred the DG ones.

 

I also found a part scratchbuilt O5 4 plank open wagon that I was going to fit to a rigid 9'0" underframe - I think this will be my next project, as the body is complete and just needs the chassis completing. When it's finished I'll pop a photo of it here too.

 

Ian

2 Comments


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Richard

 

I bought four Iron Mink kits from the Association about a year ago - what I received clearly matched your description of the NGS kit. Conversely the accompanying photograph on the 2mm website stock list corresponds to your description of the 2mm Association kit.

 

That just leaves us with the minor question of whether the current "TOS" status means that neither version is available, or the NGS version is currently being substituted for the unavailable 2mm version. I think I recall an earlier notice indicating that the Iron Mink was available, but without roof - which suggests it was the 2mm version at that point. I must remember to ask one of the relevant 2mm shopkeepers when I am next in contact with them.

 

David

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