Bluemonkey presents....

That's them. Just the job I have found so far.

Morning Mr Wolf, I think you have already answered this but H&A Models under buffers and couplings. I can not seem to paste a link in sorry. These are a perfect fit for the Cambrian kits and I am hoping the Slaters ones as well.

Not many excuses left now. Steel buffer heads for the Cambrian acid jar wagon have arrived along with an exceptional amount of low melt solder. I tend to use this for my soldered kits as for some reason I do not get on with higher melting point solders. Since being let down numerous times by a well-known online shop. I have had to search high and low for low melt solder of a decent amount and price and I can 100% recommend Paul at KW Trams. Not only is he highly approachable but his prices are excellent. Customer service is outstanding with indepth knowledge and a quick turnaround. Various scales catered for in white metal figures, trams, motors and accessories. 200grm of low melt solder for under a tenner!

Couldn't resist putting a checky bid on this older Cambrian kit alongside an acid jar wagon (pre-printed sides). I would imagine the new kits/plastic/details are just as fine as these. Makes up to a nice albeit large coal wagon. Rivet detail lovely and crisp. and only a tiny bit of filler on the corner joints. I opted to drill out the bogie bolsters (once I had educated myself on what they are!) to insert a brass nut to accept a screw to be able to remove the bogies rather than the suggested total glue in fix. Still awaiting final livery and transfers. It can trundle into the queue. At least one of these were used by WD as part of an armored train. As the kit fits so nicely together could be a basis for a project in the future although I do now have enough parts for another pannier crane tank 😵 Steropes or Cyclopes? I have the name/number plates made up ready as well 🙄

Great stuff Rich. Personally I would leave the piping to be added later but I do not have the CAD skills of yourself or the knowledge of the potential for the end result.

On their way. Let me know if you need anything ales.

Cheers Rich, I'll get some pics and send you them pm

Thank you yes two full ( i have a special one for war flats and Siphons Cs only) so I had to find another one lol. I am really pleased that the cradles are working for your as well. Certainly a space saver when it comes to the old camera cases.

I plan to solder the roof ends externally and as much of the sides as I dare.

Thank you appreciate your comments and thought of having a go. I really did need that extra push though as a number of things have been holding me back, thank you. I must say for a 'simple' roof have a go with some scrap sheet it is quite satisfying. May I suggest cutting to shape first as I think cutting once rolled would prove trickier. I have to decide now one long rain strip or two short ones. The drawing I have seen suggest two but all pictures (hen's teeth) show one.

After some thinking and then a bit more thinking and playing with the parts and replaying with the parts, I decided arse to it' make the plough bracket work who cares if it is what the kit designer wanted especially as the instructions are near to, ice in the Sahara. So I made it up. It is solid and I am happy with the end result especially as I have a nice little gap between the blades and solebar, rather than attaching them to it, more prototypical in my opinion. I also took the time to reflect on @57xx's comment about the roof and from the excess left on the kit I squeezed a suitable shape and took the plunge. Thank you for setting me straight Sir I will try and do this for the bogie mess van as well. I had to find some suitable sized rolling type implements but I think it has literally turn out nicely. 1.6mm brass tube soldered into place for the chim ho. The most pleasing part of this build, I think, is soldering to white metal plough blades together, forming a nice sharp point with only a minimal joint almost as if welded. very satisfying but totally invisible. I have the window sills to add before blackened plastic to represent the glass. Normally I would prime and paint prior to glazing but the roof I want to solder to the body so I'm going for the all in one job and masking off the glazing when it comes to painting rather than my normal and preferred practice..

Fantastic. Always in awe of CAD skills and design work.

It certainly is, one of those will ballast plough for extra fun.

Slow progress but pleasing nonetheless.

Yes just the brake and the other kits waiting build also the scratch build mess coach I previously failed with. The kits were original supplied with a nicely pre-rolled roof seemingly with rain strip and end detail but now they are very thin plastic sheet that warps in the middle as you shape it. So I am looking for a better solution and not having the confidence in my sheet brass cutting accuracy and skills coupled with nothing suitable to roll the brass with I am exploring options before spending a lot of time failing to get anything close to what I want, especially as I have another 10 or so kits with the same placements.

Fantastic modelling and an excellent portrayal of a snap shot of history. Outstanding work Mikkel and a real eye opener. P.s. I really like the roofing suggestion could be a 'way out' for my particular sticking point. Thanks.

Wow, that's not as way to encourage repeat custom. I always (and probably ignorantly) thought railway modelling to be fun, friendly and helpful not cut-throat, profiteering and demanding. I have learnt many things returning to the hobby many of which I wish I hadn't. I feel your pain and annoyance Graham.

Thank you Sir. I think eventually I will have to make my own as all wagons appear a little different in dimensions

Sadly no too heavy

I am presuming there are no suppliers of brass roofing for wagons or anything that is semi rolled etc. I am yet to come across anything.

Here they are as promised. Hope you are not as disappointed with the pictures as I am of the models. First up half-finished ballast plough brake with two single bolsters for company. The bolster is from an eBay purchase of spare parts rather than the hideous and over scaled piece of wood and brass rod supplied. I have been unable to find any decent historical notes of either diagram so these are destined to remain naked until I do. Still to decide on what to do about the brake shoe attempt by the kit manufacturer for the bolster wagons and I am trying to engineer a brass roof for the brake and subsequently other kits by the same supplier, rather than the plastic sheet as supplied. Finally 4 engineer open wagons. From my research the underframe of these are T9 or T10 but the wagon body is that of T3. No historical notes in the very poor and brief instructions. The brake gear is shocking and as I do not have parts to be able to subsidise the manufatuer's inability to supply suitable castings I have had to bend the brake arms and shoes to more appear close than actualy be close. Use of the brass wire to simulate rigging really helped make the fragile etches become more robust but very fiddly. The instructions for these are less than poor and I found myself making it up as I went along. Again these will remain naked until I can come up with something as a close representation. All wagons are awaiting a delivery of wheels again from another supplier that states they have 'live' stock levels but when it comes to it don't. I have two outstanding orders with the same supplier both orders at the time of ordering showed adequate levels of all my requested items but alas I am left (2months and counting) without required wheels and also the other items that are in stocking but will not be shipped until everything else is, unless I pay extra postage for the privilege. I am, as you can guess, very annoyed by this as they take your money you have to wait months before, maybe getting your items as this time I am having other items delayed as well due to the inaccuracies of the supplier. I will not be using them again.

They sit really nicely. Great idea to include a hole in your design work.

I have been beavering away with some brass kits during the last few weeks (thought I would be best to started/finished whilst I can still afford to use the soldering iron!) and I have found a new enthusiasm to reattempt the bogie mess coach roof. Must have been the disappointment with some of the manufactured kits/researching that has pushed me to achieve better. Just waiting on some brass tube and the finishing touches to the started kits. Pictures and better description of my thoughts to come.

Thank you, I am rather pleased with the ending result although a few details to add and of course painting. To give me a make over would have to include magic and minor miracles just for starters 🤣

Aside it went and still is although I have a little more motivation to remake an entire new roof. One thing at a time though, my attention turned to the ugly twins purchased a while ago for a snip on eBay due most likely the their appearance. It has been about 3 years since the purchase but here's ugly one; From this little beauty; To this nearly finished and ready for a coat of colour; I managed to salvage most items, just had to find a few detailing parts; the side steps, handrails, buffers, brake wires and swap out the wagon wheels for Mansell. The body is not attached as I need to fix glazing after the rain strips and gas lamp tops. These are on order as the original only had one and two shell vents, weirdly. Oh I'll have to fabricate a destination board as one was missing as well. Quite pleased with the result. Everything is now soldered whereas the original was completely glued. When striped back the paint remover I used completely destroy all the bonds (thankfully) so this was completely taken back to kit form without the sprues. The only things to blued is the plastic replacement brake gear pulley as this locates to brass detailing and the rain strips will be plastic strip as I do not like the original brass strip as I think this stands too high. Soon it will be time for the even prettier brother to come of age;