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Chris hndrsn

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Everything posted by Chris hndrsn

  1. Mol_PMB, You may like to have a look at the US Seatrain Lines ships acquired by the US War Shipping Administration for the USN (two as aircraft transports), most likely used primarily from the West Coast to Hawaii, and the remaining ships to the US Army. Not true RoRo ships in the modern sense, or in the sense of train ferries of the time, as they used a RoRo cradle to lift rolling stock out of the holds. I would suggest these ships were instrumental in moving locomotives and armour to the UK, whilst I imagine most wagons went as KDK's (Knock Down Kits) by freighters. The SS Seatrain Texas famously sailed (mostly) independently delivering 250 Sherman tanks to Egypt in time for the Battle of El Alamein. It is likely that Seatrain Texas and her sister ships serving the USATC were frequent visitors to Manchester and Liverpool for the remainder of the war. Cheers, Chris Henderson
  2. WRT the "pillbox" ammunition wagons, there is a factory image out there in the wild of one prior to handover to the Ministry of Munitions for the War Office. I have a copy of the image I will try to dig out over the weekend. From memory, they are a five-plank wagon with, as previously mentioned, the appearance of a lime wagon, except with multiple hinged lids. Being an ex-soldier, unlike Small Arms Ammunition and artillery shells, I would suggest they were primarily used for dangerous commodities, not necessarily packaged for inclement weather exposure. This may include TNT, barrels of gunpowder, detonating chord, detonators and so forth, with the important note that detonators and initiating compounds must be packaged and transported separately from explosives.
  3. Thanks Gordon and Andy. I posted this in the general European area because I was after both French and Belgian, as well as some German, which the old wagons-europa site covered. Andy thank you for the advice on the US Army TP wagons, though I don't intend modelling US Army, just the BEF, therefore the WD wagons that were later transferred to France and Belgium are of interest to me. I have a copy of the French railway history circle special magazine on the TP wagons, as well as the issue that has some, though not all of the WD wagons. I have some information and models of the 20 ton van, very generously supplied by one of the RMWeb members, that later became the Car ferry vans. I do have to note that I have forgotten the gents name, but I still have his details with the models, which are packed at the moment as I have a long period of illness. Cheers, Chris
  4. Does anyone know whether the http://www.wagons-europe.fr website was recreated at another web address? Or know of a site that has drawings and so on of French and Belgium rolling stock for all eras. I am keen to find find schematic drawings of French rail wagons, in particular the WD series supplied to France at the end of WW1? Cheers, Chris
  5. Simon, I hope you don't mind me suggesting four models ideas that continuing on your from WW1 60cms theme: The standard gauge Manning-Wardle armoured petrol tractor versions 1 and 2. A handful of each served on both the Western Front and Palestine/Egypt campaigns. Only a couple of photo's on the web, but apparently Statford Barn has the plans for one of the versions and that may be enough with available photos to do both. I certainly would buy one of each in 00. The British Army's Hawthorn-Leslie 2'6" gauge 0-4-0 petrol mechanical tractor, used in the Egypt/Palestine campaign. The Avonside 2'6" gauge 0-4-0 petrol mechanical tractor, also used in Egypt. The 2'6" gauge army wagons that were included with the loco's sent to Egypt in 1915. This thread on the Great War Forum may help a little with some background https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/213428-can-a-ww1-railway-anorak-id-these/#comment-2110672 cheers, Chris Henderson
  6. France had lost a significant part of it industrial capacity wth the loss of Lille and the surrounding region and were busy with their own work. Indeed it had been agreed by late 1917(?) that many wagons built for the ROD would be built to European standards, so that they could be sold to France and Belgium post war. I have a large panorama from the AWM.gov.au of a forward ROD yard in a valley which seems to be all metal sheeted vans and metal sheeted LSWR style road vans that post war were taken over by NORD and subsequently SNCF. I assume that these particular Well Wagons were part of this arrangement. Many wagons were sent over to France as multiple knock down kits running on one of the chassis in that batch, I have posted an image of such a kit a few years ago. But for these, if they were out of gauge for the UK, then they were probably built on contract in Canada or the US.
  7. As a follow up, the WD wagon type that the A7V was carried on is modelled by AMF87 from France, price is out of my league for a scale model example to run around with an A7V on it. More importantly a 4mm scale A7V on a 3.5mm scale wagon would look a bit odd and I would like to model one in 1/76. In April 2022 an image of one modified for container use in revenue service was posted to a French enthusiasts website. https://www.patrimoine-ferroviaire.fr/angleterre-wd-plat-surbaisse-long-xxxx-sncf-tergnier-2018/. How many 100 year plus wagons run around the UK? Would anyone be able to point me to book/s, or websites, of French railway wagons with scale wagon drawings from 1910 onwards? Cheers, Chris
  8. Thank you, looking at the 1963 Playcraft wagons they were modelled on the "25 ton Weltrol" wagons (they are labelled "Weltrol"). If the French Army wagons are marked as 35.2 Metric Tonnes they may well be ones that were handed over by the ROD in 1919/20. Would you happen to know of a French enthusiast website that would have images of wagons at Ateliers de Flandres workshops or French Army depots?
  9. No. I wasn't asking whether they were "brought" to the UK. As they were ordered by the Ministry of Munitions I imagine they were constructed in the UK. Most, like the Parrot (Warflat style) wagons would have been shipped to France for erection, though some may have been kept in the UK, if only to move the disassembled chassis and bogie kits to the port/ferries. I suspect the MofM contract was cancelled in Nov 1918 at the same time the Mk VIII International tank was cancelled. I realise the likelihood of these well wagons being in common UK use was low and therefore probably never made as a scale model, I was hoping someone may have seen/know of the drawings and their location where I could get a copy. As an aside, much like the WW1 Parrot wagon was the forebear of the WW2 Warflat, I would suggest the well wagon in the 1918 photograph was the forebear of the WW2 Warwell. Cheers, Chris
  10. During WW1 the Ministry of Munitions began the acquisition of well wagons* for the ROD, to augment the Parrot (Warflat) wagons that were designed and constructed from 1917. I imagine these well wagons were intended for the Mark V* and the Mark VI tank which was cancelled in December 1917. At least a few examples of a 34 ton capacity well wagons made it to France as they were used for the movement of the German A7V surrendered by the Germans after the Armistice and were photographed loaded with A7V's named "Schnuck" and "Hagen" at the Tank Corps HQ repair shop at Erin, probably in December 1918. Noting the intended Mark VIII Victory/International heavy tank was 38 ton and ten (10) metres long, by late 1918 I imagine stronger and longer examples of the of these well wagons were also in production. Would any member know of an OO Gauge version of these wagon? Or schematic drawings of the wagons? I imagine REE in France has produced a HO Scale version of it in the past, as many former ROD and USArmy TP wagons were gifted/sold to France and Belgium railways, many soldering on in France until at least the 1970's. Cheers, Chris hndrsn * If any one knows the telegraph reporting code of the well wagon, as unlike the Parrot/warflat's, it is not stencilled on the wagon, that would be great as well
  11. Thanks everyone. Postage is the killer for me, doubles the price on the two Era II wagons with brake hutch I am after. I will have to find some drawing and finally get around learning CAD. Cheers, Chris
  12. Can I ask the shop/website you are buying these from. I am trying to by myself some as well and am having trouble with the stores responding to emails. Chris
  13. I like your work. What brand are your ETAT wagon couvert? Cheers, Chris
  14. Because you don't want someone, a business, to make a profit from your efforts in creating the CAM file. Which is what would happen.
  15. Hi, I have been trying to access WD Models Website, but it does not load properly. I have also tried to email with no response. Does anyone know how Barry Williams is? Cheers, Chris
  16. I suggest the RECtank’s were only used in the UK for movement of tanks from the factories to the Fit out Depot that fitted out tanks with their stores and tools, followed by the ports until early 1918. They also would have been occasionally been used to move tanks to Bovington, to replace training tanks with newer models, or replacements for vehicles needing major repair. The RECtanks were not suitable for use in France as they did not have the extra chain points for the French/European coupling system. Secondly, there is no evidence of any Parrot wagons being sold to French or Belgian railways, many other British wagons, including the Parrots and other WD specific designs were sold, or gifted to Belgian and French railways post war. In early 1918 when the train ferry service was instituted movement From the Depot to the ports and France was by the Parrot wagons. Parrots had been in France since 1917 as some were used for Cambrai. Note also that the Parrot was selected by the US Army as their tank wagon, these were British built. There are images of knocked down US “Parrot” wagons being unloaded at a French port, and later their version of the wagon carrying three FT tanks. By late 1918 I believe the Parrot was being supplemented with a well wagon (see below) ready for the MkVIII Liberty Tank, which appears to be taller than the MkI to Mk V, the UK and US were going to make for the planned 1919 offensive. This 1918 well wagon was probably the design resuscitated during WW2 as the Warwell. Cheers, Chris
  17. I ended up emailing Bachmann, and was told that there are no jacks in the accessory pack for the LMS Parrot (I believe the LMS actually named these wagons "Quad"). I realise that Bachmann priced the OO Gauge Parrot wagons based at the same price of the WW2 Warflats, which have quite a good Cromwell MkIV tank. But, I must say that I am amused by Bachmann's recommended price of £56.95 for #38-740 WD 40T 'Parrot' Bogie Wagon WD Grey With Sheeted Tank, compared to the LMS "Quad" wagon version minus end jacks for £41.95. There is not £15 in the "sheeted tank" resin blob, which others have pointed out doesn't match the profile of a WWI MkIV or MkV tank, and is poorly represented by the covering "sheet", which has the weave of a fishing net. A great pity Bachmann didn't also release a WD Parrot wagon with jacks without the tank load, as there are a few 3D printed and resin MkIV and MkV tanks that would make much better loads available from small wargaming manufacturers. Cheers, Chris
  18. Does the LMS version come with another headstock and the tank stabiliser end screw jacks?
  19. Smokebox you are certainly quite right that the range of spare parts is quite limited. In comparison Bachmann US sells every part used to manufacture a locomotive. A good example is the Alco 2-6-0. They stock painted and unpainted examples of all the loco body shells which helps with kit bashing a loco to create a specific variation.
  20. G’day all, Do the UK manufacturers provide a spare part service? The US manufacturers, Athearn, Atlas Bachmann and others, each have a webpage where you can find and order the spare parts you may need to repair, customize, or create a unique model, and I was wondering if the UK companies provide the same fast service. Cheers, Chris
  21. Joseph, Thank you very much for your post, I have since been told that he was given coaches by the British North Eastern Railway. Hatton’s seem to have NER examples on their list for future release. May I ask what era the Encyclopedie des Voitures covers? Regards, Chris
  22. It used to be quite common for G Scale to be used overhead in stores and sometimes pubs and restaurants. The suggestion about opening “your” track to local enthusiast and clubs is a good one, as it brings customers, you never know your pub could become a must meet at site on weekends for garden railway enthusiasts.
  23. Hi, I recently read, on her I think, that during WW1 when Sir Eric Geddes was appointed DGTpt for the BEF Railway Operating Division, he was given, by the French, three axle coaching stock. I would like to model this train, would anyone know what coaching stock Geddes was given? Was it German stock? Cheers, Chris Henderson
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