drduncan

Just done the survey and I thought I should point out that the era 2 1875-1922 pregrouping option at 47 years covers a huge societal and fashion change. (For comparison the grouping period is only 25 years..) So while I said era 2 any products covering that period may actually miss my real modelling interests: the period between 1885 and 1892 or 1900 to 1914. Fashion being what it was (and railway staff uniforms too) perhaps more granularity is needed than the rather blunt instrument of the era catch alls. While any subdivision will be imperfect for everyone, rather than era 2 I would suggest: 1875-1886 mid victorian 1887-1901 late Victorian (eg golden jubilee onwards) 1902-1914 Edwardian 1914-1922 WW1 and after. Hope this helps peoples thinking. Regards Duncan

As far as I know the are no known photos or drawings that can be tied to the dimensions in the wagon register (ie the drawing I have and info of the wagon it purports to be cannot be reconciled with the recorded register dimensions). The 2 SDR wagons I have found partial views of have full height side doors. They appear to be 3 planks but may not be… D

At the risk, no certainty, of going off topic (eg it has nothing to do with certain MR abominations) could I speak to the collective wisdom of Compound’s followers? How many planks would you assume in a wooden bodied wagon either 2’6” or 2’4” deep? Built dates are the mid to late 1850s and all were condemned in the period 1891-3. Company is the South Devon Railway… The 30” deep versions suggest to me 3x 10” planks but the 28” ones I’m at a loss. What does everyone think? Regards Duncan

Chris, Are there any differences in length, width, depth etc (and wheel size) between the Ex SDR conversions I cited above from the BG register and the non Ex SDR (presumably all ex GWR BG rather than say Cornwall Rly, or one of the BG South Wales lines) one in the SG register 29XXX series? Does 29382 have 3'1" or 4' wheels in the SG reg ister? Regards, Duncan

Over on the D299 appreciation thread (I think) @wagonman posted a cleaned up version of the photo that had inspired @MikeOxon. I’ve copied it and here it is for the edification of all - with the sincerest thanks to Wagonman. D

James, In your quest for WNR coaching stock I was wondering if you had picked up on the Hornby announcement of IoWR teak 4w coaches? Regards Duncan

Will there be a softback version? Regards Duncan

We will have to agree to disagree on the wisdom of P4…😁

Ooh, ooh, ooh, I know! It’s EM gauge ready to lay track and you’re going to EM which, in my book is always a good idea. Duncan

@wagonman thanks for posting the images. I think the round ended one has a wooden frame with iron cover plates - the v hanger can be seen but no crown plates above the w irons. I’ll see if a can identify any suspects unless someone else gets there first. Duncan

Richard, Many thanks for all your continuing efforts to further our understanding of GWR coaches. You have made modelling these carriages in all their variety so much easier. Regards, Duncan

Dear all, Its January, so soon it will be the Southampton MRS Show at Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh on 27 & 28 Jan where I'll be demonstrating 3D printing and CAD (and showing off my prints, which co-incidentally will be available to purchase at the ABS Modelstock stand - who will also be at the show). If you are planning to go to the Southampton show, do come by and say hello. Regards, Duncan

@BetweenTheTunnels I may be misremembering but I think DavieBigCheesePlant had drawn up baulk road for 3D printing using code 75 bullhead rail slid into the base. D

@BetweenTheTunnels if you are a 3mm modeller then what I’m about to say will be mostly old news but with a BG twist. In practical terms the issue is the availability of gauges and jigs. As a minimum you’ll need - whatever scale/standard combo you go for - a back to back gauge, some sort of roller or block gauge to measure a spot gauge, a check rail gauge and if you are making anything with a curve in it, some triangular gauges. I do not believe the BGS supply gauges for anything except P4 and S7 standards, but they do publish standards for almost every possibility from 2mm to 7mm in their website - which is where I got the specifications for BG to EM standards. I think (but am not sure) that a GW Models adjustable b to b gauge can be set for BG. See MRJ for GW models adverts - there is one on the inside front cover of the current MRJ (no 300). I have been very lucky with my friends and before I got into 3D printing they made me an EM b to b, block gauges out of steel and cut some triangular gauges from Perspex. I now print my own check rail and triangular gauges. All of these were to EM standards and code 75 rail (there was method in the madness of choosing the far west of Cornwall as inspiration) and it is worth remembering that bridge rail has a different width to the rail head so normal track making gauges for 3mm, EM or P4 if butchered to 21/28mm may not grip bridge rail properly. This in turn may build in irregularities into your track - EM wheel standards may forgive this but I doubt P4 will. I’ll PM you regarding printing some wagons and locos. Duncan

Look what arrived in the post today!!!!! A big thanks to Gareth @garethashenden for being persuaded to build it and for doing such a tip top job too. And here is 1561 posed on Nampara’s wharf siding with some 3 plank and 4 plank wagons as well as a part finished lidded China Clay wagon. I really must stick the track down, ballast it, finish the electrics, finish some rolling stock, play trains and then get some scenics done! Duncan

Thanks for the kind words @Mikkel but given the slow progress at Nampara don’t hold your breath! Besides, the goods facilities at Nampara aren’t big - at least the modelled but isn’t. If I ever do the New Quays extension that will give more siding space but I can’t see a way to do the engine shed and goods yard without serious revisions to the current plan. D

Some more broad gauge convertible wagons; this time 4 plank ones. There are two versions of this with differences on the non-brakes side. The first version has door stop springs on the solebar and banging plates on the door. And the other doesn’t. This is to allow for variations in the non braked side as photos of these wagons at the Swindon dump show 3 or 2 door bang plates and given GWR practice at the time it is also possible that some had none. Finally , there is a wide planked SG 2 plank wagon fitted with reversible brake shoes but retaining the early curved brake lever and ribbed buffers. Regards, Duncan

Are you set on 3mm scale? If it’s a stand alone project just to scratch an itch perhaps 4mm might be better (or 7mm for that matter) to maximise your ability to access kits and bits. Above all, I’m unsure where you might get suitable bridge rail for use on longitudinal sleepers in 3mm. However, @Ian Smith made 2mm baulk road (standard gauge) for his Modbury layout so that thread on RM web might give some ideas in techniques and materials. As @garethashendenis in a volunteering mood, even if it’s volunteering someone else (😂 let’s face it I’m massively in debt to him so fairs fair and he can volunteer me), yes rescaling 4mm prints is possible. There is more work if going down in scale than up (walls etc get thinner when going down in scale and can fail) - but it is doable especially if multiple prints are needed. As to prototype I would avoid London sheds - they were mixed gauge from the 1870s and much of the stock was standard gauge. It’s west of Exeter than remains BG only. An obvious station and loco shed that might suit your needs would be Penzance - it was much more compact in BG days than after it was rebuilt. However - and most perversely - it was mixed gauge as it was built by the West Cornwall Railway (the mixed gauge stopped at Truro with the junction with the Cornwall Railway) . The WCR was first ‘narrow’ and then made mixed with the addition of a BG rail. On the plus side much of the W Cornwall Rly was transverse sleepered. Best, Duncan

Surely that should be ‘really useful engines’…

I’m working on the late Broad Gauge period to EM standards. Like @Charlie586 and @MikeOxon I make considerable use of 3D printing to produce items not covered by the cottage industry that supports BG. (And by using 3D printing I really do make models in my sleep!) My own layout (very slowly crawling towards being operational but far from finished) is mixed gauge using transverse sleepers (ie normal ones just quite a bit longer) designed in templot. If you pick your period and location carefully you can make use of a considerable amount of components that you’d associate with ‘narrow’ gauge lines. I’m not sure about trade support for BG in 3mm but I have seen a few BG 3mm layouts including a rather nice one that was done for the Cameo competition a few years ago but the name escapes me If I can help do let me know. Regards Duncan

when I saw the Bachmann toy I did wonder if you’d had too much brandy soaked Christmas pud… Duncan

@Great Bear Just discovered this thread and worked my way through it. Excellent work and a delightful project. Anything new to show us all? Duncan

Thanks @Chrisbr. I wonder if the barrel tilts refers to the wooden variants (GWR) that in some sketches (but I can’t remember quite where I saw them) that had what looked like longer tilts and were planked horizontally. D

But would a GWR sheet be used on a non GWR wagon? Can we assume that company sheets would only be seen on that company’s wagons and not ‘borrowed’ as needed to sheet a load? I suspect the answer is company sheet = company wagon but I haven’t seen a rule for it. D

You CAD it I’ll print it…