S7 scratch building

[Poggy1165]

Those stanchions are a work of art in themselves.

 

The usual 7mm scale solution is to cut a piece of wire and stick it in a hole. 

[airnimal]

Steady on chaps, it's just a hobby. Her indoors has said can my decorating skills be a work of art. Ouch !

Added the rings and one or two other bits.

The hardest job on the stanchions is not to break to many fret saw blades. A quick going over them with fine files and them some 220 grit paper. Two hours to do 4 stanchions.

Edited August 28, 2017 by airnimal

[John lewsey]

Looks really good Mike

[airnimal]

Brake gear has just been added, just handles and racks to go. These are the last of the brake castings of this type in my parts box, but I still have enough other parts to keep me going.

I have been told the axle box castings that I am having made will be here soon.

[airnimal]

Having been asked by a few people to bring some of my wagons to Telford this weekend I have a slight problem. The tables and chairs where you can sit and discuss all aspects and display your new models and recent purchased goodies are quite small and they get very crowded. And they are there mainly to let people sit and have dinner.

Having spent a fair few hours building my stock, I am beginning worry about models been past around by a lot of people in a limited space especially at busy times. I have in the past had stuff dropped on the floor and bits broken off by rough handling. I am trying to find a box that will show these items without to much passing around by hand or am i being to antisocial ?

There has been quite a lot on the GOG webb about Telford concerning people behaviour.

[Andy Hayter]

I see nothing wrong with protecting your hard work.

No one bats an eyelid at a barrier in front of a layout, why would a glass case to protect hours of hard work be a problem - unles some oik decides to open the case and inspect the models.

Also given that there have been a few thefts from specialist shows in the last couple of years, if it were me I would want my hard work well protected.

Edited August 31, 2017 by Andy Hayter

[sir douglas]

i was looking forward to going to telford to see these wagons and see a certain loco on Craig Wen but things have transpired agaisnt me and i wont be going

[Phil Copleston]

I was brought up never to touch someone else's models unless given express permision to do so. Same with layouts or anything else. By all means show your models, even let trusted individuals handle or closely inspect them. But the rule is "only touch if I give you permision". Simple. Anything else and they get a rocket!

Edited September 3, 2017 by Phil Copleston

[John lewsey]

Hi Mike do you remember when I picked up my LNWR Jubilee from Laurie Griffin a few years ago and an American guy asked if he could hold it I just politely made an excuse

Edited August 31, 2017 by John lewsey

[airnimal]

Telford was as good as every. I met lots of friends for all over the country and looked at soon very good models. I find the social side of the weekend plays a very big part of the proceedings with a hearty meal and a few drinks in good company on the Saturday night. I didn't buy much but now I have come home I have remembered a few things I should have bought.

I did buy a wagon kit for the first time in a long time. My main interest has always been scratch building but this wagon is a bit different from the normal so I am happy to try something new.

 

I have put the brake handles on the pair of dumb buffer wagons but I am still awaiting the axle box casting.

[airnimal]

I could not resist starting on my purchase from Telford. This wagon kit is very different from any wagon kit I have made before. The material the parts are made from is some form plastic but will not glue with the usual glues. Parliamentary Trains recommend fish glue which they sell, so I bought a bottle from them with the kit.

This glue is a cross between Evo-stick and superglue. I wish I had asked more questions when I bought the kit on Sunday because I did not get on with this glue. It was probably my fault for not asking about and how best to use it. I think they said to thin the glue with water so I will give this a try when I build the rest of the kit.

I am impressed with the fit of the parts as they are very precise and almost clip together.

I started on the ends building up the panels and adding the buffer pads. A tip for anybody building one of these kits is to build up the buffer pads and let them dry before glueing to the end panels.

[airnimal]

I have dropped a mighty clanger again, must be my age. I read through the instructions several times before I started this build and did not find them easy. Several things stood out but I still made a huge blunder by not picking up on the fact that the body and underframe are not to be glued together. The instructions mention that the sequence of build may be possible in other ways from that in the instructions.

If I have a suggestion for anybody please build the underframe first. And to Parlimtary Trains would it not be better to put this first in the instructions and not after the body has been built as on page 1.

I got to instruction number 43 on page 3 before coming across the words ( Don't glue to floor )

 

Yes you guessed it I glued part number 41 to the floor, this is the main frame member. The solebars are not part of the frame but are cosmetic. I am not sure how I am going to get over this as the warning on page 1 states that it may not be possible to complete the model. I will keep posting.

[Western Star]

Mike,

 

You might benefit from a telephone call to the manufacturer along the lines of...  "this is what I have done and given the warning on page 1 you might have made the same mistake...  so how do I get out of the hole?"

 

Never know, replacement parts might be forthcoming.

 

regards, Graham

[airnimal]

Graham, I think it is to late for replacement parts. The glue is very strong and would probably damage the whole wagon. I will put this one down to experience and move on. I may salvage the buffers and the roof and scratch build a new wagon.

I am a bit disappointed with the instructions as I think it should have been a bit better laid out. The parts of the body were very good and fitted very precise. I think it could have made a very fine model.

Perhaps I have building models my way for such a long time that I failed to grasp the way the designer had intended for the model to be built. I was warned on page 1 so I have only myself to blame.

[Coal Tank]

Hi Mike

It looks almost complete why can't it be finished or have I missed something

 

John

[Compound2632]

It appears to have Slateritis - the floor has been fixed too low forcing the solebars to project below the headstocks?

[airnimal]

The model is intended to built with inner and outer solebars with the outer fixed in place and the inner moving on one side on only.

It would probably work very well if only I had understood and read the instructions more thoroughly.

I think the fault is both with the instructions and my ability to understand them. I could just glue the wheels in place and have a fixed wheel wagon without any form of compensation but that is not what I want.

[EKR]

Would a prolonged soak soften the fish glue?

Or even a hot water soak?

 

My only knowledge of this type of glue is from woodworking.

Once dismantled a chair by suspending it for a day over a warm radiator. Just pulled the joints apart.

[airnimal]

i will try your suggestion, this is one of the benefits of the RM webb.

I have sprayed the grey on the bolster wagons. I have still got to finish the lettering on all the other the wagons I have been building as well painting a couple of others.

I had lettering on my list at Telford along with a few other things, but failed to find what I wanted.

[Western Star]

I have sprayed the grey on the bolster wagons. 

Thank you for showing the recent builds to me.  The bolster wagons are a pleasure to behold.

[airnimal]

EKR many thanks for you suggestion about soaking in hot water, You have saved the day. I now have a kit of parts to try again. The parts are a bit warped but I will place them under some weights and see how they go.

 

Graham, always good to see you. I am glad that you like the wagons. I am always surprised that people find these wagons that good because I find them just simple wagons that most railway companies had. Most modellers tend to like the exotic wagons that would probably never be seen on most branch lines but for myself I like the mundane.

 

A bit more on the bolster wagons.

[Western Star]

Mike, even though you have described the "wrong" assembly, I am not sure what went wrong and where so please try to educate your readers when you re-commence construction.

 

Mundane? yes, mundane wagons...  exquisite?  yes, nicely finished...  inspirational?  yes, I continue to try to catch up with you.

 

Not just me, others have commented in similar terms so just keep on showing what you are building.

Edited September 6, 2017 by Western Star

[airnimal]

I have just given the pair of bolster wagon a couple of coats of Humbrol 121 for the interior woodwork before a very thin coat of matt black to tone it all down. Compare the before and after.

I have painted the top of the bolster with the same paint, my reasoning is that with a load of timber on there all the time any paint would not last long.

[Coal Tank]

Looking good

[airnimal]

I have put the illiterate symbols on and given the woodwork a thin coat of thinners with a bit of black added. I don't think it has come out as good as some of the other wagons. Painting is not my strong point.