45568 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) Trix UK-outline models do not feature often on RMWeb. Although they featured some interesting prototypes, their 3.8mm/foot scale made them unsuitable for use with other 4mm/OO stock. However, the plastic pig iron and mineral wagon bodies were fortunate as this meant they scaled at a correct prototype 16'6 ''. There is no kit or rtr version of a pig iron wagon in 4mm; Peco produce a 7mm version, and Farish a 2mm. I believe Mainline announced one in 1982??, but it was never produced as they folded shortly afterwards. (It did have a catalogue number and I remember ordering one along with a B1!). I was fortunate to acquire three of the Trix wagons in good condition from Ebay around 3 months ago, they seem to have disappeared now! I removed the body from the underframe and set to work. The solebars with the larger journals are found on Parkside PA16 underframe kit, they are 10'0" wheelbase, so the V-hanger is removed and 4mm cut from the centre of the solebar to give 36mm (9foot) between the axlebox centres. Tie bars are fitted and brake gear from a Parkside 9'0" underframe fitted. The prototype wagons have a drop-link brakegear system, this can be correctly modelled using the Red Panda RA01 underframe kit cut to a 9ft wheelbase, (instructions on cutting are in the kit), however I chose to represent this using spare brake levers from Parkside Plate wagon kits. Bufferbeams and buffers came spare from Red Panda mouldings, coupling hooks are Dave Franks' LMS parts. The bodies are painted using Tamiya TS-81 Royal light grey, and TS32 Haze grey, (the darker colour). The wooden floor is painted with Vallejo 'old wood' with a sepia gouache wash. Vallejo paint are also used for rust and oil highlights. Transfers are from a variety of Modelmaster sheets, the 'pig iron' branding is from sheet 4690. The numbers are 'close' to the range for pig iron wagons....! As far as I know there are no commercially available decals for these wagons, anyone wishing to make these wagons might do well to contact Railtec for a bespoke sheet? I am very happy with the way these have turned out, so much so I scratch-built a companion dia. 1/003 to go with them! I have 'pig-iron' loads on order from Unit models to load these wagons. Any questions or queries, please ask! Thanks to Paul Bartlett for the prototype images on his site, which are an immense help to all wagon modellers. Cheers from Oz, Peter C. Edited October 24, 2019 by 45568 spelling 9 1 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Very nice. The various Pig Iron wagons were supplanted by 22t vac-fitted Plate wagons by the end of the 1960s. The traffic ran to various places, the most 'off the beaten track' being to the Compair factory near Cambourne. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Nice upgrade. Yes, the use of a standard chassis here was fortunate in terms of scaling. The 16t mineral must be the right size too. The N gauge version is by Peco not Farish - kit form KNR-209. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestTom Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 "I fooled you, I fooled you, I got pig iron, I got pig iron, I got aaaaaaaaallll pig iron..." I like this conversion a lot. I'm particularly keen on the rust effects on the underframe there. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
45568 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 35 minutes ago, HonestTom said: "I fooled you, I fooled you, I got pig iron, I got pig iron, I got aaaaaaaaallll pig iron..." I like this conversion a lot. I'm particularly keen on the rust effects on the underframe there. I thought I would be the only one to think of Lonnie Donegan whilst I worked on these!! 'The Rock Island line is a mighty fine line! Cheers from Oz, Peter C. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 On 24/10/2019 at 08:13, Fat Controller said: The various Pig Iron wagons were supplanted by 22t vac-fitted Plate wagons by the end of the 1960s. The traffic ran to various places, the most 'off the beaten track' being to the Compair factory near Cambourne. As already mentioned, this traffic went to destinations far from the 'heavy industry' districts, serving local foundries. Although they could not be loaded hot due to their wooden floors, the various heavier lowmacs were also employed in this traffic. It was the most usual reason for seeing a lowmac in my home patch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 IIRC the Trix 16T mineral is the right length, but like the Tri-ang model (which isn't) has other errors. Most of mine are the Airfix kit. The Trix RCH mineral also ends up 16' 6" long, but again has issues (no curb rail for instance). I must look where my Trix Pig Iron wagon has got to.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
45568 Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 A big thank you to Steve at Railtec for developing transfers for my 'Pig Iron' wagon project. These are based on the old Trix wagon bodies with a variety of underframe parts from Parkside and Red Panda. Steve's transfers complete the job superbly, thanks again Steve! My rake of ten is now ready to enter service. Cheers from Oz, Peter C. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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