brossard Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 My Parkside LNER van: I'm a stickler for safety loops and I'm mystified as to why kit manufacturers ignore the topic altogether. There's a loop on the left hand pull rod as well. If I have 1mm brass strip I will use that. In this case I think I used 0.032" (0.8mm) phosphor bronze wire. PB is malleable so can be shaped easily. Note the connection from the vac pipe to the cylinder. John 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WM183 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Thank you! This will help me a lot. I have the Tatlow LNER book, but the drawing of the LNER clasp underframe in there is a bit "busy" to clearly see some things. Are those Dapol couplings? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) Underframe views are always useful I think. I've used various couplings on my wagons, and I do think Dapol are great value. I can't remember what these are. I've tried Slaters which allegedly work, but they are a faff to assemble. Recently I did a JLTRT kit and it took me 3 hours to assemble the lost wax brass coupling. I'm certainly not going to mess about winding up the screw. The vacuum pipes are Slaters. They have flexible springs for hoses. These can be stuck to the holder with a bit of black tack. You can't paint them but after a couple of coats of varnish have been applied to the wagon they droop quite realistically if detached from the holder. I dislike WM cast vac pipes, I think they are overscale. John Edited November 13, 2019 by brossard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted November 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 13, 2019 1 hour ago, brossard said: I dislike WM cast vac pipes, I think they are overscale. Agree with that: I've tried loads. I tend to put something inside the Slaters ones to try and prevent them gatting snagged and stretched out of shape - plus you can then "shape" the spring hose Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) I just leave them alone. As said, after varnishing (my wagons always get a coat of glosscote prior to transfers and a coat of dullcote afterwards) they look realistically droopy. Get a pack of spare springs. I have snagged them a time or two. John Edited November 13, 2019 by brossard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WM183 Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 I didn't realize the white metal ones in the kit were overscale. I dislike the supplied couplings most, at least for a fitted wagon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 I guess it is a subjective thing. I'm sure there are people who don't mind them at all. I have upgraded them at least once by removing the hose, creating a stub and installing springs. As for couplings, Parkside are annoying in that they usually supply 3 links despite the model being fitted. They do usually supply a ABS plastic instanter link. Being fussy, I prefer the Slaters instanter coupling pack. I model BR in the early 60s so most of my wagons are AVB fitted. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WM183 Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I just wanted to add an update and say that the wagon in question is complete! My Dapol screw link couplings arrived today, and they have been installed and all works wonderfully. I added the safety loops, some brake lever braces, and a few other small detail bits that the kit omitted for some reason, and compensated one end with a pivot of heavy wire. Thank you all very much for the help! The 2nd wagon kit - a Southern 8 plank open - will be here next week. I am unsure about the vaccuum pipes however; do they both go one the same side of the wagon end, so when viewed from one end the hose is right of the coupling, and from the other end is left of the coupling? Or should they always be on "one side". Also, are they in a certain position relative to the center line with relation to the vaccuum cylinder? Too late to make changes on this one if I have gotten it wrong, but I think my next kit will be a fitted BR standard van from Slaters', so would like to be sure i know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 27 minutes ago, WM183 said: I just wanted to add an update and say that the wagon in question is complete! My Dapol screw link couplings arrived today, and they have been installed and all works wonderfully. I added the safety loops, some brake lever braces, and a few other small detail bits that the kit omitted for some reason, and compensated one end with a pivot of heavy wire. Thank you all very much for the help! The 2nd wagon kit - a Southern 8 plank open - will be here next week. I am unsure about the vaccuum pipes however; do they both go one the same side of the wagon end, so when viewed from one end the hose is right of the coupling, and from the other end is left of the coupling? Or should they always be on "one side". Also, are they in a certain position relative to the center line with relation to the vaccuum cylinder? Too late to make changes on this one if I have gotten it wrong, but I think my next kit will be a fitted BR standard van from Slaters', so would like to be sure i know. Regarding pipe position. Both ends will be identical. The pipe will change sides somewhere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 (edited) Yep, the pipe will crossover but not always in the same place. The outlet of the pipe to the "bag" is located at an offset from the coupler plate where it would be secured by a bracket of some sort. I use wire bent into a hook and glued into plastic pads. Here's a bad picture of a part built Parkside van showing the pipe: You can see the plastic pads and the wire hooks. Also note the wire connection from the cylinder to the pipe. This is the finished van showing the vacuum pipe and buffer beam: The vacuum pipe is from Slaters. I dislike the heavy whitemetal castings supplied by Parkside. The vacuum pipe set from Slaters also includes lamp brackets. These are cast brass and can actually be used to hang lamps. The plastic lamp brackets will most likely break if you try to do that. John Edited January 25, 2020 by brossard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 On 13/11/2019 at 14:54, WM183 said: Hi folks. I went ahead and did a 3-wheel compensation type modification as this seemed simplest and easiest to conceal with a minimum of fuss. The pivoting axle doesnt roll quite as nicely as I believe I'd like, but some more fettling here and there can likely solve that. Now I need to figure out how to do the safety loops under all the brake bits while still permitting disassembly to work on axles and such if required, and do some more weathering. It was preshaded, painted with Vallejo model air acrylics, and then given an oil wash so far. Criticisms welcome! Amanda I’ve a part built fruit van with brake work and safety loops on a plate between the axles. I’ll get it finished. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Git'r'done Ernie. I forgot to mention that your van looks good Amanda. Special props for doing the safety loops. My wagon building techniques have evolved over the last 3 years, the LNER van was done 3 years ago, the Fruit van last week. Yet I still managed to get the brake rods on wrong. I fixed them by cutting them off and regluing in the correct position. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Just a suggestion, but you might want to change the thread title. The discussion has gone way beyond compensation. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 4 hours ago, The Bigbee Line said: Regarding pipe position. Both ends will be identical. The pipe will change sides somewhere. Not on LNER wagons, they are handed.. This is true for the other Companies and BR. This is clear on my LNER photos - this one shows on the left. https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/lnercoveredmerchandise/e23db13d5 Paul 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 2 hours ago, hmrspaul said: Not on LNER wagons, they are handed.. This is true for the other Companies and BR. This is clear on my LNER photos - this one shows on the left. https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/lnercoveredmerchandise/e23db13d5 Paul Paul Thanks for the tip. Is it true for the different workshops: Doncaster, Darlington etc. I will now get drawn to this when I look at Pictures. I did note that later wagons have low level pipes. It would be good to be able to unravel the builders logic.. From a reality check point of view I would have a couple of observations: The LNER handed pipes as illustrated, it puts the pipe directly above the coupling. Other companies pipes are to the left hand side (proved to be wrong on that one I expect), so would cross over at some point under the wagon.. I did find one vehicle with the pipe appearing under the headstock on the right hand side and then running up and over the hook to the left hand side.. Never a surprise.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted January 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 25, 2020 2 hours ago, hmrspaul said: Not on LNER wagons, they are handed.. Paul Funnily enough I just bought a brake van from a slaters kit and at first thought the pipes were on the wrong side (right of the hook as you look at them) but checked your site and saw evidence of that. Sounds like one end is wrong tho! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted January 25, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 25, 2020 5 hours ago, brossard said: I dislike the heavy whitemetal castings supplied by Parkside. I think they may do a couple of low types? My mogo is quite fine, my pipe wagon something akin to an elephants trunk! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Yes Hal, the fruit van came with WM low type pipes. IMO very crude. I have standardized on Slaters which are finer. I like the flexible spring. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 i'm coming to the conclusion that if there is an upright vacuum pipe then it may be handed - for example the BR Shark - because they can be designed to end up on the centre line above the coupling.. https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/sharkzuv Although in conservation (thus risky to quote) this BR built LMS van has handed pipes https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brlmsvan/e5fcca86b https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brlmsvan/e5fcca88b https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brlmsvan/e2743354d Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WM183 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 HI all. I'm a bit relieved to hear my brake pipes are OK on this one. However, I'm not quite done just yet as I've forgotten lamp irons! I'll bend a few up from scrap brass I think. I've also changed the thread title as suggested. This has been a productive little thread! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted January 26, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 26, 2020 1 hour ago, WM183 said: HI all. I'm a bit relieved to hear my brake pipes are OK on this one. I've decided not to check mine. You can only see one end at a time so would need collusion to catch me out anyway! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WM183 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Next I suppose I'll need a pannier tank. And then a brake van... And then maybe bits for a few points.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Gasp, oh no! A Jinty would be a better fit for LNER stock. There is no affordable RTR LNER loco AFAIK. (I have a J39 and J50 from Tower but the price is a bit eyewatering). I have Dapol's with sound and it is superb and a very decent price too. Parkside do an LNER brake van, Slaters as well. I recommend the Slaters since the step hangers are cast brass, Parksides are plastic and not strong. I fabricated brass step hangers for all my Parkside brake vans. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WM183 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) Hi Brossard, Such a wagon would certainly wind up on GWR rails from time to time, yes? While not in the common user pool, the van might still travel west, it would just need to head back to LNER rails ASAP? I was planning to get one of those wonderful Dapol pannier tanks to see if 7mm might be for me. Edited January 26, 2020 by WM183 Clarity Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 You are right of course. Post nationalization anything goes really. In the grouping era less so I think. Rule 1 applies here as in everything. I just think that there is just too much GWR stuff and I'd like to see people look beyond. In the end it is your choice. My friend does GWR so I have messed about with panniers and built a lot of GWR wagons. While wagons from all the companies could be found on trains, brake vans were always from the same company as the loco. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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