RMweb Gold Popular Post Accurascale Fran Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted October 1, 2021 Hi everyone, So, who saw our latest OO wagon announcement coming? Let's go on a journey together! A place that (to date) very few manufacturers have gone to before. We're heading off to the very beginning of the railways, to a time when industry and the modern world as we know it was just beginning. Welcome to the Chaldron wagons in OO/4mm scale, the first stop timescale wise in our "Powering Britain" series of coal wagons! Explore the 150 Year History Of These "Black Waggons" With a career on the rails spanning over 150 years, the Chaldrons seemed the perfect place to begin the timeline for our “Powering Britain” series of coal wagons through the ages. There has been a surge in interest in the birth of the railways, along with intrigue in pre-grouping and the Victorian era with recent locomotive releases, not to mention the interest in industrial heritage and its railways. The recognisable Chaldron design appeared around 1820, but that itself was the continuation of an outline that dated from the mid-17th century onwards. The would operate on the railways for another 150 years, ending their days in industrial use. Click on the following link to read our in-depth blog detailing the career of these wagons, from the birth of the railways, through pre-grouping and in extensive industrial use between the wars which continued all the way up to the late 1970s! https://accurascale.co.uk/blogs/news/chaldrons-the-wagons-that-fuelled-the-industrial-revolution Our OO/4mm Model With so many variants of the ‘Chaldron’ being produced by builders across the North-East, as well as ongoing repairs in service by the collieries and the compromises inherent in 00 Gauge modelling, depicting the definitive Chaldron is a complex task, but ultimately rewarding. We have produced five main variants of the type, based on the S&DR style dating from 1835-45 built at Shildon, the North Eastern Railway (and subsequent Internal User pattern) P1 types of the second half of the 19th century and the improved 4T ‘Black Waggons’ that were so prevalent in and around the Seaham area, of which we have identified three main body profile types. Within these five variants, there are different arrangements of ‘bang plates’, handbrakes and wheel styles, which we have included within the tooling suite. Engineering such an interesting and diverse range of waggons is always a challenge that is relished by our team of project managers and engineers. With the series of detail differences between Chaldrons, the “Accurascale Way” of covering various detail differences was employed to offer a comprehensive tooling suite. The couplings also offered an interesting challenge, as we deemed traditional tension lock couplings to be too large for the delicate nature of our Chaldrons, and so we have created an almost prototypical arrangement, with the chains being replicated faithfully and using magnets to join the waggons together, with additional NEM attachments being used for connection to existing locomotives and rolling stock. Check out our blog by clicking the link to see the full specification of these characterful hoppers! https://accurascale.co.uk/blogs/news/chaldrons-the-wagons-that-fuelled-the-industrial-revolution Prices, Availability And Delivery Tooling of these distinctive waggons is now complete with pre-production samples signed off and decorated samples due shortly. Each pack will consist of three wagons and will be priced at £44.99 per pack, with 10% discount applied on two or more packs when you order direct from our website. They are also available from our network of local stockists and are due in stock in Q2 2022. You can pre-order yours direct by clicking here: https://accurascale.co.uk/collections/chaldron Cheers! Fran 18 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 (edited) Super Fran, I’m looking for something generic for my Peckett plank Also will the magnet NEM coupling be available as a separate pack if we want to convert other stock to it? Edited October 1, 2021 by PaulRhB 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted October 1, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 2 minutes ago, PaulRhB said: Super Fran, I’m looking for something generic for my Peckett plank Also will the magnet NEM coupling be available as a separate pack if we want to convert other stock to it? Thanks @PaulRhB, we are considering the magnetic couplings as a separate pack should the interest be there? Cheers! Fran 7 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted October 1, 2021 Moderators Share Posted October 1, 2021 Now then Fran; I had no conceivable need for these whatsoever (they should be steel bodied) for a project. Until I thought Earl of Durham could be Earl of Dudley and the Pontop and Jarrow markings could lose the J for the Pensnett Railway. Bugger. 7 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 2 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said: should the interest be there? Well it is ‘here’ so over to the rest of you I’d made my own version for Rocket but an NEM socket version would save gluing to other wagons and probably be more secure than my homemade bodge. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Now I never thought I'd be asking this, but can we expect a model Dick from Accurascale. Lovely waggons and really they need a suitable private pre 1900 little engine. 1 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bishdurham Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Three packs ordered! But will you do the NER 20T Hoppers before I build my Slaters kits???? 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Islesy Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2021 Before this topic gets too deep, I'm going to thank Phil @sandwich station for the loan of the Chilton Iron Works book on the Chaldrons many, many moons ago, when this project was just a pipe dream. I thought he might have forgotten all about it and I could snaffle it permanently, but now we've let the cat out of the bag, I guess I'll have to return it 5 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Islesy Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted October 1, 2021 If you're all looking for modelling inspiration on the subject, this is one of the best films I have watched on Seaham's railway operations - so much to ponder on... 16 4 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 2 minutes ago, Bishdurham said: Three packs ordered! But will you do the NER 20T Hoppers before I build my Slaters kits???? Build them anyway. They are totally out of area for me, but I made up a small batch for a late friend a few years ago. One of the best-designed and most enjoyable wagon kits I've ever tackled. John 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted October 1, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 Also to just point out we launched these yesterday and 10% of the run has already pre-sold. They arent hanging around by the looks of it! Cheers! Fran 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Superb announcement. 2 packs ordered. Not prototypical for Kirkmellington (South Ayrshire) but what the heck, they'll look great alongside my Hudson tippers (Rt Models kits) and growing fleet of industrial locos. For those of us that will convert to EM, is the axle a standard diameter for drop in from the likes of Mr Gibson? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Islesy Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2021 4 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said: Also to just point out we launched these yesterday and 10% of the run has already pre-sold. They arent hanging around by the looks of it! Cheers! Fran Shouldn't we be telling people not to panic buy @Accurascale Fran? 3 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 14 minutes ago, Islesy said: Shouldn't we be telling people not to panic buy @Accurascale Fran? Too late. Cheers Darius 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted October 1, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 I really should look at British news more. Sorry guys! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted October 1, 2021 Moderators Share Posted October 1, 2021 4 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said: I really should look at British news more. Don't. It's never pretty. 1 6 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 58 minutes ago, Bishdurham said: Three packs ordered! But will you do the NER 20T Hoppers before I build my Slaters kits???? At least the Slates XX come with the option of extended end stanchions to buffer up with chaldrons! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikks Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2021 Well fellows, that came out of left field. brilliant!! ,.........so which of the locos in the video will you be making Mike 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2021 (edited) Now, some time ago I started a spoof chaldron thread - chiefly to relieve the tension of ambiguous feelings I had about the Hattons generic carriages: Although that was all very much in a spirit of levity, one point that was mentioned was the dimensional disorientation suffered by an 00 model of an inside-framed vehicle - the back-to-back of the wheelsets is scale 10" less than that of the prototype; consequently the frames are closer together than they should be by at least that much. For most inside-framed vehicles - chiefly locomotives - the fudge is tolerable because the width of the vehicle is defined by the footplate, valences, etc. For a chaldron wagon, the problem becomes acute because of the turn-under of the body side to meet the main frame timers - this inwards slope becoming significantly steeper on the model than on the real thing, assuming the top part of the body is modelled to scale width. Furthermore, since the longitudinal frame timbers extend to form the dumb buffers, these are at least 10" closer together than they should be. This, I think, will become a significant visual problem if these wagons are put alongside the locomotives that worked them, with their additional buffers, or with other wagons equipped to buffer up to them, i.e. NER hopper wagons: So I'd interested to know what the Accurascale design team's views on this dilemma are? Edited October 1, 2021 by Compound2632 2 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 (edited) Good on yers, you Dublin boys (and men of Kent). Please buy yourselves copious amounts of alcohol to consume this coming weekend. Lovely wheels but (there's always a but) a question that has to be asked: Do the wagons scale out at approx. 27mm (max. top width) or have they been narrowed along with the chassis to accommodate the OO wheel-sets whilst keeping the wheel flange to body side relationship in proportion? And another. Nice touch including the cow with the Stella chaldrons. Will they be included in the other Chaldron packs? Smashing announcement! Hope you follow it up with a Lewin loco or the Head Wrightson Vertical boiler. Guess I better start making up some P4 hexagonal axles. Crossed post with Compound2632 who mentions the same "dilemma". Wheels and hexagonal axle set from a abandoned 19th century chauldron (chaldron) wagon. by Porcy Mane, on Flickr Chauldron Wagon. Tanfield Railway, 14th. October 2018. by Porcy Mane, on Flickr Edited October 1, 2021 by Porcy Mane To acknowledge crossed post. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillar Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Compound2632 said: Although that was all very much in a spirit of levity, one point that was mentioned was the dimensional disorientation suffered by an 00 model of an inside-framed vehicle - the back-to-back of the wheelsets is scale 10" less than that of the prototype; consequently the frames are closer together than they should be by at least that much. I'd also be interested to hear how Accurascale have approached this regarding EM/P4 conversion and whether it is possible. They are lovely looking models but maybe this is one prototype that is physically impossible to design for easy re-gauging? Edited October 1, 2021 by Pillar 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2021 3 minutes ago, Pillar said: I'd also be interested to hear how Accurascale have approached this regarding EM/P4 conversion and whether it is possible. They are lovely looking models but maybe this is one prototype that is physically impossible to design for easy re-gauging? It seems to me that a new tooling would be required for each gauge, bringing the frame timbers out as far as the back-to-back permits. Just fitting wheelsets to the wide back-to-back would result in even greater absurdity of appearance. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Accurascale Fran Posted October 1, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted October 1, 2021 (edited) Hi everyone, Well, the posts immediately above illustrate the dichotomy that we faced with modelling this rolling stock. It certainly hasnt been an easy one to do, but we do love a good challenge. The simple answer to your question is that the Chaldrons require either true scale modelling, or 00 scale modelling; as to make them applicable to both camps would require two complete sets of tooling, such are the areas that need to be attended to. For obvious financial reasons, this was never going to happen I’m afraid, as the true scale market is too small to be viable, and as much as we are all enthusiasts here at Accurascale HQ, we have to make any project viable for us to survive. So now, to expand on that a little, and explain our approach. The CAD was created true to scale, in all aspects bar the wheel sets, and all the usual detail amendments were made as we would normally. With the CAD correct, the 00 wheel sets were introduced, which highlighted the areas that clashed, and from here everything was gradually altered, not just to keep to the gauge, but also to maintain the correct aspects of the wagons. Where the alterations have taken place to keep the wagons looking correct is largely irrelevant in this instance, what matters is that we have kept as close to the originals as is possible in the circumstances, to create a model that is proportioned correctly and which maintains the inherent look of the wagons. Rest assured, we have not sacrificed 1/1000th of a mm where we have not had to! At the end of the day, it was either take this approach or not make a RTR Chaldron wagon at all. We felt that this era of modelling interest needs support, so we decided to plough on and bring an iconic wagon type to market. Perhaps it wont be for everyone, but if it creates more interest in this era then it is beneficial for all modellers of this persuasion. Cheers! Fran Edited October 1, 2021 by Accurascale Fran 21 6 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwardian Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 What a brilliant think to have done. Well done. I am sure the release will be a well-deserved success; count me in. I'm going to set my P&J micro layout before 1911 (so I don't have to set fire to the models right after I've bought them!). 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted October 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2021 (edited) 32 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said: So now, to expand on that a little, and explain our approach. The CAD was created true to scale, in all aspects bar the wheel sets, and all the usual detail amendments were made as we would normally. With the CAD correct, the 00 wheel sets were introduced, which highlighted the areas that clashed, and from here everything was gradually altered, not just to keep to the gauge, but also to maintain the correct aspects of the wagons. Where the alterations have taken place to keep the wagons looking correct is largely irrelevant in this instance, what matters is that we have kept as close to the originals as is possible in the circumstances, to create a model that is proportioned correctly and which maintains the inherent look of the wagons. Rest assured, we have not sacrificed 1/1000th of a mm where we have not had to! An honest and interesting answer, thank-you. But I remain curious as to the compromises that have been made - are the wagons of scale length but reduced overall width? 32 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said: At the end of the day, it was either take this approach or not make a RTR Chaldron wagon at all. We felt that this era of modelling interest needs support, so we decided to plough on and bring an iconic wagon type to market. Perhaps it wont be for everyone, but if it creates more interest in this era then it is beneficial for all modellers of this persuasion. Absolutely. Edited October 1, 2021 by Compound2632 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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