Beatty 139 Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Hi All I just thought I would post a photo of my first Gauge 3 wagon and some details about it. I have been building in Gauge 1 for some years now, and over the last 6 months I have been developing a small range of G1 models kits after treating myself to a Laser cutter/engraver in an attempt to recover some of the cost..... some hope! After chatting to the lads at Waslall Model Engineering they suggested I look at doing some stuff in Gauge 3, and the van in the attched photo is the product. Construction details are follows: The main body is formed from laser cut and engraved 2.1mm MDF as is the framing layer The door planking is cut and engraved from 1/32" ply with a 2.1mm MDF outer frame. The roof is formed from 1/32 ply Headstocks & solebars are cut from 4mm ply, it was a little under scale thickness but was the closest material I had to hand. All the bolt holes were cut in place with the laser and are 0.6 & 0.8mm diameter, Strapping was cut from 1/64" birch ply as this is a one off and I could not justify the cost of having them etched. all bolt detail was formed with 1/32 brass rivits. W irons, V hangers door runners were all cut out of sheet brass. I wagon plates were etched at home by first coating the brass sheet in primer then laser etching the paint away, then etching with ferric chloride, it only works for one sided etching so when done, they were cut out with the trusty old piercing saw. I then cheated and found that Slaters were producing a MR D362/D363 van so a quick phone call and a few quid later a lovely set of lost wax cast brass buffers, molded axle boxes/ springs, some brake gear and a set of transfers arrived in the post. The model is built as Ex works from Lot 309 of 1892. I have to say I just love the phyisical presence of it and I may be hooked on G3. Just one issue I have no idea of anywhere around Birmingham where I can run and 1 wagon doesn't make a train.....more stock or a loco next? Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted October 23, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 23, 2012 If you go to Garden Rly Specialists you can't avoid passing the G3 cabinet, could get very expensive Nice model, there's a a chap on Gscalecentral who has converted some Bachmann Thomas items to get going in G3. Might be worth offering the chassis parts for scratchbuilders too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beatty 139 Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 If you go to Garden Rly Specialists you can't avoid passing the G3 cabinet, could get very expensive Oh don't tell me about it gauge 1 can be like the bottoms have been cut out of my pockets, It's why i try to do my own scratch building. I am just putting 5 diffrent Midland vans kits on the market in G1 (launching them at the G1AGM Saturday) but I may just do the rest in G3 for my own pleasure, then I am starting to build myself a nice little train. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unklian Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 I have stopped by to admire your wagon a couple of times now. I cant help wondering if you would be able to make parts for other peoples projects with the gear you have. Unfortunately I do not have much interest in the Midland railway as I have chosen to model a French railway in gauge 3. I am also interested in your technique for making number plates would you be able/willing to do similiar things for others ? Have you also looked at joining the Gauge 3 Society, they do organise garden get togethers, and are a usefull source of advice, parts, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unklian Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Any news on the Gauge 3 wagon kits ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beatty 139 Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 Not as such, but watch this space, Peter Korzilius is currently looking into G3 and as developing my own underframe has been one stumbling block. We have also been asked about my new Planet kit into G3 and have done some development work in that direct already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unklian Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I certainly will watch this space, thank you ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Workbench52 Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 Hi Andy, I built a 8750 ex G.W.R. Pannier in Gauge 3 as a commision for someone. The idea was to use a Garden rail kit as a starting point but to produce something with at least as much detail as you'd expect in a good 7mm model. I'm not sure what percentage of the kit was used in the end, but I did replace quite a few things with better scratch built items. The kit was a real mixed bag which reflected the different attitude of the garden rail community (of the time) which was very different to 'indoor' scale modellers. I did find the staff at GRS were very helpful though. It turned out well in the end, the customer was very happy with it and it ran well. I took lots of photographs during construction both to keep the customer updated and with some thought to doing an article one day. I'd be happy to send you a disc if you thought it might be of any use. When it was all over I realised I'd learned a lot about making such big models and I think I would prefer to scratchbuild in future, even if buying in one or two bits, rather than wrestling with a kit. The only problem is having big enough tools for some of the engineering items but gauge 3 locos seem to be ideal candidates for "multi media" construction. I know what you mean about "the presence" of these larger scale models and there does seem to be more interest these days . . . especially with batttery/radio control locos. I've just realised your original post was 4 years ago! How have things gone since? Best wishes, David. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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