West End Workbench

[Headstock]

5 hours ago, Daddyman said:

Oh, that's good! That's going on the wall above my bench. And possibly on my tombstone.  

 

Tombstones?

 

I'm considering, 'died horribly, with lots of noise'.

[jwealleans]

Good evening Andrew,

 

On 02/12/2020 at 23:39, Headstock said:

I've tried modelling from three foot away, whilst the kit is in motion.

 

Stirrups.   And something to grip with your teeth.   That leaves both hands free.   Keep at it, it's an acquired technique.

 

On 02/12/2020 at 23:39, Headstock said:

which if either, was used on your excellent looking Conflats and containers?

 

(speculative edit).   Neither of the ones I used was from Ambis - both anonymous and both had to be blackened.  The Ambis is black from the packet - already ahead in my book. 

 

 

The 20 lpi is closer to what I used for loads like the above . The smaller one (27 lpi) will go onto the next containers.  40 lpi is too small for most loads - it was what I used for the Grantham meat containers, where pictures do show very fine chains being used.

 

 

(Tony's picture).

 

Jewellery chain, apart from being much more expensive, might be lacquered and therefore hard to blacken or paint. 

  

I have a feeling the chain I rejected as failing under the slightest tension came from a model boat supplier.   I have another which I know came from them and the links are twisted through 45 degrees, it's completely useless. 

 

The larger link in your drawing might be handy.  I don't know what others do but to attach the ends of chains I often form a loop with thin wire, pass it through the chain and whatever it's to be attached to (the small eyes on container corners, for example) then touch it with a soldering iron to close it up. 

 

On 02/12/2020 at 15:03, drmditch said:

I might be able to see a way to do the BLC containers as well.

 

Caroline, apologies, I did miss your message.  Any of the pressed steel B types would be invaluable and that might be enough incentive to have me complete a master for a Dia 76 conflat.

 

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by jwealleans

[thegreenhowards]

Jonathan,

 

I like those LNER insulated containers. I think some of those would look good on my meat train. Where did they come from? And do you know how long they lasted?

 

Andy
 

 

[Headstock]

1 hour ago, jwealleans said:

Good evening Andrew,

 

 

Stirrups.   And something to grip with your teeth.   That leaves both hands free.   Keep at it, it's an acquired technique.

 

 

Evening Jonathan,

 

Hands free modelling, what will they think of next?

 

1 hour ago, jwealleans said:

 

(speculative edit).   Neither of the ones I used was from Ambis - both anonymous and both had to be blackened.  The Ambis is black from the packet - already ahead in my book. 

 

 

The 20 lpi is closer to what I used for loads like the above . The smaller one (27 lpi) will go onto the next containers.  40 lpi is too small for most loads - it was what I used for the Grantham meat containers, where pictures do show very fine chains being used.

 

 

(Tony's picture).

 

Jewellery chain, apart from being much more expensive, might be lacquered and therefore hard to blacken or paint. 

  

I have a feeling the chain I rejected as failing under the slightest tension came from a model boat supplier.   I have another which I know came from them and the links are twisted through 45 degrees, it's completely useless. 

 

The larger link in your drawing might be handy.  I don't know what others do but to attach the ends of chains I often form a loop with thin wire, pass it through the chain and whatever it's to be attached to (the small eyes on container corners, for example) then touch it with a soldering iron to close it up. 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply,

 

your post is so useful. If you are a comparative newbie to loading with chains and you are physical separated from a product, photographs and packets of chains all start to look the same. It is often not easy to visualize ex amount of links per inch in a practical application. I would also add the confusion over link length, is it the inside of the link that is measured or the outside? I think that the best thing for me to do is buy a number of different chain types and start experimenting, put my learning hat on and get myself up to speed. Thanks again for the explanations and context.

 

On Conflats, Mr J Marsh was supposed to be producing a bunch a few years back, they never materialised. As a result I only did two, using the unit model one as you have, Unit models are just down the road from us, so I got them early. I shall be revisiting them, as I wasn't happy with the screw shackles that I used, yours are much more authentic. Fantastically, there are always new things to learn and try out in model railways, if you are willing to do so.

 

Edited December 3, 2020 by Headstock
add,

[jwealleans]

11 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

I like those LNER insulated containers. I think some of those would look good on my meat train. Where did they come from? And do you know how long they lasted?

 

Morning Andy,

 

They're a joint effort - Graeme King castings from my masters.   They went as a pair - D60 conflats with D15 meat containers.   I can only say from Tatlow that all 30 made it to 1947, beyond that I have no information.   I wouldn't know what livery or lettering they carried under BR either, I could only make an educated guess.

[thegreenhowards]

6 minutes ago, jwealleans said:

 

Morning Andy,

 

They're a joint effort - Graeme King castings from my masters.   They went as a pair - D60 conflats with D15 meat containers.   I can only say from Tatlow that all 30 made it to 1947, beyond that I have no information.   I wouldn't know what livery or lettering they carried under BR either, I could only make an educated guess.

Thanks Jonathan,

 

I should have guessed that! I’ll message Graeme. I can always paint them in late LNER livery and weather them well.

 

Andy

[micklner]

On 02/12/2020 at 06:56, jwealleans said:

 

I'd like to if it is.   I have a stack of the open containers and no use for them and like you, I'd like more conflats.  If Peco will do the sprues separately that might be the way to go.   Or a lot of raking over second hand stalls - the one I've just built had a £4 price on it, from the s/h stand at Redcar by the look of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peco response today rather disapointing .

They want £9 per wagon plus postage. As you can get the whole kit for £10.45 , err no chance Peco !!

[gr.king]

I seem to recall that "in order to protect retailers" Peco also have an eleventh commandment: "Thou shallt not sell direct from the factory at any less than full RRP", and that applies even when you are present at Beer, saving them all distribution costs.

 

The days of any sprue you like for £2, at short notice, from Parkside Dundas are but a fond memory. If I understand what the Peco rep told me at York show a couple of years ago I suspect that if you wanted those expensive sprues these days you'd have to wait for Peco to order them from the Ratio factory, which would in turn make them only as and when the next ordinary batch of such sprues was required. 

Edited December 5, 2020 by gr.king
Additional info

[Dunsignalling]

3 hours ago, micklner said:

Peco response today rather disapointing .

They want £9 per wagon plus postage. As you can get the whole kit for £10.45 , err no chance Peco !!

Given that the open container represents next to nothing as a proportion of the kit, that doesn't surprise me. Problem is the postage will take a fair chunk of any savings.

 

AIUI, BR decreed the open containers had to be carried in high goods opens after a few collapsed when being carried on Conflats so they need not be wasted.

 

John

Edited December 4, 2020 by Dunsignalling

[micklner]

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

Given that the open container represents next to nothing as a proportion of the kit, that doesn't surprise me. Problem is the postage will take a fair chunk of any savings.

 

AIUI, BR decreed the open containers had to be carried in high goods opens after a few collapsed when being carried on Conflats so they need not be wasted.

 

John

Good for BR modellers !! I can always stick my surplus ones on ebay in due course .

 

thanks

[jwealleans]

On 04/12/2020 at 17:18, micklner said:

They want £9 per wagon plus postage.

 

I'm with Graeme.  That's an "I don't want the job" quotation if ever I heard one.  When I did all my grain van conversions, Richard Hollingsworth charged me 75p a sprue for the sides.

 

Someone must want a set of forty or fifty DX containers?

 

[micklner]

17 minutes ago, jwealleans said:

 

I'm with Graeme.  That's an "I don't want the job" quotation if ever I heard one.  When I did all my grain van conversions, Richard Hollingsworth charged me 75p a sprue for the sides.

 

Someone must want a set of forty or fifty DX containers?

 

Agree re Peco !!

 

Containers,  put them on ebay ,they will always sell at the right price !!.

 

Same for the ones I need , patience. I already have three this weekend, for the same or less price than Peco wanted. My surplus Containers as said earlier  will go back on ebay in due course.

Edited December 5, 2020 by micklner

[26power]

16 hours ago, jwealleans said:

 

Someone must want a set of forty or fifty DX containers?

 

Peco?!

[Chas Levin]

On 02/12/2020 at 23:39, Headstock said:

 

... Chain, chain everywhere and not a drop to link.

 

Loving your work there, Sir

[davelester]

Jonathon,

 

Did you ever get the around to the Destination Boards on the Leeds-Quint? I'd love to see any photos of the finished article...

[jwealleans]

I'm afraid not - the original artwork I was offered fell through and I haven't managed to source any more.   I'd like to see it finished as well, but it's still a backburner project for the moment.

[jwealleans]

A belated happy new year to everyone.   No big modelling project this Christmas, for a change.  I think there was a bit of burnout after a long and difficult year and to be honest it's not looking much better for the next few months either.   I did (do) have enough unfinished models to keep me with something to tinker with when the mood does take me, though, so here's what I have managed in the weeks since the last update.

 

I painted the two J6s I've been working on - sod it, if they need serious remedial work when I have somewhere to test them then they'll just have to be redone.  

 

 

 

I did spend quite a while looking stupidly at the LRM loco thinking 'that front overhang doesn't look right for a J6', before realising I hadn't fitted the guard irons.   They are now on as is the tender brake gear.

 

This came just before Christmas and I thought it would make a nice little self contained project in itself:

 

 

 

The loco needs other work doing, but I had it sitting around already.  The extra bits are a Gresham and Craven feed water heater and Hulburd boiler cleaner from Niu Models.   They also did the ACFI gear I fitted to Shotover a couple of years ago.   Yeadon volume 8 pages 18 and 19 cover it and the loco was so fitted from August 1935 to November 1940.

 

The D210 twins are inching towards finished; the first BT just needs final tidying up and I'll call it done.  

 

 

Leaving aside still unfinished bits, most of what's been done has been wagons.  I did promise these first two to Mick last week, so apologies for the delay.

 

 

 

Two unit models containers on respectively a Cambrian and David Geen 1 plank.   I do think these are too large as they won't fit into an open and have to sit unrealistically on the side planks on these wagons.   I've made plastic supports for them to keep them in position.  I have some more but I'm not sure what to do with them now.

 

 

I picked up a job lot of wagons on Ebay - 15 for £30, which stuck me as a good deal especially as one was this ABS LMS van.  the unbuilt kit can go for that much.   It only needed a repaint.  The outside framed van is NSR, from 51L.  It's a nice looking thing and gives a bit of variety.

 

 

You can't really have too many LMS vans and both of these by Ratio came along with other bits and bobs.   The LMS weren't terribly concerned with consistent lettering, especially in the earlier part of their existence, so there's plenty of scope for differences even if the basic model is the same.

 

 

Two more from the last job lot., both of which just needed redecorating  and a little detail.  Most of the Ratio Iron Minks I have have been converted to gunpowder vans, so one in its native form is a relative novelty.

 

 

This P7 hopper was part of a job lot a while ago and really only needed a tidy and brake levers.   The 5 plank is the recent GC D20 kit from Wizard Models.   I see they have now released a loco coal wagon as well so I imagine I'll be giving that a go sometime.

 

 

Another pair of conflats finished once I had appropriate chain.  The left hand wagon has distorted quite badly; it's the first I've had from Mr. King which has done this and none of the others in the batch of these he did shows any similar signs.   It's just unfortunate this was the one I'd detailed and painted.   The picture exaggerates the effect, but it may have to be withdrawn in the future.

 

 

D & S GE van from the last time I was at Shipley show.  These will become much more common once the Oxford Rail version appears, of course.   The twin bolster is ex-L&Y by David Geen.

 

 

Colin Ashby GC open from Wakefield club stand in 2019 and a Colwick open from an Ebay job lot.

 

Lastly the finished set of bogie bolsters including an NER quad.  This was a wagon I built not long after discovering Parkside kits which has now been refurbished and given a different load.   The other two are Bachmann.

 

[micklner]

JW

     Re the Unit Containers .

I have just made up a Cambrian one plank for my last two Containers. I have tried them and they fit, it only needed the bottom line of single corner rivets to be removed on one side. That area once fitted will be hidden.

     Re roping.

 Where do you source the Metal rings from ? Its not obvious from the photos were the bottom of the rope runs attach to too on the wagon please ?

 

Many thanks as usual !

[jwealleans]

Morning Mick,

 

I might look again at the Cambrian 1 plank, then.   I didn't build this one, only inherited it.  

 

On some wagons, mainly old LNWR one plankers, they fitted lashing point which look very like the ferry tie downs that 51L produce.   Off the top of my head I can't recall seeing those on the one plankers but I may be wrong.   It would be a slightly different means of attaching them.

 

The ropes are round the V hanger (Geen) while on the Cambrian one there must have been cleats under the body side, so I put some short wire pegs in and looped the rope round those.

 

The rings are .33 wire wrapped round a drill.   Once they're through the fixing eye (Roxey) and the chain end, I close them up with pliers and then put a spot of low melt solder on so they're a closed ring.   They do occasionally pull out if I'm a bit rough, but as a rule you can then tauten ropes or chains against them and they'll hold.

 

 

[micklner]

Many thanks , very useful.

 

I have just looked at the Wizard site , no trace of Ferry Tie Downs ??

[jwealleans]

https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/shop/wagons/wfctd/

[Tony Teague]

Hi Jonathan

I always find your wagon updates inspiring for their variety and for the standard of 'finish' that you apply, which enhances the models and makes them look so realistic.

I'm not sure how you manage to secure so many E-Bay job lots; perhaps I am just too afraid of acquiring too much junk that I couldn't do anything with!

Tony

[jonhall]

I've occasionally used small brass split pins for container and other lashing rings if the tail can be hidden - you can thread the Roxey tie downs through the tail.

 

Jon

[thegreenhowards]

Hi Jonathan,

 

Good to see the Masterclass D.210 nearing completion. I put mine away before Christmas as I got fed up with soldering the sides up. But I dug it out again a few days ago and I’m making progress. However I’ve made a right mess of the foot boards which run right along the sole bar. There seem to be eight of them in the kit, so are they supposed to fold double? When I did fold them over I could get them in the holes so I put mine in singly but they waver all over the place as you can see.

Did you encounter any problems and, if so, how did you solve them?

 

Thanks

 

Andy

[Chas Levin]

Lovely lot of items Jonathan - nice to see you back, Happy New Year to you too .

Very fine looking J6 pair...