S7 scratch building

[Western Star]

How thick is the styrene where you have put the brass nuts for securing the w-irons?

[airnimal]

Graham, the floor is 60 thou. I then use another piece of the same thickness in which I sink a 12 BA brass nut in a pre drilled hole with the soldering iron. I run through the nut with a 12 BA tap before removing any burrs and glueing this second piece in place. Because I had to cut one of the W-irons to clear the pocket for the chains it left only one mounting screw point. Not wanting this side to be fixed with only one screw and the chance of this side moving I put a piece of 20 thou plasticard in the gap of the plate.

I hope that makes sense.

[Western Star]

Graham, the floor is 60 thou. I then use another piece of the same thickness in which I sink a 12 BA brass nut in a pre drilled hole with the soldering iron. 

Mike - your approach to using machine screws in plastic is a technique that I borrowed several years ago and resort to regularly.  I asked because I could not see the extra layer in your photos.  Nice idea for minimising movement of the W-iron.

[airnimal]

I have put a small amount of detail on. There is not more I can do because I do not appear to have any more etch brake shoes.

There is all the chains that hang down from the side timbers but I will put them on when all the rest of the wagon is complete and painted.

[airnimal]

I have made a start on the brake gear with parts from the bits box. The shoes are from an etch of unknown source and the other bits are just off cuts from old scrap waste etch. Still to do are the safety loops. I do not know if I should do the brakes on both sides or leave it single sided. The wagon was first built in 1877 and no doubt was single sided when built before being rebuilt with both sides brakes.

[airnimal]

Nearly finished with a small amount of detail to put on and a good clean up. I had to join the brake handle together from two different one's because of the length. I think I may have to file it down a small amount were it gets curly.

[airnimal]

I have replaced the brake rack and added the rest of the details on the solebars. The hanging hooks are still to do but this wagon is more or less finished. I have made the label pocket that looks about the right size from the photo's. In the wagon book the small drawing gives this as 6 X 4 inches but when I made it to this size it looked enormous.

Where to next ? I set my sights on doing 25 wagons this year and baseboards and loco's next year.

So far I have made 20 wagons since April that are more or less finished so I think I am going to fall short of my goal.

There is still all the loose ends to tie up like axle boxes and number plates and final lettering but the bulk of the work is done.

I could really do with some 2 plank L.N.W.R open wagons to give me a more balanced stock and I have a couple of basic bodies already done but having made lots in the past I don't find them interesting to make.

I still have boxes of parts to do more than 10 or 15 wagons but I have run out of S7 wagon wheels.

[airnimal]

The rings and hooks to go under the side rails.

[Western Star]

Mike,

 

I read a draft of the next S7 Newsletter yesterday and I noted the esteemed editor's comments about members of a LNWR persuasion being able to resist the siren call for articles.  If you recognise yourself in this cryptic note then please follow this link and enjoy the experience.

 

regards, Graham

[airnimal]

Graham, yes I did see the reference in another page on here. The thing is he can build some great looking wagons and letter them far better than me.

I have added the rings and hooks but not glued them in yet. I think they are over scale. I will make up some more with smaller hooks and smaller rings and compare them together before I decide which looks better.

[airnimal]

I have made up a new hook and ring with smaller bits and I think this looks much better.

I do find these small parts a pain to make. I don't know how the 2mm boys do it.

[Western Star]

Mike, your second attempt is so much better than the first offering.  How have you made the hook?

 

What is the intended period and location of the layout to be built next year?

 

regards, Graham

[Caley Jim]

....... I don't know how the 2mm boys do it.

With magnification and many expletives!!

 

Brilliant work as always.

 

Jim

[airnimal]

Graham, the hooks are from Ambis. The original one's I am not sure we're I got these from, had them for years.

As for the proposed layout the period will be 1880's to 1890's industrial / goods yard / canal side warehouse ?

I don't have the space for a large layout so it will be just a shunting plank.

I have started a few over the years the first when I was 15 with 2 baseboards around my bedroom. I have built buildings, trackwork, loco's and any number of wagon's, but I have never finished a full layout.

I am not sure how long it will take me or if I will ever finish it but I will enjoy the journey.

[airnimal]

I have managed to get a coat of paint on the timber wagon. I could have prepared the brake handle and brake push rods better but I will let the harden for a day or so before rubbing them down and given them another coat.

Tomorrow I will paint the bed and put hooks and rings on.

[airnimal]

I have tried to finish the timber wagon but I have been struggling with the finish on the top planking. The normal paint I have used for many years was a couple of coats of Humbrol 121 then a thin coat of diluted Matt black. I ran out of my old stock and bought a new tin. I thinned it as usual with pure turpentine but it was very patchy. I gave it a second coat and it wasn't much better. So I tried a similar colour from old stock but the results were pretty awful.

I have stripped about 6 coats off and I am still not happy.

I am pleased with the hooks and rings but the one drawback with them is they are very sharp like fishing hooks. When picking the wagon up I have had to very careful as they dig right in to the flesh.

[Compound2632]

That's looking the real deal! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

[Regularity]

That's looking the real deal! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Shiver me timbers: leaves me pining for the old days...

[wagonman]

Mike is producing superb models at a prodigious rate. He puts us all to shame!

[airnimal]

Well I might be producing lots of wagons but are they any good because I am beginning to doubt my own sanity.

I kept looking at this wagon and something didn't seem right.

Then the penny dropped ! O dear or words to that effect with a few words a bit stronger.

I have being using the wrong jig to scribe the plank lines. I have used the the jig for 5 inch instead of the jig for 7 inches.

That means that the pockets for the chains will be a scale 8 inch to short as well as having too many planks.

Do I have the will to make another ?

If you look at the pic's with the wagon next to one with the correct plank lines it all becomes obvious.

The scrap pile gets higher.

[richard i]

I would leave it now it is painted. There are probably only 6 people who would even know it was wrong and half of them will be too polite to say anything. I have had a coach on the wrong length bogies for years now and no one has noticed/ commented.

Put a load on the wagon to conceal it.

Richard

[airnimal]

Richard, I don't think I can live with an error this big. I blame a combination of old age and trying to model when having all the family around for 3 weeks to celebrate the new grandchild. The last one went home to Australia yesterday.

The other worrying aspect is that I am at Poyton show next weekend showing people how to build wagons.

I have marked my jigs a bit better so hopefully I will not make the same mistake again. I think I have said that before.

[Caley Jim]

Well I might be producing lots of wagons but are they any good because I am beginning to doubt my own sanity.

I kept looking at this wagon and something didn't seem right.

Then the penny dropped ! O dear or words to that effect with a few words a bit stronger.

I have being using the wrong jig to scribe the plank lines. I have used the the jig for 5 inch instead of the jig for 7 inches.

That means that the pockets for the chains will be a scale 8 inch to short as well as having too many planks.

Do I have the will to make another ?

If you look at the pic's with the wagon next to one with the correct plank lines it all becomes obvious.

The scrap pile gets higher.

Who's to say some weren't built with narrower planks than shown on the drawing?  The wagon shop foreman would use whatever was available as long as the overall length was the same.   There are examples of wagons with a different number of side planks than shown on the GA.    As Richard says, put a substantial load on it and no-one will will see it and if you don't tell anyone, neither will I!  Sometimes you have to live with your mistakes!  (Been there, done that...)

 

That wagon is too good to scrap!!! 

 

Jim

[richard i]

There is nothing to be gained by scraping it. Can it be striped back to save components?

I still think a sheeted load is your best option.

Or give it away lots would be delighted to have a wagon that looks that good.

Richard

[Coal Tank]

Hi Mike I'll quite happily buy it off of you but please don't throw it away

John Lewsey