S7 scratch building

[airnimal]

After building both cranes I am back trying to finish my L&Y brake van. The weather was dry but not very warm so I have used a Halfords rattle can to do the main areas outside quickly before rushing indoors and drying with a hair dryer. It is not the best way to paint but I dont have a garage or shed that I can do it in. 

I may and try to paint all the other bits today and see if i can get it to the stage of a rolling model. 

[kitpw]

Lovely model, I look forward to seeing it on its wheels: you've certainly captured the weighty and solid look of the original.  I'm sure I should know the answer, but I don't - what is the round hole in the end middle panel for?

 

 

 

 

 

[airnimal]

Kit, the hole in the end was for an internal lamp. The LNWR brakes were the same when built but after so  many years the holes was blocked up and a door was fitted to access the outside lamps. The reason this was done was from complaints from the guards about the fumes inside the van. I have modelled mine as originally built without the extra riveted strip down the body sides. 

I did build a D&S etch version about 35 years ago in finescale and I still have most of this strip left. I haven't a clue what I did with it now. 

 

[airnimal]

I have run out of numbers on my pre grouping  Methfix tranfers sheets for the L&Y. I have used all the number zero's so I have had to put the tare weight as 9.18 which has caused me problems because it is located where a large bolt goes on the solebar's.  I have have to cut down the lower half of the number 1 and paint the bottom half by hand. Also the letters in the name of the home depot are very hard to get straight using these old tranfers.  Once again I must thank Barry Lane of the L&Y society for the number plates which make such a difference to the model. The number is of a 10t brake van but I don't  know where it was allocated so I have used up this name which seem appropriate. I still have the other side to do and then the weathering to tone everything down before I finish the roof.

Edited January 25, 2023 by airnimal

[airnimal]

I forgot that I took 3 photographs today but only posted 2. 

So this is the third image.  I want to tone it down and weather it but my better half has said I should leave it as it is because I will ruin it.  I don't mind ex works locos but wagons were never cleaned like locos. 

[Schooner]

9 hours ago, airnimal said:

...I will ruin it.

 

Bet you won't!

[Dave Hunt]

Although I can’t match Mike’s stunners, I thought it may be worthwhile showing my first two attempts at scratch building S7 wagons. I’ve been making locomotives in metal for many years but it is only recently that I’ve had a go at plastic rolling stock construction, both vehicles being for a MR breakdown train circa 1905. The first is the match wagon for the crane and apart from Slaters axle boxes and wheels is scratchbuilt.

 

 

The trickiest bit was making the jib cradle and cutting all the different angles in the plastic strip. Fortunately Greenscene make strips of the correct dimensions. The nuts, bolts and rivets are a mixture of Masterclub castings and bits cut from plastic rod made by heating bits of plastic sprue and stretching it.

 

The second vehicle is a modified Kirtley ballast brake used as a mess van. I didn’t have a drawing for this so I cobbled it together using dimensions and under frame details from similar ballast brakes shown in Bob Essery’s Midland Wagons Volume 2, which the late Ralph Lacey thought were likely candidates, plus a photograph of one in the Derby breakdown train. Hence I can’t claim that it is completely accurate but it looks OK. It would seem that at least some of these vehicles had been superseded by converted 29 ft carriages by 1906 but in my little world at least one lasted until 1905, albeit a bit grubby as I have modelled it. In the absence of any definitive evidence as to livery I chose to paint it crimson lake as I’m certain that the crane and match wagon were so painted and I reasoned that as these vans were Locomotive Department vehicles it is possible that they were painted to match.

 

 

Anyway, there we have it. Overall I have enjoyed making these vehicles but I have been surprised at the amount of time and effort that have gone into them. I now have even more regard for Mike’s products!

 

Dave

 

[airnimal]

Dave, I wish my first attempt was as good as that. Congratulations and welcome to the club. I expect we will be seeing more now that you have got the bug ! 

 

Schooner, my wife was probably right because painting and weathering is the least favourite part of my modelling.  I have tried to tone my brake van down with some powders but it doesn't really look the part to me. It is not going in the bin but I must try harder as my old teacher use to say.

[Dave Hunt]

I'm with you, Mike, I love building models but painting, lining and weathering - shudder! I find myself fiddling around and doing allsorts of things until the time comes when I can no longer put off the dreaded application of paint. I have several locomotives that have had at least two applications of the base colour, having been stripped down back to bare metal following a finish resembling a runny orange or suchlike. It dawned on me when I was making the two plastic wagons that this approach wasn't going to be possible and I'd have to get it right (ish) first time. Gulp....

 

Dave

[magmouse]

1 hour ago, Dave Hunt said:

I love building models but painting, lining and weathering - shudder!

Yup! Me too…

 

Nick.

[Simond]

On 26/01/2023 at 15:56, airnimal said:

Dave, I wish my first attempt was as good as that. Congratulations and welcome to the club. I expect we will be seeing more now that you have got the bug ! 

 

Schooner, my wife was probably right because painting and weathering is the least favourite part of my modelling.  I have tried to tone my brake van down with some powders but it doesn't really look the part to me. It is not going in the bin but I must try harder as my old teacher use to say.

Mike,

 

your van is lovely, you might be dissatisfied with some aspects of the finish, but I can assure you the rest of us are well impressed.  I’m very pleased that you’re not planning to bin it!
 

At least with weathering and powders, you can scrub a bit off here, and add a bit more there, until you’re happier.  Then leave it, review it later, repeat if desired…
 

atb

Simon

[Dave Hunt]

I’ve just realised that I told an unintentional porky in my last post when I said that the breakdown train vehicles were my first foray into S7 plastic rolling stock modelling. Some years ago I made some little industrial locos for a layout a friend was building but it didn’t get finished so the little engines are languishing in my workshop. One of them is a little Brush 0-4-0 diesel that is hybrid construction using metal below the running plate and plastic above and I had forgotten about it. Anyway, here it is and apologies for the earlier error.

 

 

 

Dave

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by Dave Hunt

[Tricky]

Great article Mike in the Gazette. 

[airnimal]

I am surprised that there is a article in the Gazette because I am not a member any more. I was a member for 35 years but left a couple of years ago because I got fed up with the GOG forum and the small percentage of people who held sway with strong options. I was asked to provide some photographs of pre grouping wagons by a friend who is still the guild. 

[Crook lad]

I for one am very pleased that the photos appeared in the GOG magazine.  I fancy having a go at scratch building an old breakdown set that I photographed at Derwenthaugh Coking Works many years ago. I am most interested in the strapping detail you have produced on your open wagons and vans and particularly in how you did it or where you obtained it from.

Delightful wagons!

Dennis

[airnimal]

Dennis, without knowing what wagons appeared in the magazine article I cannot give you a definite answer to you question.  I know I supplied about 20 photographs when asked but I don't know what was published. If you go back over this thread I am sure I have described the methods I have used including the different ways of producing bolts and rivets. I hope that helps.

[Signalman Rich]

Mike,

I too was really pleased to see your quality work in the GOG Gazette.  I am sorry that you left due to the negative comments by those people who are now no longer part of the Guild. The Forum is now an altogether more pleasant place to interchange modelling  skills.  Keep up the inspirational work.

Best wishes

Rich

[EasternO]

I've spent four days on and off reading through this fabulous thread and marvelling at the pictures that remain. Stunning work. It such a sad loss to this topic that so many pictures are missing, but the workmanship on those that are still present is brilliant.

[woko]

Mike your L&Y Brake van is stunning chap! I love how unique and different these brake vans of the L&Y where, I didn't realise they where in black also which looks great.

Im really keen to build one now in 3d, but there is no way I can possibly match the craftmanship and  finish of this baby, inspirational work as always sir thanks for sharing.

[Poggy1165]

The tin-tabs were certainly a very special thing and exemplify why I prefer pre-group. Needless to say, the model is superb. Needless because I don't think Mike could produce anything less if he tried.

 

The MS&LR had some rather similar wooden jobs. By GC days these were used by the signal and telegraph department, but I strongly suspect that long, long ago, before the London Extension was a dream, these were traffic vans. I have seen it suggested (in Tatlow) they were conversions of diag 12 vans, but I am pretty certain they weren't.

 

If anyone wonders what I'm jabbering about, there are two photos on p174 of Tatlow's  LNER Wagons volume 1. If it isn't a wooden-bodied first cousin of a tin-tab I don't know what is.

[airnimal]

Thank you to everyone for the input over the last few weeks. I haven't posted much recently because we have been away visiting one of our daughter's in Australia.  Just before Christmas we were watching one of the great railway journeys including the Indian Pacific journey from Sydney to Perth when I said to my better half we should do that.  To my surprise my good lady said get it booked ! The only problem was there was very little space left for 2023. If fact there was only 2 separate single berths left on only 2 days for 2023. So we booked before finding flights which cost 3 times what we paid last year. Ouch !

So we flew to Sydney and had 4 days sightseeing before catching the train bound for Perth.

There has been problems because of floods and our trip was the first total trip for 4 months. 

Because of the track problems, the part to Adelaide had speed restrictions which slowed our progress and we had to miss out on 2 off train experiences. So we went through the Blue mountains at dusk missing the beautiful scenery and at Broken Hill we only stopped to take on water instead of visiting the mining museum and other trips. The third photograph is from one of the flyers for the train and it shows the train travelling through the Blue mountains.  I will post some more later.

 

[airnimal]

Arriving home back into snow after 5 weeks of sunshine is a bit of a shock but I don't expect any sympathy.  At Adelaide we spent a few hours visiting a market and having a wine and cheese tasting session followed by a meal before returning to the train. Some passengers only did the first section so from Adelaide we had some different companions for the rest of the journey to Perth. 

The train consists of 29 carriages but is split up into different sections in 2 classes which don't meet on the train but join together on off board excursions.  

As well as your own cabins there is a club car for socialising and a rather nice dining salon with excellent food and drink.  I would have preferred more choice of beers but that is probably nit picking to be honest simply because of storage space. The food was top class and the staff were enthusiastic and helpful. 

Because there is only just over 200 passengers spread thinly throughout the train, it never felt crowded. 

Edited March 11, 2023 by airnimal

[airnimal]

Moving on we arrived at Cook on day 3.  According to the journey companion the town was built as a support depot for the maintenance of the railway. Built in 1917 it is described as a ghost town now with only 3 residents.  I was expecting some old fashion buildings but was slightly disappointed at the dull looking pre-fabs that were there, the only one that looked old was the town jail.  We only stopped for a short time to fill the water tanks before we set off on the longest straight stretch of railway line in the world. I was hoping to see plenty of wild animals but I only saw a single Kangaroo and a single Enu on the whole journey.  The Nullarbor plain is an eerie place which I enjoyed more than I expected.  We spent some time in our own single cabins reading as well as time socialising in the club car. 

The mixture of people from all over the world had a pleasant mix of mainly retired people some of whom were fascinating to talk with. Only a couple of them I would not like to meet again but for the majority of them were fine. The exception were 4 large Americans who were Donald Trump supporters. Enough said.

 

[airnimal]

After the stop at Cook we move on to Rawlinna where we are due to stop at dusk for a meal outdoors by the trackside. This proved a bit of an anticlimax because we were slightly late reaching here. We all told to assemble ready to disembark ready for our meal but we were kept waiting on the train while the crew prepared everything.  Because the trains so long the exits points were limited and by the time it was ready to get off the amazing sunset was nearly over. We had hoped for a clear sky to see all the stars that we had been told about, but the clouds came over and obscure most of them. 

Then because it had taken such a long time to prepare the setting and get everyone in their places, the meal was rushed through and we were ushered back onto the train to finish the last course.  Not the best end for the last stop. After a good night sleep we woke to more greener scenery on the run into Perth. 

It must have been a good night sleep because I missed Kalgoorlie completely.  

After our last meal  we entered Perth only 30 minutes late where we we meet by our daughter and partner with 2 of our grandchildren.  

Overall we had a very enjoyable trip and the few disappointments did little to spoil our trip. The company refunded the cost of the experiences that we were unable to partake in because of time restrictions. 

 

Over the next 4 weeks I was able to visit a couple of railway venues including a railway museum at Bassendean  on the outskirts of Perth. I took my fold up bike with me ( Airnimal,  hence the name ) so was able to get a few good rides in. 

 

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by airnimal

[airnimal]

So on a very hot day ( 37 to 38 degrees ) I cycled over to Bassendean railway museum which is open on Sundays and Wednesdays afternoon only.  They have a large collection of steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock. From what I can gather most of them will never run again.  

There is a small indoor static display of photographs and models as well as lots of cast plates from builders plates to loco plates. 

In the small entrance hall there were a small collection of second hand books from both Australia and the UK.  Midland wagons Vol 2 was available for 8 Australian dollars. 

 

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by airnimal