U20 6-wheeled Luggage Composite

[RosiesBoss]

Disclaimer

This post describes the production of an approximation of a GWR U20 coach, in 1922-27 livery. Photographs and plans of the chosen coach are scarce, so numerous assumptions have been made. The resulting model is not meant to be seen in a glass case. Rather, it is intended for use in a rake of assorted coaches as seen on Central Wales branches in the mid to late 1920s (Ref.3).

 

Introduction

I recently completed a conversion of an old Tri-ang bogie clerestory brake 3rd to a 6-wheeled T38 brake 3rd, as described here: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/176459-gwr-t38-6-wheeled-brake-3rd-from-tri-ang-clerestory-coach/

 

This post describes a similar-themed conversion, from a Tri-ang bogie clerestory 2nd to a U20 6-wheeled luggage composite coach. Construction steps for this project were the same as for the earlier one, so may be followed by the images. (See Ref. 2 for a drawing.)

 

Construction

Donor coach:

 

Stripped back to shell:

 

Dismantled, with extra doors recovered from offcuts from earlier projects:

 

Wheeled 3D-printed chassis (Ref.5):

 

Body parts assembled:

 

Holes filled, centre grab-irons made & fitted, body repainted:

 

Body fitted to chassis; glazing installed; partitions & seats installed; painting complete:

 

Figures added:

 

Results

Transfers added and varnished; roof attached:

 

Now in late 1920s period Central Wales train comprised of rebuilds from Tri-ang clerestories (T38, U20, C10, V5), hauled by “Stella” class 3515:

 

Parts List

·         Tri-ang clerestory 2nd (R332)

·         3D-printed 6-wheeled chassis

·         Hornby 14mm dia wheels (R8218)

·         No-name brass 14mm dia wheels on plain axles (from scrapbox)

·         Coach buffers from scrapbox

·         Tension-lock couplings (Hornby R8099)

·         Card for roof & partitions

·         2.5mm x 2.5mm L-section polystyrene strip

·         2mm flat brass strip (to reinforce both body and steps)

·         0.45mm brass wire for new grab irons

·         Balsa for seats

·         Flat-head nails for roof vents

·         0.020” dia polystyrene rod for roof gutter

·         Filler: Finely-ground sodium bicarbonate, applied dry, then mixed in situ with super glue

·         Humbrol enamels: 98 (Matt brown), 16 (gold), 133 (bauxite), 135 (satin clear)

·         Humbrol RC424 acrylic GWR cream

·         Gloy LNER teak enamel – for coach interior

·         Phoenix PR108 BR maroon – for coach seats

·         Black paint pen: Uni Posca 24 black, 0.7mm

·         British Paints grey spray primer – for roof

·         Clear packaging sheet for glazing

·         PC Methfix & HMRS Pressfix transfers

 

References & Further Reading

1.       Russell, J.H.: “A Pictorial Record of Great Western Coaches including the brown vehicles: Part 1 (1838-1913)”, Oxford Publishing, 1972

2.       http://www.gwrcoaches.org.uk/

3.       C.C.Green: “Cambrian Railways Album – 2” (Ian Allan, 1981)

4.       http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134586-gwr-stella-2-4-0-kitbash/

5.       https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4716947

 

 

 

 

[corneliuslundie]

Nice.

BTW the gwrcoaches site seems to be what was previously part of the Penrhos Junction site. Unfortunately there is no link from that to this one. I'll have to suggest one to Penrhos Junction.

Jonathan

[Prometheus]

A nice job. I’m currently doing one of these too but hope to use a Brassmasters Cleminson chassis under mine.

 

tony

[Chas Levin]

On 29/01/2023 at 21:03, Prometheus said:

A nice job. I’m currently doing one of these too but hope to use a Brassmasters Cleminson chassis under mine.

 

tony

Thoroughly recommend the Brassmasters Cleminson. Building the first one takes a little time until you're used to them, but they work so smoothly and they do exactly what the prototype design does, getting 6-wheelers round curves you wouldn't think they could handle!

[corneliuslundie]

The only problem I found with the Clemison chassis is that the springs move relative to the solebars. This is made worse if there are J hangers or similar connecting them.

I initially used the Brassmasters chassis for my Rhymney 6-wheelers and they worked fine, but ended up changing to a centre axle on inside bearings and room to move sideways a bit.

Jonathan

[Chas Levin]

4 hours ago, corneliuslundie said:

The only problem I found with the Clemison chassis is that the springs move relative to the solebars. This is made worse if there are J hangers or similar connecting them.

Yes, there are compromises I grant you but the running is very good.

[Prometheus]

7 minutes ago, Chas Levin said:

Yes, there are compromises I grant you but the running is very good.

 

And it's that good running that justifies them for me.

 

However, on my build, as I kept the floor and step/sole bar moulding of the Triang coach, whilst the Brassmasters unit fitted very neatly inside, it left insufficient room for cosmetic W-iron/springs/axle box mouldings - they would protrude beyond the widest part of the coach body and that, obviously, was unacceptable.

 

Instead, I used parts from two very heavily adapted Ratio 4-wheel scrap chassis with the outer wheelsets running in brass bearing-fitted axle boxes and the inner wheel, minus its pin-point axle ends, floating in a plastic card unit which allows side-play and just a little radial movement. It runs extremely effectively and the centre axle can retain its flanges. Photo below shows this at an early stage.

 

 

Tony

[Chas Levin]

That looks like a very neat job Tony - here's one I put under a Mike Trice 3D printed GNR Luggage Brake:

 

 

It required some pretty careful removal of material inside the solebar+footboard assemblies to allow the outer axles to pivot enough for the tight curves I run, but it works beautifully. Wheels are Alan Gibson OO gauge Mansells.

I think the pivoting of the outer axles is a brilliant design feature of the prototype, as it allows them to follow the direction of travel much better than axles that stay perpendicular and there's less tendency to climb up and off.

@RosiesBoss - hope it's Ok to add this to your thread: it's relevant to six-wheelers... 🙂

[Prometheus]

They are such neat chassis units and it never fails to amaze me just how tight are the radii that they can sail through.

 

Tony