Guest 40-something Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi Folks I have a couple of Airfix 20t Class B Tank wagons ready for painting and I ask if these tanks ever ran in any other livery other than the Esso black livery. There era Im modelling is c1970 Thanks in advance! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Black was pretty much the rule for class B tanks Joe. In your period though, some of these were operated by Briggs of Dundee too which would at least give you different markings. I think Modelmaster do a sheet. Later in the 70s, they appeared in the United Molasses maroon and blue livery, but that's going to be a bit late for you. Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 40-something Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Black was pretty much the rule for class B tanks Joe. In your period though, some of these were operated by Briggs of Dundee too which would at least give you different markings. I think Modelmaster do a sheet. Later in the 70s, they appeared in the United Molasses maroon and blue livery, but that's going to be a bit late for you. Dave. Thanks Dave, Did they ever run in black without the Esso, or any other, logo? I normally use Paul Bartletts fotopic, unfortunately its down! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 40 Something, There is s tring on Fotopic which has ceased to operate. Paul Bartlett has moved his library to another provider, the details of which I cannot locate as it is on my other computer which is under layers of dust sheets and decorators rubbish. Gordon A Bristol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 40-something Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi Gordon I was aware that fotopic was down but not aware Paul had changed to a new host. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Paul's new site just use the forum search. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flood Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Depends how you want to look at what you're modelling. The Class B tanks may well have only ever been in black but Esso did have Class A tanks to the same design which would have been light grey with red solebars. Perhaps you could make two of those instead. Paul Bartlett has photos here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 ...but Esso did have Class A tanks to the same design which would have been light grey with red solebars. Not quite - the tanks were longer on the Class A. You can cut & shut them from the kit, though. Also - see Sheets BL8 - BL12 at http://www.cctrans.freeserve.co.uk/products.htm for more ideas for the kit. Regards, John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted April 3, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 3, 2011 Depends how you want to look at what you're modelling. The Class B tanks may well have only ever been in black but Esso did have Class A tanks to the same design which would have been light grey with red solebars. Perhaps you could make two of those instead. Paul Bartlett has photos here. There were also a lot of detail differences between batches of both types, e.g. suspension and discharge arrangements. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flood Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Thanks for the info. I'm looking to make a few Class A ones myself so I'll have a check on the differences. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizard of the Moor Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 some of these were operated by Briggs of Dundee too which would at least give you different markings. Have you got any photos of these please, Dave? Assuming that the OP is talking about the Airfix 35t Class B tanks, then I would be very interested to receive details of the fleet numbers. Briggs certainly did operate various RCH 20t, 22t 25t and 30t tanks, but these are all quite different to the Airfix/Dapol kit. I think Modelmaster do a sheet. The Modelmaster sheet has markings for 4 wagons. One of these is for the early style 'William Briggs & Sons' livery. Of the 4 wagon numbers, I have only found a photo of one - number 37, which was an RCH 22t or 25t wagon - in George O'Hara's recent Diesel Traction in Scotland book. The other supplied numbers - 31, 49, 65 - are unknown to me, so that could give scope for jazzing up a couple of 35 tonners. I'll never forgive Mastermind for turning this down as a specialist subject Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 40-something Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Thanks for the replies folks, some very interesting info there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Thanks for the info. I'm looking to make a few Class A ones myself so I'll have a check on the differences. Photos of the Class A here http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/essoatankwagonvb Class B Esso here http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/essobtankwagonvb Class B Lion- Colas here http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/lionemulsionstsv Class B Regent - Texaco http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/texaco (as John's models) Paul Bartlett 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushVeteran Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 I too am interested in modelling the class B tank. I was rather hoping one of the major manufacturers would rise to the challenge of the pre-TTA block train tanks, although the Dapol kit is quite easy to build and fairly accurate with a bit of detailing. However I am interested in some of the livery variants, especially the Charrington-Mobil tanks. Does anyone know how many Charringtons had? I remenber them at Bletchley many years ago and I'm sure some were painted Mobil red. I'm sure Paul HMRS will have the answer or be able to point the way. I'm afraid at the time I was more intyerested in the double headed Brush Type 2's that used to haul these trains from the Thames estuary. I attatch a couple of images for interest, one is mine - the preserved Regent tanker, and the other is of unknown origin. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Seems I was wrong about Briggs using these guys, I'm sorry. There is a plain black one though recorded in bitumen traffic at General Terminus Quay in 1972 though with a two digit number prefixed by 'L'. Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
forest2807 Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I'm in the process of building one of these, and having looked at Paul Bartlett's site for prototype detail info, a couple of questions about the kit spring to mind. These issues may well be my addled brain not thinking straight, and not the fault of the kit, but perhaps someone could clear these up for me: In all prototype pictures I have studied, the valve (item 4 on Dapol's instructions)on one end of the wagon is at the end furthest from the vacuum cylinders on the underframe, and the same end as the screw down valve (item 6 on Dapol's instructions) on the top of the tank body. The off centre ladder is at the end nearest the vacuum cylinders too, and lines up with the manhole cover on top of the tank, but on Dapol's kit the holes in the solebar seem to be at the wrong end and if constructed according to the instructions the ladders wouldn't line up with the manhole cover. The photo of the completed model in the instruction also appears to have the vacuum cylinder/manhole cover/end valve/ladders permutation all mixed up too. This sounds very complex but has anyone else notice these apparent shortcomings to what I appreciate is a vintage kit, or is it just me? Sorry to hijack the thread but I thought I'd add to this rather than start another. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I believe Airfix first produced this kit when the wagons were brand new, as shown here Photo which shows the ladder in the Airfix position, the heating pipe valve can be at either end on the model depending on how you build it. Regards Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Just picking up on an earlier post, I want to model the United Molasses tanks which were used on the Avon Street branch in the late 1970's, I believe these were similar to the tanks the Airfix model was base don and wondered if anybody could point me towards what the key differences were please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted April 21, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2015 I believe Airfix first produced this kit when the wagons were brand new, as shown here Photo which shows the ladder in the Airfix position, the heating pipe valve can be at either end on the model depending on how you build it. Regards Keith There appear to be versions with ladders both in line with the manhole cover and off-set. We were chatting about this (in the context of weathering my new Heljan 7mm version)- while operating at a show last week and a quick web search showed both configurations. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted April 21, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2015 Just picking up on an earlier post, I want to model the United Molasses tanks which were used on the Avon Street branch in the late 1970's, I believe these were similar to the tanks the Airfix model was base don and wondered if anybody could point me towards what the key differences were please? Hi Rob, You are correct - they use the same type of wagon as the Airfix Tank kit. Not many differences at all - mostly down to needing to make the detail supplied in the kit a lot finer. WaveyDavey mat be able to help as they have done several. Etch detailing pack was available as well as decals. I have 6 sat unfinished in one of my drawer units - waiting for the etch packs as I already have the decals. see pm of info.... Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Hi Rob, You are correct - they use the same type of wagon as the Airfix Tank kit. Not many differences at all - mostly down to needing to make the detail supplied in the kit a lot finer. WaveyDavey mat be able to help as they have done several. Etch detailing pack was available as well as decals. I have 6 sat unfinished in one of my drawer units - waiting for the etch packs as I already have the decals. see pm of info.... Thanks Thanks for the info/ pm Phil, who produces the Etched components please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted April 21, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2015 Thanks for the info/ pm Phil, who produces the Etched components please? Hi Rob, Need to check with WaveyDavey - Can't remember if etches owned/produced by Shawplan for him? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepington Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Some years ago I bought a set of etches from RTModels www.rtmodels.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikcdab Posted January 28, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 28, 2019 interesting topic....where can i find fleet numbers? I have five of these to build and they can't all be 3300.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les_Gregory Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 January 1991 'Model Railways' had a table listing all the fleet numbers and the builders. Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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