Derekstuart Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 Martin I have PC04 and that's the 24.5t which isn't too bad- still needs a bit of filing, but not too much. I think I could happily now do the 21t again after seeing it assembled as I would know which bits to pad out and which bits to file. Our local shop has some PD so I will take a wander over there tomorrow... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 The 21 tonner even after all this time is still a nice item, so you shouldn't have many problems with them! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Some of the old Westykits range has also been absorbed into the PD range and fully agree with you on the Grain wagon-a challenge indeed! I can't compete on quantity with most of the posters on here, probably 40-50 PD kits all told, but of them a quarter are the LGW grain cottages, which as you rightly say take a bit of ingenuity! Of the PD builds, I've had a couple of the longer vans (LMS CCT and LNER long CCT) refuse to be anything other than banana shaped, but none of the others have come out pear-shaped: hi-fits, MR brakes, palvans, plates have all been pretty decent square builds, with little or no aids to construction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Quite right Chard! I had to utilize some plasticard internal bracing for some of them but they do make up into characteristic models-some now of course superceeded by Hornby examples! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derekstuart Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 It does present a challenge nonetheless the line up parts that have no form of alignment marks, where some edges need work to get them to fit together. Hence why I am saying now that I've seen it together, I will have another go. (but it still is a fact that when I first built them I didn't need to worry about it- just glue together and they were perfectly square).... and here was me thinking this would be a nice little diversion away from scratch building a 156 underframe. Hah! I wish I could remember for certain which kit it was. The underframe looks very similar so I do think it was a PD kit- but maybe even the 16t. Must buy a few more and experiment. I suppose that if it looks a bit bashed about that's not unusual for a coal wagon that's getting a bit old anyway. A bit of rust weathering and some scrapes from machinery... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 My opinion - for what it is worth - is that the 7mm kits are superior to the 4mm (a terrible generalisation) because also I've not had much trouble with the much fewer 4mm kits that I have built. Despite my affinity to brass etch kits and working in metal - I find knocking together a 7mm Parkside Kit a pleasant escape. They can usually be built in a couple of hours (painting is of course subject to whim and desperate need to avoid such matters). I find the PD kits superior to the others (Cambrian, CC, ... ) with less flash, a crisper and solid plastic, understandable instructions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjgardiner Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I'm building my first two 4mm/OO Parkside kits at the moment. A Seven Plank Wagon and BR Re bodied 21T hopper. Thus far, i've started on the 7 plank, the sides and floor have gone together nicely and seem to be square. I've looked at the rest of the underbody, but haven't started on it yet. Having some internal debates about order of operations and painting. I guess the big question i am having is is there enough flex in the sideframes to get the wheelsets in and out for painting, or once its all glued together, are the wheels in for good. Knowing this will dictate whether painting of the underframe happens before final assembly or after. Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Very easy to swap wheelsets in and out as long as you're careful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derekstuart Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 Martin Are you saying that you don't need to re-profile/re-work the ends of the body- the actual mating surfaces? On this kit if I didn't do that it would have gaps at one point and bulge out at another. Maybe this particular kit is just a one-off, or has been stored improperly- I don't know, but it is like we are talking about a totally different kit. The 21 tonner even after all this time is still a nice item, so you shouldn't have many problems with them! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Some older PD kits have a tendancy to bow inwards but having constructed three of this wagon, I personally have never had a problem. Is it the older type with the pink header card and plastic wheels-these are pretty old and maybr you are correct in your assumption. You may have to Microstrip the sided to get them to meet in the style of some older Cambrian/Cooper Craft examples Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derekstuart Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 Martin Even the 24.5 needs a fair bit of filing- if you were to just glue straight together (the flash/tag is on the top not the side) then the end 'flap' will have a 5 thou (approx guess) gap. That never used to be the case. I will try and take some photos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham456 Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Ian is on here as himself. Pete Aaaagh by that do you mean that really is him in the picture on his posts Edited to add This is supposed to be a funny posting Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 22, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just building some rebodied hoppers A couple of tips you might find useful... If adding a vac pipe along the wagon underframe as per the prototype (but not mentioned in the instructions!) its best done before you put the hopper body top on For the main hand rail that runs across the ends and up the sides cut it at 51 mm not 47 - the 31mm width is correct but having arms that are 10mm rather than 8mm long gives you a better chance of sticking them to the body side The assembly diagram for the vac brake components is wrong - if you use these the two pivot supports are better adjacent to each other (appropriately spaced) with the vac cylinder spindle on the inner end - that way the brake rod to the centre brake shaft will align correctly and not foul the wheels which would happen if built as per the diagram Should all make sense once you build it. Other than that typical PD - with a bit of care and attention makes up in to a super model, we are going for variety by swapping bodies, chassis axleboxes and buffers Theres some hopper inspiration on this other thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94955-hornbys-new-21-ton-hopper/page-2 Have fun! Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Thinking of getting a VEA, what are they like to put together? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 22, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2015 Havent done one am afraid - but have done Vanwides Pipes and Tubes in addition to the hoppers, above comments re care to achieve a very acceptable result would apply and no doubt to VEA too Vanwides came out like this Don't look too carefully at the W irons, didn't realise that PD had kindly supplied alternative (but incorrect for these wagons!) solebars Kind regards Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 My problem with Parkside kits is that they and other manufacturers have started making the Headstock and the wagon end as one part rather than have separate Headstocks making the chassis useful for other projects! On the Plus side they supply all parts as spares! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 22, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2015 Know what you mean Mark! Am just about to test PD's spares service with components for different hoppers Cheers Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 My problem with Parkside kits is that they and other manufacturers have started making the Headstock and the wagon end as one part rather than have separate Headstocks making the chassis useful for other projects! On the Plus side they supply all parts as spares! Mark Saunders I find it frustrating that PD seem to try and replicate messieurs Hornby & Bachmann but as kits that need assembly and for a fraction of the cost. It will never catch on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I find it frustrating that PD seem to try and replicate messieurs Hornby & Bachmann but as kits that need assembly and for a fraction of the cost. It will never catch on. The worst recent kit for this is the MSV as it has followed the Bachmann principle of putting the top lip of the Solebar on to the body and not producing an unfitted version of the chassis! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kirk Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Hi, The first wagons that formed Parkside were indeed ex IK basic kits and dated from the early/mid 70s but I think they have all been re- tooled by now. They were welcomed and thought to be OK at the time but you must remember that when I started these RTR usually had generic die cast underframes. (the first four 7mm ones also started life in the IK range) Richard Hollingworth (Parkside) and I were at school together, met up again years later and were in partnership for a while. I was really used to being my own boss by then though so we split up. Richard to go on to form Parkside with much of the wagon range to start him off and me to produce the LNER and Southern coach kits. During the partnership I had shown Richard how to machine moulds and like the sorcerers apprentice he has now outstripped his old teacher and is better at it than I was. My friend and mentor Pete Westwater did the Westykits range, usually of types he wanted for himself, these included the peaked roof grain wagon. I thought that these had all gone to Colin Ashby along with the later wagons from the IK range (LMS long tube, GWR ballast etc.) but unless is a later Richard produced one this must have found it's way to Parkside. That is in fact me in the photo. At my youngest daughter's Halloween themed 21st. Trouble is that now, a good few years later I am starting to look that bad without the mask. The overalls are genuine though as at that time I was still fit enough to fly and had flown up from Duxford in the middle of a Colchester Show that I was trading at. Other photos of me at the party show me drinking orange juice only as I had to fly back Sunday morning to complete the Show. best wishes, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 22, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2015 Nice background Ian - thank you! Did you escape with a Duxford warbird? Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derekstuart Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Ian No disrespect was intended in any way to either you or anyone associated with PD. I am finding 'issues' with the kits that I did not in the past- for whatever reason- but I know both IK and PD have a very proud history of innovation and production. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted February 23, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 23, 2015 Its worth pointing out that PD produce kits in N, 009, 0012 as well as 00 & 0 gauges. The minor problems mentioned seem just to apply to 00. They've had good reviews in narrow gauge for many years, I think this range was acquired from Dundas models. I've found no problems with the 7mm wagons which I tend to prefer to Slater's, some of who's kits are also now quite old. They are really helpful with spares and present at lots of shows in the UK Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kirk Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Hi Again, Phil, no warbird unfortunately but an old trainer I had a share in for a few years. Still, many years ago the late Sir Alan Smith (one time Sgt. Smith, Douglas Bader's wingman) told me that his children (my generation) gave him a surprise on his 70th birthday by arranging a flight in the 2 seat Spitfire. I am currently telling this story to my children at every opportunity. I first met Andrew Hastie (Dundas Models) when he was the "Saturday boy" working in Argyle Models Edinburgh shop when Pete and I had the first W&K N gauge wagon kits which Argyle sold. I later gave him the bodies from my first range of 009 kits which started Dundas models. I think that these are all now withdrawn. I then produced several coach and wagon kits specifically for him and the patterns for a loco body kit cast in white metal. All still I think in the range. After a few years of running Dundas models separately he joined Richard to form P D. Having been in this business so long I sometimes forget what I have done. A year or so ago I saw on e bay : " Ian Kirk TT LMS 20t brake van kit" . I thought "that can't be right I never made one of these in TT" it was not much so I put in a bid and won. The parcel arrived and as soon as I opened it I recognised the header card and the beige plastic that I used in the late 70s. My toolmaking too I recognised but I have no memory of having done this kit, must have been released just as I was about to give up TT. Wish I knew where the moulds were they were one of my better efforts. Photo "the man behind the mask" attached. This was about 20 years ago I am afraid I look older now! best wishes, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devo63 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Ian, Being on the far side of the planet and not getting to the UK model show scene it's great to put a face (although, as you say, 20 years in the past) to one of the figures that changed me from 'playing trains' to a becoming a scale modeller. I built a number of your kits in the 70's & 80's which inspired me to be more prototypical in my modelling and to conduct more research into the accuracy and detail of what I was putting on my layout. I've just had a look in my kit stash and found a couple of your GWR dia.N23 20T wagons still to be built. I feel a nostalgia based modelling session coming on! Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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