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Wagon springing/compensation


ullypug

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In advance of the EMGS skills day at Kidderminster next weekend (hope the snow thaws), I've been finishing off a number of projects. They're all in P4 by the way.
I'm doing a demo about the various springing systems for wagons that I've used/or not.

 

First up is the Craig Welsh chassis for a RCH under frame. These are sold by the Scalefour society and fold up in a single unit. I really like them. I've posted pictures before and this sits under an ECC body I originally built (badly) 35 years ago. I've since detailed the sole bars with crown plates etc. The originals didn't survive the dismantling process.
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Next is one of Justin's rather spiffing Rumney Models wagon chassis kits, in this case for the 21T hopper. I probably should have started with an easier one, but I already had the Parkside body assembled in another frenzy of poor model making, hence it needed a new chassis. These kits are really good and I've a fair few more waiting to be built. They are an exercise in origami, but well thought through and if you take it steady, don't present any problems. The instructions are fairly comprehensive! The standard BR hopper did find its way on to the Cheddar branch for loading quarried stone.
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Then there's something a bit different, namely the Prickley Pear system. This is a hybrid between sprung and compensation. Both w irons rock but are retained by a wire at the outer edge which springs off a central evergreen square plastic section. The cosmetic springs were fixed to the w iron leaving a space under the sole bar to allow movement.
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The Toad has one of the Morgan chassis kits marketed by the Scalefour society and has adjustable w irons both laterally and at one end, vertically. Personally I think it's a bit over engineered. It's a lot of effort to avoid springing out the W irons when inserting the wheels. I've never had any issues with this on any of the other systems I've used, so for me anyway it's solving a problem (which it does well) that doesn't bother me. The instructions were very comprehensive too and the range covers just about every sort of GW wagon you could wish for,
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Then there's the masokits sprung chassis kits which form into pre-determined lengths around a chassis spine. The springs are thin steel strip. I didn't actually build the chassis bit but I have put it under the coal wagon.
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Lastly there's the Bill Bedford system, marketed now by Eileens amongst others. I must confess it's the standard system I use and get on well with.
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Not shown is standard rocking W iron compensation, which I will have on the demo stand and lastly, uncompensated. For every one who tells you springing and compensation is an essential, there are plenty of others who make do without quite happily.
At the end of the day it's a personal choice. A bit like choosing the best auto coupling system...

 

My personal choice? Bill Bedford W irons, Rumney Models and Craig Welsh chassis kits. They work for me. The others work fine, but building them hasn't persuaded me to change.

 

edit for typo/grammar

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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks for that Andrew, very informative mini-demo - especially for those of us who can't attend the live event.

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The one comment I would make is that I like the bar on the Masokits system, it keeps the W irons fixed relative to each other. I have had a few older (20+ years!) wagons where the axles get out of line with each other. So I've taken to putting a bar on any repaired wagons.

 

See you next weekend.

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