Bluemonkey presents....

Floor painting. Slightly different colours than the PO wagons. Looking for aged/used flooring but not the heavy coal dust. After prim8ng, base coat of Mig old wood, once dry a wash of Citadel Agrax Earthshade. Inside of wagon also receives the same treatment throughout. Next dry brush of Mig Gunnetal. Followed with a wash if Citadel Nuln Oil. And finally dry brush of Mig New Wood. Now to plonk the floors in. Because the printing is so crisp and without any noticeable layering I'm planning on brush painting the external parts to the wagon as well.

Primer now added and hardened. In my haste I forgot to add the brake rodding. Again the locating points are already open and ready to accept brass wire. No drilling or filing required allowing for a fined, more realistic thickness of rodding. The brake handles are yet to be attached and are justing resting insitu. These are also seperate allowing fir the models to be modelled, brake on, with ease. The primer really highlights the extra detailing to the wagon, even rivets under the sole channel. Certainly finer and crisper than anything thing I have seen or built.

Well with the receipt of the T3 prints from chuffinghell I could not resist. All PO works put on hold and attention to the base work commenced. With Chris's prints there is little if any clear up, the detailing is crisp and accurate and all extra detail parts fit like a glove. This includes the buffer shanks that are hollow to accept steel buffer heads. Not one requires any clearing at all. As you can see the W-irons included a well measured void for brass bearing cups without any adjusts to the bearing or wagon. The wagon design is exceptional, as with the previous departmental vans and Aero. I appreciate there are other similar prints offered and my by a few pounds cheaper but in my personal opinion you can not beat any of Chris's designs or offerings, especially as he incorporates the full wagon structure without the need for additional unit requirements. All possible design features are included as you would expect. If you have watched the development of his layout Warren Branch, then you will appreciate the minute detail Chris endeavours to include on every model he makes. Wagons have been primed which only highlights the detailing more. Thank you Chris wonderful wagons as always and certainly worth every penny, actually worth a lot more and you really should could charge more.

Thank you. The wagons at the moment are Cambrian pre-printed ones. These have the interior details of strapping, rivets and faint planking. Just have to get the fine brush and eyesight aligned. I have noticed though that the molded floors are not a consistent thickness creating an unlevelled base to which the body sits. Making the finished wagon lean to one side if not careful.

Wagons a plenty!!! It has been a hectic couple of weeks. Starting with the Mink F. Things quickly snow balled to a couple of PO opens, followed by plenty more. Then with the receipt of the Aero transfers things got more out of control with another order to the 3-D wizard @chuffinghell some T3s have landed! Cheers Chris some more fantastically detailed wagons. I need a holiday 🤪

Having missed out on another F recently. Here's the latest one my F Mink. My attempt to ensure a good solid fix of the roof to body. We'll see. Had thought about magnets but the profile needs a little persuasion. The weed killer has taken a back foot as it has beenthe turn of North Wilts Wagon Works this week!

Well think I managed to get away with my duplication. Couldn't find appropriate coloured transfers so had to use a paint covering.

Thank you. Certainly something to consider. I think I will, if you don't mind my 'borrowing', use a combination of what you have here to secure completely as one. Thank you and what a grand job you have made of the finished wagon.

Thank you. I know what you mean as sometimes the older seemingly more crude kits are an absolute pleasure to built, if not as finely detailed but this can be added or the kit adapted. This is a really nice build the parts are pre-cut in aluminum and the white metal is fairly well detailed. The only things I would say is the measurements for the gaps in strapping seem a little out or at least they are measuring between the sections and not really allowing the builder just marked of the centre for each to be placed so you have to work it out yourself. No biggie really. Not keen on using glue to construct as I get real messy but that's my personal lack of skills.

It has a real good weighty feel to it. Currently 57grms just body and roof. There are two white metal bogies and the wheels to add.

Decent outcome, before scratching up. Roof needs to be fixed. I want to add a couple of supports midway to stopp any potential sag. I may replace the buffers though as the supplied ones are a little weak and I can see meat fist here breaking them after completion.

Getting slowly. I wanted to ensure there was enough of the rivet strapping to do the roof and the gotten edges to the wagon. Some of the off cuts have just been long enough to fit the narrower parts between the end strapping. Once completed will have go over the entire shiny wagon with a fibre pen to make sure there is a key for painting.

Thank you Oil-burner. Great information and most certainly a world of help for getting this finished. Cheers.

It just slipped in between builds. Now I have to find some extra time lol. Not sure but very plausible. There is not much in the way if info on the net that I have found. The instructions for the kit suggest 1950s but I am sure they would have been around before that.

Wagons coming along nicely. Although I have made a purchase error on Pounsbery Bristol, I have already built this one and the firm only had one wagon in green, reverting back to black for later acquisitions. Hmmmm. The Mink F is proving very fiddly, with the strapping. Very fine white metal that's reforms at the slightest touch. Especially with meat fist at the bench!!!!🤜✊️👊🤛

The garden seems to have taken over from all the wagon building but with a little something in the post I must find time to finish construction of the Mink F and the 2 PO wagons so I can finish an earlier project myself and Chris (Chuffinghell) started! and another newer one I just fell into. As well as the tenders for that train. Could help in the garden!!! 😉

Chris, Can I purchase x3 T3s from you Sir?

Good to hear you are back and bonkers. Take it easy.

Not sure how old this kit is but the pre-cut moulded parts re almost perfect putting a lot of other kits and manufacturers to shame. Have not often worked with aluminium, so a very new experience. So far a pleasant one but we'll have to see how we'll the white metal details are and how it accepts paint.

Top idea, thank you.

Very addictive Rich, I have a very large amount of these collected. In fact I much prefer these to most other kit builds. I think primarily due to the headache and faff of the transfer issues that always seem to abruptly halt any kit from a finished state. I appreciate these are not the most/best detailed but that is certainly out weighed by being able to have a decentliveried wagon running.

Yes after a few earlier attempts I prefer to do the chassis first, paint the interior stuff, then fix the top box and if needed tie altogether with a wash or two.

Now the painted chassis' are well and truly dry and waiting for roofing inspiration for that crane, time to start planking! Not really sure why I do this to all the wagons especially as a lot will be carrying loads due to the lack of moulding details or the moulded circles on the internal sides. I see @The Fatadder has also joined in the preprinted fun.

Go steady and look after yourself. If you need anything even just a rant, drop me a line.

Tell me why? 🎶