Bluemonkey presents....

Slow progress but pleasing nonetheless.

Yes just the brake and the other kits waiting build also the scratch build mess coach I previously failed with. The kits were original supplied with a nicely pre-rolled roof seemingly with rain strip and end detail but now they are very thin plastic sheet that warps in the middle as you shape it. So I am looking for a better solution and not having the confidence in my sheet brass cutting accuracy and skills coupled with nothing suitable to roll the brass with I am exploring options before spending a lot of time failing to get anything close to what I want, especially as I have another 10 or so kits with the same placements.

Fantastic modelling and an excellent portrayal of a snap shot of history. Outstanding work Mikkel and a real eye opener. P.s. I really like the roofing suggestion could be a 'way out' for my particular sticking point. Thanks.

Wow, that's not as way to encourage repeat custom. I always (and probably ignorantly) thought railway modelling to be fun, friendly and helpful not cut-throat, profiteering and demanding. I have learnt many things returning to the hobby many of which I wish I hadn't. I feel your pain and annoyance Graham.

Thank you Sir. I think eventually I will have to make my own as all wagons appear a little different in dimensions

Sadly no too heavy

I am presuming there are no suppliers of brass roofing for wagons or anything that is semi rolled etc. I am yet to come across anything.

Here they are as promised. Hope you are not as disappointed with the pictures as I am of the models. First up half-finished ballast plough brake with two single bolsters for company. The bolster is from an eBay purchase of spare parts rather than the hideous and over scaled piece of wood and brass rod supplied. I have been unable to find any decent historical notes of either diagram so these are destined to remain naked until I do. Still to decide on what to do about the brake shoe attempt by the kit manufacturer for the bolster wagons and I am trying to engineer a brass roof for the brake and subsequently other kits by the same supplier, rather than the plastic sheet as supplied. Finally 4 engineer open wagons. From my research the underframe of these are T9 or T10 but the wagon body is that of T3. No historical notes in the very poor and brief instructions. The brake gear is shocking and as I do not have parts to be able to subsidise the manufatuer's inability to supply suitable castings I have had to bend the brake arms and shoes to more appear close than actualy be close. Use of the brass wire to simulate rigging really helped make the fragile etches become more robust but very fiddly. The instructions for these are less than poor and I found myself making it up as I went along. Again these will remain naked until I can come up with something as a close representation. All wagons are awaiting a delivery of wheels again from another supplier that states they have 'live' stock levels but when it comes to it don't. I have two outstanding orders with the same supplier both orders at the time of ordering showed adequate levels of all my requested items but alas I am left (2months and counting) without required wheels and also the other items that are in stocking but will not be shipped until everything else is, unless I pay extra postage for the privilege. I am, as you can guess, very annoyed by this as they take your money you have to wait months before, maybe getting your items as this time I am having other items delayed as well due to the inaccuracies of the supplier. I will not be using them again.

They sit really nicely. Great idea to include a hole in your design work.

I have been beavering away with some brass kits during the last few weeks (thought I would be best to started/finished whilst I can still afford to use the soldering iron!) and I have found a new enthusiasm to reattempt the bogie mess coach roof. Must have been the disappointment with some of the manufactured kits/researching that has pushed me to achieve better. Just waiting on some brass tube and the finishing touches to the started kits. Pictures and better description of my thoughts to come.

Thank you, I am rather pleased with the ending result although a few details to add and of course painting. To give me a make over would have to include magic and minor miracles just for starters 🤣

Aside it went and still is although I have a little more motivation to remake an entire new roof. One thing at a time though, my attention turned to the ugly twins purchased a while ago for a snip on eBay due most likely the their appearance. It has been about 3 years since the purchase but here's ugly one; From this little beauty; To this nearly finished and ready for a coat of colour; I managed to salvage most items, just had to find a few detailing parts; the side steps, handrails, buffers, brake wires and swap out the wagon wheels for Mansell. The body is not attached as I need to fix glazing after the rain strips and gas lamp tops. These are on order as the original only had one and two shell vents, weirdly. Oh I'll have to fabricate a destination board as one was missing as well. Quite pleased with the result. Everything is now soldered whereas the original was completely glued. When striped back the paint remover I used completely destroy all the bonds (thankfully) so this was completely taken back to kit form without the sprues. The only things to blued is the plastic replacement brake gear pulley as this locates to brass detailing and the rain strips will be plastic strip as I do not like the original brass strip as I think this stands too high. Soon it will be time for the even prettier brother to come of age;

Sensational. Thank you for sharing.

There you are, you have answered you're own question. 😃

Looking excellent very nicely done

For these I used Cambrian C300 brass tie bars for 12" wheelbase and I snipped the riveted 'tie' part off to use the plain flats. They are approximately 1mm top to bottom. They do not fir the full length behind the W iron 'tie' but some quality and strong super glue seems to do the trick. Mine are still attached.

Very nice and the chaining of the load is not as bad as a lot of other wagon/loads 🙃 Using whitemetal chairs also added a decent weight to the wagon.

Agreed, we came to the conclusion that in general the GWR W1 were unfitted and without a tie bar and the W5 were fitted and with a tie bar. I have used thin brass strip superglued behind the riveted base of the W irons (more surface area to attach). Once painted you do not really notice them. I would steer away from plastic as this has a tendency to be broken when handle or even stored and is a to fix. Whereas brass does not snap easily and should it come away just glue back on.

All pictures posted on RMWeb are available on the wider internet regardless of what you may wish. Even a number of previously deleted pictures can sometimes be found so best practice is; if you dont want to share world wide then dont post on any web based platforms.

Very interested in your experiments and developments with the lining pen as I am tempt with a crimson lake livery bullion which was fully lined. Lovely figures very neatly painted almost porcelain in appearance.

Chris, I would have thought the less consistent it is the better and more realistic.

Sadly the roof have beaten me. I have tried many ways to get the body and roof to marry but neither seem interested, just want to be friends. A skylight has started to lift and some glue has run down the body in another section. Looks like I'm going to have to scrap this one and think again. Unfortunately some of the elements have have used are one of spares that I do not have to replace and not sure I will be able to salvage very well. Pretty sh!tty all-round. 😭

Many of the pictures in my research showed ends covered some even much higher.

Wow!!! cant saying anything else. Wow wow wow.

Agreed. I bought a load of wheels from then all showing in stock only half arrived and now I have to wait "up to 12 weeks" for them.