Bluemonkey presents....

Tarp finished and tied down. I sprayed a coat of Testers over the tarp before any shaping hoping this would help keep the transfers from crack or lifting. Seems to have helped and also (oddly) gave a satin type sheen to the tarp, nice happy accident. Ropes are fine thread which will be painted beige and run with black wash. I tried to copy the tying down on the original picture but not much is visible, just one end really, May be a little too uniform as I could not quite get the drapes and pinching points but it will do. I think I have captured this but for the rest of it...well imagination will have to suffice here. A lot of effort for a tarp but this is a stand alone example and I think worth the extra time and effort in this case.

Weirdly after a light wash of black ink the transfer film has almost disappeared, handy.

Tarp complete, now to varnish and hope for the creases. Thank you for all for the guidance on tarp designs. I decided to use a cross stitch of that and the picture available of the wagon modelled. Using some spare/off cut transfers from those made for the Mex wagons this is what I have come up with;

Sure is, nice and chunky plastic, lol. Going for complete brown I think.

Thick it will have to be the tarp to finish first, cant face those chain still, lol.

Cheers Rob, you too. I have enjoyed watching your layout grow and your fleet.

Here's the line up for the paint shop. All primed and ready for the final grey dressing. Exception being the black chassis but this is how this one will remain. associated wheel sets are in the opens includug the vans. Ah yes couldn't resist there is another Mex W1 lurking in the midpoint. Nice build this morning and primed this afternoon, working from home has some rewards Should be hardened off and ready for spraying Saturday. the size difference between the various wagons and van always surprises me. Chains are still required for some of those sleeper wagons and I have another plastic rescue in the background, my first passenger coach albeit a brake. Hopefully get these done before the new year, then move onto breakdown mess/pilots restorations and possible loco builds!

The 2 planker has been primed and is a waiting an all over grey coat alongside the Damo, Manure, Steel Mineral, Mink C and the GW Military horse wagons. Just need to get the sprayer out. Currently completing two single plank wagons for local stone quarries with the sid of some Powsides transfers. I'll flash them about when finished, the wagons are kits from Cambrian.

Very interesting. I have seen a layout in Chippenham Museum based on Black Dog. I am planning on building Chippenham and Calne as my layout.

Really like the cutting, looks fabulous.

Now I get it. Give it a bash looks ok

I will keep the working flag flying until late Friday for you all, happy holidays.

Hi Martin doesn't look there will be much if any need to solder here. I have not seen one in the flesh but from your picture looks like you'll need to fold the W irons at right angles and fix to the floor, either cyanoacrylate or similar. The brass coupling hooks a pair to be dummy ones should you be using tension couplings. I am not experienced with compensation, I tried once and fouled everything so I keep it simple and rigid although those in the middle do appear to be for the assembly of suspension. Random wire could be for extra detailing with the brakes or there is a coupling method running a wire under the body. Buffers - you may have to drill a tiny hole in the headstocks for the rams to travel though if the springs are held within by the outer end of the buffers. The buffer bases are then fixed to the headstock trapping the springs within the buffers. the rams then are able to travel through the drilled hole and with a short right angle bend at the end, held in place. Obvious duplicates will be spares. Before any surgery please remember I am not experience with these kits and never seem one before so best wait for expert advice but just though I would throw some food for thought. Happy Christmas.

I would just like to wish seasonal greetings and best wishes for the new year to everyone that takes time out to read my waffle further thanks to all those that have contributed. I really appreciate all the help and advice offered. Fingers crossed for a safer 2022. Happy modelling.

Totally

ooops looks like I will be needing a pair of split/open spoked wheels when I order stuff next.

Order made so moving on. I have got into the habit of making a cheap kit purchase and building it the day/next day on receipt. Not a bad habit to get into although it does mean the backlog stock items remain exactly that. Here's a Cambrian 2plank drop side wagon. Some lovely crisp and clean details for example the corner clasps and irons requiring very little in the way of clean up or manipulation to fit together. The detail parts; brakes and levers are incredibly fine and during the build were at serious risk of damage. Once sited a little better protected. The kit as purchased was incomplete and required wheel sets and flooring, so no major build skills required. Floor cut to size and planking gaps represented with light removal using one of those funny cutting tools. Due to the nature of the mixed media construction the brake parts, sides and floor are glued but was able to solder the wheel sets, bearings and buffers. Whilst very tempting to keep the original pre-grouping livery of Cambrian Railways, the transfer sets need 2 separate set purchases to complete a wagon and the sheets are for loads of wagons - no is answer to the obvious statement here . I will be depicting the wagon as absorbed in Great Western freight grey livery. I have made the wheel sets rigid rather than compensated through personal choice and ease.

Try this, may have something you are looking for; https://www.wrrc.org.uk/transfers.php

I hear that Didcot spent a long time researching the boards so I guess, and that is all I can do without any additional information or discussion, that red/cream is GWR and black/white later even BRw.

Agreed Railmatch rattle cans rubbish and should be banned from general sale. Out of interest what are people using for mat varnish rattle cans now that testers has stopped being imported?

Looking for a little expert knowledge please. A quick query on breakdown mess and tool vans. After a little research I am under the impression that the loco dept head boards for these vans were white text on black background (GWR then later repainted to cream text on red background (BRw). I am struggling to find match written evidence and the few pictures I have look very much like white on black but these are black and white photos across a few decades. Does anyone have anything definitive please? Or know of any good sources? I have checked the wagon Bible but this is where I get stuck. This states white text on black background. The vans at Didcot are cream text red background although these could be very late GWR or BRw. Any help will (as always) be greatly appreciated please. I am specifically looking at 1920s touching very early 30s only.

Certainly 1:1 scale albeit finger to chimole

Excellent recovery work Rich certainly is a grand wagon. Shame you have to clean away the flux residue as that does give a decide 'cleaned off' lime wash appearance as well. Good luck with the true build.

Thank you Mikkel. They do say variety is the spice of life.

The sun is making the red more RED than is actual to the naked eye.