Bluemonkey presents....

A few more additions to the Mex collection. These are not strictly prototypical in number or livery but a nice addition I feel nonetheless;

Looking good, sound construction.

Temptation for sure!!

Looks a great build, nice one Rich.

Not so much improved but yes horse carrying wagons to France. GWR had to provide their horses for the war effort at cost price as ordered by the Government at the time. Should only have on guard rail but did not wish to risk destroying it.

Can never have enough Panniers.

I seem to have a thing for wagon kits! Whilst deciding on the next project possibly a building I have acquired a number of kits that will slowly be delivered and put together, currently preprinted Somerset Collieries wagon from Cambrian. Just yesterday though whacked together a wagon type that I have not seen on a GWR layout (other than in private owner livery). This will nicely full into the WWI efforts I have but also related very nicely to the cattle wagon genre I have running and nearly completed, This again is a Cambrian kit but I have adapted it slightly to have single side brakes swapping out the lever style for a scratch made DCI type, adding double door bangs instead of the single supplied. Just need to add rings around the top of the wagon body. Anyone know what these will be for?

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/wrdeptcoach His pictures are always a good source for things. The van I mean are near the very bottom but there are a number of other stock items that may also interest you on this page. Google GWR Mess van can back with plenty of examples but the pictures are more of the end rather than the middle doors unfortunately.

By sheer chance I have been investigating the mess and tool vans that accompany breakdown cranes. These tended to be planked wagons with planked doors. Is this any help? Could especially be made as double doors?

Thank you but I think these were from Railtec using the standard text format you just insert what should be read, I have a set of these for my Chippenham allocated toads. I thought I saw a full set of warning plates etc designed specifically for these cranes a few years ago but of course I could be dreaming/wishing. The mess and tool vans require yellow lettering of much larger sizing, again Railtec do a set but not all the details are included (I think) will need more research as well as pair numbers that aren't. Unless of course two sheets are included. This is what comes of not being able to design and make your own.

Been trying to research various vans to build an entire breakdown train. Not coming up with much. I have the kits (somewhere) for the D&S Steam crane and Brassmasters match truck whilst a pair or mess and tool vans have been in stock having been rescued and completely striped back to pieces as the paint was so thick I had to use a mini nuclear device to remove this. My chosen location means that Swindon would be the most likely and, typically, a combined bogied wagon for mess and tooling was stationed there rather than the two individuals. So looking into scratch building the body and using a propriety chassis kit as the last kit I saw for one went £135+. However running into a brick wall regarding appropriate transfers, again. I have the destination boards sorted and possibly some of, if not all the yellow numbering and GW but drawing a blank for the match truck and crane kits. Please, please, please does anyone know of a source for transfers to D&S Cowan steam crane and Brassmasters match truck please???? If not project is dead.

Cheers Ade, any plans to add one to yours? Starting scratch building as well I see.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403302191804?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 WTF!

Here we are a year in the making (all bar one week); Not a great picture (apologies) but a group shot of the siphon Cs complete with full destination boards and panels. Close up of a couple. All the same style as picture 2 as 1503 was completely different to the rest of the diagram, in livery terms. All wagons have different destinations. A better picture; Cant quite remember but I think there were 14 vehicles in total so may have another thrash in the future! As you can see I am still working contemplating the tarp for the cattle/horse wagon. I have an idea to utilise the previous tarps (black and grey/brown) on the manure wagon, especially as @Compound2632 said and I agree, you would not want to be sheeting the decent cargo/items with the sheets that are to be used for the brown stuff. So they will remain as unmarked general tarps for covering cr@p. Now to finish off the cattle wagon project before anything further.

Only one experimental prototype built by the Great Western and never given a diagram. In service 1888-1935 so a decent enough type, probably just not large enough. Enjoy modelling I certainly did. Enough that I am applying rule1 and going with something a little different hopefully in the very near future although once complete I may u-turn and flog them on evilbay whilst I still have an account.

Like this one? If this helps there is no soldering required, just some careful cutting. Same with the siphon Cs, unless you really want to solder up the outside frames. Shire Scene brass kits have a coating on the brass to aid gluing rather than soldering. If you do choose to solder one little bit of advice would be to lightly sand/clean off the etches to remove this coating.

Very nicely done, some excellent examples.

Thank you but I owe all my skills development to the very helpful and knowledgeable people of this parish. Most, if not all, my soldering skills have come from watching the very informative Tony Wright DVDs. Other skills and knowledge are from watching and reading those posts generously shared and then trying to duplicate or at least produce something satisfactory. The help and advice never goes unappreciated by me. Thank you for all.

Easier to convert it to a crane tank

Thanks Chris, as I do those fluent in CAD an other such computer magic. Soldering is just instant hot glue. You prep the material in much the same way as plastic kits. Oh and instead of sticking fingers together you burn them

After a wash the primer has been splashed out. They oddly look better in primer than brass (to my eye) for once;

Some cracking insight to the movement of movements. I have also discovered that the small roundal of the dean (I think) brake handle can be produced using the smallest setting of a hand held leather punch.

Just another 100m left keeping pushing

I have seen some very convincing horse dung from a couple of webers, I know @Mikkel has produced some convincing dung and as well as someone (I am sorry your name escapes me) who had a layout I think called 'Midland in Bath' not sure Queensquare maybe

Thank you. I am sure I can make a bodge up a load of cr@p to put in it, lol.