Mr Grumpy

Apart from the couplings and vac/steam pipes my wagon is complete at last :-) The couplings etc should arrive early next week. The rest of the steps and footboards went on easily, so I got to the primer stage a little quicker than I anticipated! I will be painting it in BR maroon with black ends under a layer of filth:-) I need to crack on and order a few transfers for my brake van, mink and this one. ....just noticed a slight twist on the axleboxes spring! Photos do come in very useful!

Hi Mike, That sounds very tempting, however I'm still making up my mind on weather I will purchase an RSU. I'm about to start my MMP suburban coach. I reckon I should be able to build the bogies with my smaller iron, so hopefully access to all the joints won't be a problem. I may be though :-)

Out of stock at present :-( Although £20.00 secures one from the next batch.......may give me time to save :-)

Thanks Western Star :-) This would appear to be the same model as Martyn uses!

....Can anyone recommend a model? I saw the Swanage Model co one in the 0 Gauge Gazette and the chap informed me they have just gone up to £195 due to him becoming VAT registered. The budget is a little squeezed at the moment as I'm about to order my baseboards, so it may have to go on my Christmas present list....along with a few items already requested :-)

Yes, the brake lever brackets were very straightforward:-) I don't know how you 4mm guys get in to solder intricate parts. I'm definitely warming to purchasing a RSU. I'd Best Buy a cheapish kit to practice on though...I'm certain to vapourise it :-)

While I wait for the replacement axleboxes/springs, I thought I may as well crack on with the steps, footboards and brake levers. The brake leaver brackets are relatively easy to assemble. I took the precaution of running my fret saw blade along the ratchet fold line before bending and it worked a treat :-) To be honest, I found the whole experience of fitting the footboard, step and bracket frustrating and overly fiddly. I really struggled to get the iron in and resorted to using my 25w iron with a tiny bit which took forever to heat the parts. As warned, the steps are incredibly fragile, and this one snapped just because it wanted to :-) I decided to put a decent fillet of solder behind it and it is nice and solid. So, in the time I thought I would get all six boards, steps and brake levers fitted...I managed one! Please excuse the soldering :-)

I'm unable to fit the axle box/springs as the castings are so poor. To be fair, I contacted WEP and they have promised to send replacements, so hopefully I will get them fitted soon.

Most of the underframe is complete now, it's a bit of a cats cradle :-) The W irons are tinned ready for the white metal axleboxes and springs.

This build has been a bit of a roller coaster. Nothing wrong with the kit, just me making a school boy error which lead to a bit of a strip and re-build. I wasn't 100% happy with the sole bars, and always have difficulty folding them even after opening the etched fold lines with a triangular file. I should have stopped and double checked, but continued and fitted them, followed by the roof, vents and chassis floor and trusses. When I turned the wagon over, there was a distinct rock between the corners. With three of the W irons flat to the bench, the fourth was about 1.75mm off the surface. I tried a little twist of the body, but made things worse, and broke the trusses. The bin looked like the best solution, but my wife advised I revisit it the next day. So off came the chassis and roof to allow access to the sole bar and that came off as well (A few other bits unintentionally flew off too!) I gave the sole bar a decent thump with a piece of wood in the hold and fold and it looked distinctly better for it! Everything is now back in place, including the buffers I also removed and the roof vents that I hadn't! I have ordered some 1.5 angle to replace the trusses which should be here tomorrow.

I forgot to post this photo of my 14xx which I gave a little more of a dust over while weathering my 74xx..

Perfect, thanks Martyn! Your soldering is excellent!! (I'm hoping someone will mistake it for my model

So, these are the hanging foot steps, four of which have the end turned over like a hook. I'm not sure why this is so?

Thanks Martyn, I will post a couple of photos of the steps. There were a few right angles to be formed.

After seeing some of your builds, I'll take that as a compliment:-) I think the stress of doing this for someone else would kill me!

I finished my 7400 today, and as I'm so pleased with her, I'm going to be very indulgent with the photos:-) Thanks Mark for the tip of using a pencil on the steps etc, it worked a treat!!

Hi Deano... those pics couldn't have come at a more opportune time!! I'm having a brain ache with the ganging steps and I can now see they hook over the top of the wooden footboard. The rear edge of the board doesn't bend up on the kit, so I will make some out of scrap etch. Thanks again!! Richard

Oops....I started to run away with the build! The sides of the wagon are made up from six doors and four panels. The doors are made up with hinges, door clasps and locking rods. Each panel has the cross bracing and door catches fitted. Then via slot and tab I tack soldered the middle tabs only along the wagon, making sure everything was level and also running straight. Once satisfied, I sacrificed a couple of lengths of rail and soldered inside and this increased the rigidity. (As per Raymond Walley) I then soldered the rest of the tabs. Oddly, I hadn't given any thought to how big this wagon is! If I still had my diesels, I would get a few to mix in to a nice parcel train :-) but only need the one for my next layout.

Thanks!! Also, take a look at Raymond Walley's build here.... http://www.raymondwalley.com/carriages/gwr/fruit-d.html#.WTVsSIXTXYV

If only life was that simple!! I wasn't happy with the whitemetal parts supplied to make up the lighting switch and operating rod supports, so I had a rummage through my spare castings and pulled out this lot. The square with screws in the corners is a Westdale speedo junction box, and the rest are bits and bobs from JLTRT. (The parts I used for the rod clips are circled) Here's my effort. I have made the operating handles from 0.3mm wire but left off till near completion as Sod's law dictates I will knock them off :-)

The two ends go together quickly. I soldered the lamp brackets, label clips and restriction plates by drilling a hole in the body and soldering from behind. One of the brackets needs straightening though :-)

Ever since 3Link (Martyn) posted a photo of his fruit D way back in January, I wanted to build one! My wife read my mind and or gave in to my pleading and bought me the WEP kit for my birthday :-) There are compensations for getting older! Mrs G even bought the wheels too! My wagon is to be a later BR version built in the late 50's with electric lighting. As 3Link will testify, there are a lot of rivets to punch out! My 74xx is drying in the paint shop and I'll post an update in the next few days.

Hi Deano, Just checked, and thankfully the numberplate is horizontal! It is only held on with double sided tape so could move it if necessary :-)

Well, here she is ready for a coat of grime. The black paint is Halfords satin black, and I have just finished spraying a couple of coats of satin varnish. I was going to mix some roof dirt in with it, but thought it may come out too uniform in colour, so will apply the different colours in separate coats. Just incase it's of interest, this is the Sparmax compressor I have been using for a few years. It's remarkably quiet and seems to work well.

Cab detail is notoriously difficult to capture on a model. Couple that with using an iPhone and I'm afraid you get the result below :-)