lyneux

Well, they are finally here! I'm still not too sure about the shade of ARC mustard though. It seems to be closer to warning panel yellow than ARC mustard. Judge for yourself. Front left, Accurascale, front right Phoenix, back right (59) Lima, back left (59) Hornby. Sadly I think I'll have to either repaint these or send them back. Guy EDIT: Heres a few prototype shots to compare (with varying levels of exposure):

Here's a couple of shots of the rake in progress. Still only 5 on the layout but the last of the batch is close behind. I think I'll probably have a pause after this and work on something else. Weathering the PTAs? I had a notification this morning saying that 20 more ARC PTAs are on their way! Guy

Hi Steve, you read my mind! Already ordered 6 Bardon's to pepper into the rake. The Cavalex ones are of a slightly different build code to the ones in the photo above that ran intermixed with the KPAs but I'm willing to bend the rules a bit for the nice colourful effect! P.S. The bogies on the first batch were black, but yellow on the second batch (that Cavalex are doing). Guy

The mustard looks spot-on in that shot Fran. I think it's just the light (the shots on the previous page are probably a little over exposed with a slightly different colour balance from the ones in May - which I think might also be a little bit over exposed). Guy

Thanks Fran. Colour is so subjective and difficult to represent accurately in photos so fingers crossed it’s just the light / camera settings. Guy

Hi Fran, Has the colour changed since the painted sample shots from May? I hope it's just the colour balance in the photo but they looked more 'mustard' and less 'yellow' (more of a green component). May: December: Thanks, Guy

Thanks both. Will, I'm doing an initial 6 with another 8 possibly behind them. More photos to follow shortly! Guy

Here is my take on this conversion. I'm doing a short rake of these. More details on my layout thread:

EDIT: 11/12 - Reinstated broken links to Flickr images. More great photos there Robin. Many thanks for sharing! I've made progress in the past few weeks on a rake of KPAs being back-dated from Bachmann Auto-Ballasters. Out of the box, this is a real quality model with many, many detail parts. Sad then, to have to snap most of them off to get the model back to its base state. Most parts snap off easily with a blunt flat blade inserted and twisted. More or less everything has to be taken off: chutes, generator gear (if using a generator donor vehicle), electrical connectors and lights, canopies, some of the handrails and finally the protective covers that shield the braking equipment at either end. Generator donors are missing one of the covers so I'll have to scratch build or copy replacements in resin. The first job was to have a go at reproducing the original walkways. My initial thought was to design an etch for these, but the more I looked at them, the more they just looked like standard ladders, bent to shape with extra metalwork and handrails added. The problem with etching this would be that the parts would be flat instead of round in profile. This is quite a noticeable difference so I decided to have a go at scratch building them. The plan was to have a couple of goes at this, one using soldered construction in metal and the other, using styrene. Whichever worked out best would be the way to go. The prototype platforms are quite different from the ones present on the Auto-Ballasters and I think there are at least two different patterns. Choosing what seemed to be the most common pattern, I drew up a scale drawing which could be printed out and taped to an old ceramic tile. This could then be used as a template on top of which I could construct the platforms. My first attempt used styrene and was based on the LS-2P plastruct ladder. These are about the right width but I removed every second rung to get something approaching the right step pitch. The ladder was then bent by holding one end in a vice and bringing a soldering iron close so as to warm the plastic and then bending it at a 45 degree angle. I succeeded in forming something approximating the right shape but the ladder was still quite coarse so without bothering to go any further I decided to go with my original plan of building the ladders in brass. For the base ladder, I used Colin Craig's brass ladder kits (now sold by Phil Eames at Stenson Models). I made up a ladder to the appropriate length, omitting some of the rungs where the walkway needed to be. The ladder was then bent twice at 45 degrees (again in a vice) to form the main structure. The next job was to form the platform. For this I used a rectangle of Stenson Models check plate, bent either side in a vice to form an n-shape. A couple of triangular sections of scrap brass and some L-section were then used to solder up the platform to the ladder. The remainder of the handrails were then bent to shape from 0.4mm brass wire and soldered in place. The brass wire was cut slightly over length and then the whole assembly offered up and the brass wire fettled to the appropriate length so that the ladder sat at the right angle with the two ladder rails sitting just underneath the rounded bulkhead (as per the prototype). This was all constructed by soldering directly on top of the drawing (which got a little singed but is easy enough to replace) taped to a ceramic tile to protect the work bench. Next up, was to make some replacement hopper doors. The doors themselves were constructed from 30 thou styrene with 10 thou styrene for the side brackets that they swing on. A prototype was made by hand in styrene and fettled to the right shape with multiple 'test-fits'. To get a consistent cut and to reproduce enough for a whole rake, I decided to draw up artwork for the Silouette cameo. This has been quite a time saver... it's so much easier to just snap the parts out than have to measure and cut them all one at a time from sheet. The cut is also much more accurate and cleaner than can be achieved by hand. Once the doors were done, the last element was to reproduce the actuators that protrude through the sides of the hopper. Upon conversion to auto-ballasters, these were removed and the hole plated over. I briefly considered using the ones that come with the Cavalex PGA as these are to the correct pattern. However, on the KPA they also have a mounting bracket either side which I'd have to scratch build if I went this route. I ended up drawing these up as 3D parts and printed using my Anycubic Photon. Rather than re-open the holes in the side of the wagon, I designed the print already cut at an angle so that they can just be stuck in place. They fill almost the entire cavity so I didn't really see the visual benefit in opening these up. The last part was to fit the locking handles. These were made from microstrip glued into a t-shape and with a small 0.4mm section of styrene rod for the handle. I strengthened the join between the rod and the strip with a dab of thin super glue. The photo below shows these in place as well as a test print of the Tiphook logo printed onto paper and blue-tacked in place (just to get the sizing right). To remove the printed Railtrack blue paint and logos, I used some medium grit wet and dry on each side with plenty of water to get a nice even beige surface onto which paint could be applied. I now have one wagon finished to check the decoration (photos below). Four of the rest of the batch are following close behind, but the last of the six will take a bit longer as some if its parts are currently being used to make moulds so that I can copy a couple of parts: the round top and the missing equipment cover for the wagons that are derived from the generator versions of the auto-ballaster. The paint job was fairly straightforward albeit with the usual airbrush frustrations/clogging. In the end I settled on Tamiya LP35 Insignia White for the light grey and then a coat of Vallejo 70.925 followed by a coat of 71.090. 71.090 is closer to the correct colour but is still a bit dark. It looks ok over the top of 71.925 though. On top of that, two coats of airbrushed Klear and transfers from Precision decals. The Tiphook logo though I printed myself on white-backed paper from Mr Decal Paper. Thanks to Ben Ando for help with this. It still needs a coat of Klear to seal the transfers and then a a matt varnish and weathering. I'll probably just focus on getting the other wagons to the same 'pristine' state first though. Guy

Come on Mike, it's been too long. We know you want to re-join! Link is here: https://forum.demu.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=TEA_Cryogenic. Mike is right, the wiki is members-only. The wiki page has been a collaboration by members to share information with several members contributing their own photos and research on these wagons to build as complete a picture as we can of the detail differences. I think the short answer is: study pictures of the wagon that you want to model as there are lots of detail differences. Guy

Sadly, I don’t think they (whoever did the research for this wagon) knew as it turns out that the tank barrel is a mixture of features from the three different styles that existed. For example, it has discs on the upper body side (correct for some of the wagons) but only on one side and not both. I’ve done a full write up on the DEMU wiki of the detail differences. My four will take a bit of carving of plastic to get right! Guy

For the avoidance of doubt, my reply was also about the plastic lugs on either side! Guy

Yes, push harder! It does go. On the Andy York video (linked from Accurascale support) I think he leaves it off one of the lugs unfortunately but it will go with a little pressure. Best to have the wagon flat on the workbench for this. To remove the battery, small flathead screwdriver underneath it and it will ping out. Guy

I had a similar problem. It's worth noting that I had to bend BOTH tabs in order to get contact with the battery. This meant bending the lower tab up, as well as the upper tab down. All working for me now! Guy

George, I'm planning on doing one of these too. Are you using the S&M kit? That was my plan (the Mk2). Speak soon! Guy

I'm looking forward to trying to get them to look like their 1989 condition!

The bridge is really starting to take shape now Will. It's a very tight space at the back even for a retaining wall but you can probably just about get away with it! I can't think of a better person to take on one of Martin's projects and make it a winner. Please keep posting progress shots! Cheers, Guy

Look what arrived this morning. Wagons galore at Whatley this week! (Sorry about the BOC interloper though...) Will have to wait until after work for a serious session. Guy

Hi Carl, is it for Alderford? Mid-late 80s then, right? If so, then a similar requirement to what I have for Oldshaw. Most of the yellow striped ones had gone by then so you are better off with red-striped. There were only two vehicles AFAIK with BOC gases, so better off with the BOC livery. By this point, GPS bogies seemed to dominate over the original Mk4s, so I'd go for those. Re: oxygen/nitrogen, they could take either so just get yourself a set of transfers (also available from Hattons) and put whatever you want onto the wagons. Oxygen for the steel industry, nitrogen for the food industry. Hope that helps! Guy

Interesting, in particular: D6/20 - In an emergency, when a match or spare outer wagon is not available, a Buck-eye fitted locomotive may be used. So in 1991, I guess that would be stuff fitted for push/pull: 33/1s and 73s plus 86/87/90/91? Anything else? Also, I thought that the British passenger buckeye and the freight version were not compatible? See Jo's comment here:

Thanks for posting Graham... that looks very neat indeed. Well done Accurascale, certainly an improvement on the samples! My tracking number finally arrived so I'm looking forward to getting mine this week and giving them a turn on Whatley. Guy

If you want to see the UK ones in operation with the mules and the rotary couplings then Railfreight Today Scotland (Volume 3) is what you want to watch. https://www.telerail.co.uk/railway-dvds-telerail-titles/rail-freight-today-boxed-sets/rail-freight-today-box-set-1-volumes-1-5 Modern Railways April 1974 also has an article with photos and a drawing of the tippler. I have scans but obviously not going to share online! If you are seriously interested in information regarding the rotary tippler then send me a PM as I have been amassing information on this over the past 7-8 years with a view to making a working model. Guy

Now there's a statement that I 100% agree with Eamon! More 80s GWML stock please Fran and co! Guy

Not sure about the 50. Haven't the guys on Charwelton got a grid? Seriously though, looking forward to giving them a run on Whatley with appropriate traction! Guy

Nice shots there Robin. That looks like a sentinel. First time I've seen shots of one at Whatley (and different to the TH Vanguard photos that I've seen). I was trying to read the words on the side of it to be able to identify it. It looks like 'Loco Hire'? Guy