Mr Brunel Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Recently, I've been looking into improving some of my old RTR wagons - one of the 'victims' is this elderly 'NE' open wagon. I bought it unboxed for a few pounds at an exhibition many years ago, and since then it's suffered a lot of abuse at my hands. Since the photograph was taken, I've corrected some of this: the unconvincing coal load was removed, and the overdone weathering was all but scrubbed off. Finally, I replaced the ugly chassis with a handy Dapol spare - but that's about it. I've now got two questions. Firstly - can anybody tell me the provenance of this, please? The original chassis had 'Grafar' stamped on it, and I've done some cursory Googling - but beyond that, nothing. Secondly - what do you think I should do next? I think a repaint is in order, but I'm not sure what the livery should be. Would LNER goods wagon oxide be the right colour? Should the chassis and solebars be black, or the same colour as the body? Bear in mind, though, I'm not looking for 100% accuracy - I'd just like something that looks "right-ish" - hopefully the majority of this site's members will understand ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 It would have been part of the Graham Farish range; I think the wagons were amongst the last items to be produced, sometime in the 1970s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Indeed one of the last series of Farish (or Grafar in 'Newspeak') wagons. Intended (I think) to be an RCH 7plk side door mineral wagon, the brown LNER livery is erroneous as the LNER wagons to this type were end door and on a non-fitted 9' wheelbase, 16' 6" over headstocks wooden underframe. Most of these wagons belonged to local traders who didn't require the end doors. The two top planks ran the full length of wagon. Usually (but not always), solebars and headstocks were body colour if wooden or black if steel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Farish Most of these are end door, but there are one or two side door ones. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rch+mineral+wagons&client=firefox-a&hs=hrM&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=6mw4U76pJeaH0AW5-IH4BQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=742#channel=sb&q=rch+side+door+mineral+wagons&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&imgdii=_ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 It should be wagon grey for an LNER owned mineral open. You might want to decide that it represents a GER constructed vehicle as they were early into steel underframes for this type of vehicle, could add a little extra strapping to make it more convincing. The steel underframe is black, with rust trim. The trouble with this older design of RTR is that it wil be shown up by more recent RTR, and even more so by the better kits. Personally I would sell it and replace with the much nicer equivalent from Bachmann. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 The "replacement top plank unpainted" is a nice touch. If you have improved the wagon load, then just a repaint in grey and reletter. Gordon A Bristol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brunel Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 It should be wagon grey for an LNER owned mineral open. You might want to decide that it represents a GER constructed vehicle as they were early into steel underframes for this type of vehicle, could add a little extra strapping to make it more convincing. The steel underframe is black, with rust trim. The trouble with this older design of RTR is that it wil be shown up by more recent RTR, and even more so by the better kits. Personally I would sell it and replace with the much nicer equivalent from Bachmann. The "replacement top plank unpainted" is a nice touch. If you have improved the wagon load, then just a repaint in grey and reletter. Gordon A Bristol After some consideration, I've decided that this particular wagon will - at some point - be repainted and relettered in LNER grey. The load also needs improving, I think (have a look at the photograph in my OP - the load is mounted too high, and the lumps of coal are too big, I'm sure). Thanks to everybody who's contributed. I did consider selling it on - but I wouldn't get too much money out of it, after all. Besides, I can always stand to practise some of my modelling skills, and it won't matter too much if I wreck this one... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirtonvic Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Yes, do a bit of practice on it, change the couplings and put it in a mineral train. It'll be just fine, a long train of wagons like that is impressive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted April 2, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 2, 2014 After some consideration, I've decided that this particular wagon will - at some point - be repainted and relettered in LNER grey. The load also needs improving, I think (have a look at the photograph in my OP - the load is mounted too high, and the lumps of coal are too big, I'm sure). Thanks to everybody who's contributed. I did consider selling it on - but I wouldn't get too much money out of it, after all. Besides, I can always stand to practise some of my modelling skills, and it won't matter too much if I wreck this one... Good idea, any possible collectors value has long gone, as too many mods already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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