Paint Shop

[sarge]

Pete:

The connector and wire colour codes are (in draught) here;

https://nmra.org/sites/default/files/st ... .05.22.pdf

[De Bruin]

Excellent, thank you Sir!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[rogruth]

Rufus,
I think that looks different from the first time it was shown. Very nice.
I can make out MD and DEL on the herald but can't the other markings.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[rogruth]

Why no PA?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[healey36]

When I first looked at that model I was thinking the trucks were an horrific representation...I was mistaken:



Very nice.

Healey

[Rufus T. Firefly]

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[sarge]

Looks good, especially when shuffling those airslides of yours about.

Meanwhile, I've been off doing things I'm sure don't interest anyone but me, but posted anyway as evidence I am actually building something.

During WWII, the coal traffic was of national concern in Britain so the fleet of mineral wagons was pooled under the authority of the Ministry of War Transport. The MoWT caused to be built the first large quantity of steel mineral wagons that became the ubiquitous postwar British Rail 16 tonner.

Its interesting that, while wood replaced steel in American "war emergency" stock, the opposite occurred in Britain. As it turned out, steel was more readily available than suitable wood, the wood that would be appropriate being required for landing craft, aircraft such as the Mosquito, and the like.

Anyway, here's one.

image.jpeg

[Robert]

Well there's no dust gathering on you Sarge...that's a little beauty for sure. Forgive my unfamiliarity with British equipment. It hard to see a coupler in that photo, but I do see a hook and a chain...is that how they were connected together? Dare I ask if this was scratch built ?

Well Done indeed

Robert

[sarge]

Thanks for the kind words, Robert.

1) In 7mm we are very fortunate to have several ranges of styrene kits for wagons, and a couple for coaching stock.

This is a modified kit from "Parkside". They are a pleasant build, highly detailed in stock form, easy to modify in the process. They come complete, transfers/decals, wheels, couplings, &c.

Just taking two of the common wagon ranges, Parkside and Slaters, the former some sixty-five distinct wagon kits and the latter over sixty along with thirty-five passenger kits. That's just two ranges, both domestic-made (UK), added to pretty often, and constantly available.

I like styrene, since I grew up building Airfix as well as O Scale. If only Intermountain, Red Caboose, or San Juan had enjoyed such success...

2) Couplings:

On UK railways, the three-link chain and hook coupling traditionally was found on what is called "unfitted" stock, which are usually freight or "goods" wagons. Unfitted means no train brake of any sort, just the hand lever-brake applied by the switchmen ("shunters").

The next common coupling is the screw coupling, usually found on "fitted" stock and coaching stock, the latter inherently fitted in the 20th century. Fitted means vacuum brakes on wagons and either vacuum or Westinghouse on coaching stock as standard on a particular railway. Screw couplings are thrown over the opposing hook like a three-link, and are compatible, but there is a turnbuckle/threaded rod in the centre that is turned down to load the buffers (the round discs on the end-beams) so slack is minimised.

Goods train class and permitted speeds were determined by the percentage of fitted vs. unfitted stock on a braking power basis. A loco and one (or sometimes more) brake van might be the sole stopping power on an unfitted freight and, if any fitted stock was in the train it would be placed next to the loco so as to have the wagon brakes under control of the driver.

Next is the "buckeye" coupling, which is very very similar to the American knuckle coupler. You see these on mainline coaching stock and passenger locos starting from 1930 or so. They usually swing up into position and the buffers retract when buckeyes are in use. They can be dropped out of the way, the buffers extended, and screw couplings employed if desired. Most buckeye fitted stock also had screw couplings.

Today, I believe pretty much everything is Westinghouse fitted, and at least screw couplings if not buckeyes anymore.

[2railjon]

Beautiful wagon, Sarge!

[rogruth]

Sarge,
Thanks for the resume. I didn't know about the buckeye trucks.

[rex desilets]

"I like styrene, since I grew up building Airfix as well as O Scale. If only Intermountain, Red Caboose, or San Juan had enjoyed such success..."

If'n you're going to put your freshly-built car in the tracks, there to stay, they are wonderful. If you need to schlep them to your club and return, way too many bits break off.

Having said that, the availability of truly complicated armor and aircraft kits astounds me. I suppose our hobby appeals more to the shake-the-box/R-T-R bunch.