A (nother) China Clay layout

Good idea Stu. I'd already considered that as an option. Nice to see it was a worthwhile thought!

 

I've been fortunate in being given the end of a roll of vinyl sheet used for those vertical pop-up adverts.
This is somewhat stronger than paper and takes paint very well.

 

We have some of those pop up signs in work. Maybe I could liber...actually probably not a good idea!

Matt

 

Looks like I have most of the freight stock required now...



Matt

 

Did you not want mine then...............

 

Morning all,

I'm meant to be focusing on the layout, and not stock building, but a Google search unearthed a photo taken at Pontsmill showing an SR brake van in one of the sidings. I couldn't help myself!



First time using etched/sprung w-irons too and so far so good.

I've taken a leaf out of Geoff Kent's book regarding the doors. Debatable whether they'd be open when running but I like the bit of "life" it suggests. One side are open, and the other closed.

Matt

 

Some more progress.



I'm reasonably pleased so far.

Note: the stove chimney is incorrectly located, I didn't realise until too late. Also, according to the instructions, the footboards are incorrect for the left hand ducketed van. However the correct variants were damaged in my kit leaving me little choice other than to rebuild them and I decided life is too short!

I've thought hard about glazing the windows but I'm probably not going to bother. Also, I'm undecided whether to use the kit buffers or purchase replacements...we'll see.

Matt

 

Ready for the paint shop (once the buffers arrive and the couplings are added).

Any errors are offset by the spirit of money saving!





Matt

 

Don't forget the reinforcement/spacer plates (depending on prototype because these SR vans vary a lot). Layered 10 thou' for the reinforcement if it's there, 20 thou' for packing. Dad tells me that it's some sort of rubber on the real thing.

Adam

 

Where's this now - bufferbeams?

 

Yep. The Southern liked to add reinforcement plates on the outer corners of the headstock faces, but not on every brakevan. If you take a look at Paul Bartlett's collection: SR Brake vans - 4 wheeled ZTO ZTV ZPO ZPW ZTR ZXR ZTQ ZTP you'll hopefully see what I mean. Some (possibly most) of these 25t vans had packing immediately behind the buffer. The example dad is involved in working on at Yeovil Junction (ex-WD/MoD) has rubber packing which is presumably as new but some had wooden packing, clearly apparent in some of Paul's pics - it just fits immediately behind the buffer casing spacing it out from the headstock.

Adam

 

All too true - you really do have to look closely at the SR built brake vans LH/RH duckets, shallower underframes for the 15T vans, even or uneven planks.... .

 

I see it now...I have to admit I hadn't noticed it before though!

 

It's the little details that are key - solebar brackets, for example; the way they link the body to the underframe visually makes a huge difference to a model. These perhaps less so, but once you know that they're present...

Adam

 

A quick work in progress pic this morning:



I am aware of some errors, but for me the overall look is more important than total accuracy.

Pretty pleased with the underframe weathering on this.

Matt

 

Hi all,

Barring a few tweaks to the paint, and a coat of flat varnish I'm calling this done:







I'm aware of the errors but as I said in my last post, the overall look is more important than total accuracy.

Markings are a mix of Modelmaster, Fox and Railtec.

What did I learn from this model? I used etched wheel irons for the first time and, unlike my as yet unpainted Dapol brake van, I replaced all the handrails with wire and what a difference it makes!

In other news, I also cut some wood for a one piece backscene:



Any questions or comments, let me know.

Matt

 

It’s looking good - I like the finish you’ve achieved on the ‘van, very plausible.

I’ve spent 10 minutes this afternoon sorting various ply offcuts for baseboard construction purposes (and in an attempt to work out what other bits are still required). More clamps are a priority!

Adam

 

Nice bit of late night wallpapering tonight!





Matt

 

Nice work all round, Matt but super job on the brake van.

Rob

 

Nice curved corners to the backscene Matt, makes a big difference IMO.