John’s Workbench

John Duffy

Western Thunderer
I've just had one of 'those' highs and lows moments - trawling the interweb and discovered a photo I have never seen before, which was great, showed the detail I needed and then discovered, very clear evidence of shaded lettering, which of course I haven't used!! Doh.
 

John Duffy

Western Thunderer
An amended Ian Kirk kit that is currently in progress. It is the solution to a problem caused by the wrong number of pieces in the kit. A bit of manipulation and adaptation and it has become a Diag 118 BC. Originally built for the Southern Scottish Area, the 4 third and 2 first class compartments will be ideal for the New Aberdour branch.

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John
 

John Duffy

Western Thunderer
An amended Ian Kirk kit that is currently in progress. It is the solution to a problem caused by the wrong number of pieces in the kit. A bit of manipulation and adaptation and it has become a Diag 118 BC. Originally built for the Southern Scottish Area, the 4 third and 2 first class compartments will be ideal for the New Aberdour branch.

View attachment 122943

John

Just noticed I never posted an update on the Kirk coach.
Here it is in service on the Rosehearty branch.
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John
 

John Duffy

Western Thunderer
Here are another couple of vehicles coming off of the workbench and being posed on Rosehearty for photographing. The first is a Caledonian Railway Diagram 45 Brake Van. These were of similar size and shape as the previous Diagram 5 vans, but incorporated a brake wheel on each verandah. They were also horizontally planked rather than panelled. The CR allocated these to individual brakemen so I have paired this one to a Mr Findlay, a brakeman from Forfar as this will be where my branch line is run from.

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The middle vehicle is the Pickering mineral shown in the previous post. The vehicle to the right is the odd one out as it is not scratchbuilt. It is an adaptation of the Minerva GWR van. This is a 1904, Caledonian Railway Diagram 78 Gunpowder Van that was based on the "iron mink' design. I have replaced the axle guards and boxes with a CR type and resprayed into CR livery.

John
 

John Duffy

Western Thunderer
Having cleared a load of wagon projects from my workbench, I've started a new challenge. This is the first of a couple of Caledonian 45' coaches. There is very little available for the CR in 7mm but Worsley Works do these beautiful etches for the bodies so these will be the starting point. Other than a bit of adjustment with the height of the ends they go together very well. Wayoh bogies will provide the running gear and along with various CRT bits and pieces and Invertrain fittings, I should be able to get a reasonable representation.
CR 45 comp.jpg
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Lovely! What are the prototypes? The middle one, with no side doors but one end door is especially intriguing (assuming it isn't simply unfinished).

Adam
 

John Duffy

Western Thunderer
Thank you Adam. They are, from left to right;

Smith Hood & Co (Dundee) [coal merchants] 6 plank steel underframe,
Cox Brothers Ltd (Lochee) [Jute Mill] 5 plank, wooden underframe, no side door,
JT Inglis & Sons (Dundee) [coal merchants] 5 plank, wooden underframe, with sprung top door.

All are RY Pickering products and registered with the Caledonian Railway.

The central vehicle, which you rightly identify has no side door. This would be because Cox Brothers had a dedicated coal handling facility at their Camperdown Mill, at one point, the wolds largest jute mill, which had its own branch line and at one time employed thousands mostly female workers. Large parts of the mill remain, although now converted to residential or retail uses. The mill had 57 boilers and were served by a 282' brick chimney known as Cox's stack. It remains a significant Dundee landmark. Hence the need for vast quantities of coal.

John
 
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