4mm An EM Workbench: Mini-Signwriting (rough)

[AJC]

Another update? Well, I've got the week off and to break up the writing I have to do the workbench has produced the following, a stack of Coil Js in the first pass through the paintshop.



Note the roller bearings on the top one - which need modifying as it happens - and the gap between the curb rail and the side that needs filling.

The modification is down to the fact that the MJT bearings were intended for a rather larger wagon - the riveted reinforcements to the journals needed removing so, been there, done that, touched up afterwards.



Adam

 

[AJC]

Something a bit different, the cab for an AEC.



This is a Road Transport Images casting and, if I'm honest, was not up to Frank's usual standard. The pattern is fine, but the wretched thing is full of bubbles and has taken quite a bit of filler to render acceptable. Still, it has scrubbed up ok [edit - it'll take yet another go] and is better than any of the diecast alternatives in terms of detail. The model will become a BRS 8-legger flat based on the one on the left of this picture.



[Image used for illustration only, copyright retained by the original photographer who is unknown]

The rest will be scratchbuilt, just don't ask when...

Adam

 

[Ian G]

More pictures here. http://middx.net/aec/
Ian G

 

[garethevans1986]

A complete Pipe, allowing for the weather getting anywhere close to being warm enough to paint the thing anyhow. It's amazing, looking at it, how many minute components there are beneath the body - and how little needed doing to that.

View attachment 18458

View attachment 18459

Livery-wise, it'll be Freight Brown with boxed lettering and, just for a change, a load of some sort. Cable drums possibly.

Adam

I've not had a lot of time for modelling recently, but one day when the morning temperature headed above 0 degrees Celsius the Pipe acquired a coat of primer and has since had a couple of finishing coats; Humbrol chocolate brown on the underframe (mixed with a touch of metalcote gunmetal - I had the mix on the go for something else) and Precision Freight Brown above the solebar. The bodysides have had two or three coats of Klear prior to adding transfers. It's nearly there...

View attachment 19320

The inside has had a couple of coats - a dark grey and some weathered wood colours. This isn't done yet, there's another couple of passes to go.

View attachment 19321

Adam

Adam,

Are these pipe wagons 4mm or 7mm?

Thanks
Gareth

 

[AJC]

Adam,

Are these pipe wagons 4mm or 7mm?

Thanks
Gareth

Hi Gareth

Like everything else in this thread, the pipes are 4mm scale (the clue's in the title).

Adam

PS - it's the same wagon btw, just with and without paint!

 

[Ian G]

If you need any other info that you cant find on the AEC's I will ask my father.

Ian G

 

[AJC]

Thanks Ian - the key thing is the wheelbase of a Mammoth Major 8. I have the dimensions and sufficient images to do everything else.

Adam

 

[Ian G]

I have 2 1:50 scale kits to build for my father, may be soon i will start them.

Ian G

 

[garethevans1986]

Adam,

I thought they were, just checking as Ive got both 4mm and 7mm pipes here and sometime with photos, you just dont know.

Gareth

 

[Osgood]

Thanks Ian - the key thing is the wheelbase of a Mammoth Major 8. I have the dimensions and sufficient images to do everything else.

Adam

Well look what I just found, Adam It's a tanker brochure but I imagine the tanker chassis options were same as for flats - only the tipper chassis would have a shorter wheelbase option:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AEC-ACLO-...047?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f2e3684f

Here is the required info:



I have a couple of 7mm Classic Commercials 6 wheel tippers to do something with - whether I can achieve something akin to Heather's lovely red 4 wheeler remains to be seen……

Tony

 

[AJC]

Cheers Tony! I may make a start sooner than I'd planned. Those Classic Commercials vehicles make up as lovely models and AEC made some handsome lorries - the '50s period Mercurys (per my Bird Bros tipper) are my particular favourite - so as soon as I've sorted the last few air bubbles...

Adam

 

[AJC]

Adam,

I thought they were, just checking as Ive got both 4mm and 7mm pipes here and sometime with photos, you just dont know.

Gareth

Gareth - a couple of things to watch for with the 4mm kit - the chassis supplied has the 'heavy' type of W iron, which is wrong for these wagons. You can either elongate a 10' chassis (as I did) or trim down the ones supplied. I think that it's essential to add the various supporting struts because to my mind, they are the character of the wagon. I believe that the 7mm version is correct in these respects, it certainly looks like it from the Parkside website. Now that Rumney Models do the clasp braked version of the chassis I should probably do one of those. I should really be doing more 'run-of-the-mill' types: I've gone a bit 'special' mad just lately.

Adam

 

[AJC]

Probably the messiest modelling job I can think of is distressing plastic to make it look like baulks of roughly-cut, ill-used timber. Yes, I know that strip wood is available, but it's expensive and can't be had off the shelf anywhere near here. 80 thou' plastic sheet, however, is in stock and can do the job so if a mess is going to be made batch production is the way forward. Five cradles have been produced all at once; three for the Coil Js in progress, one for the Coil J without a chassis as yet and the last for the final wagon in the rake, a pig iron conversion which will use the remaining Hornby chassis.



The end of the strip coil rake project is just about in view... EDIT: I've just come across (or re-found) this useful overhead shot of a mixed rake of Coil J and Coil C at Newport: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rivercider/6635481867/in/photostream/lightbox/
Note that Coil Cs - the wagons closest to the camera - have a noticeably different pattern of cradle. Back to the workbench...

Adam

 

[SimonT]

Adam,
thanks for posting the link. It seems that I was mislead by the photo I used when making my two Coil Js. Seems this is another train to add to my list, as there is only one place that this train is heading to!

Simon

 

[AJC]

Misled how Simon? I don't think that I've seen your Coil J, is there any chance of pic'? One of the interesting things to me about building this rake are the differences in approach used when it came to expanding the fleet of wagons for carrying strip coil. The first conversions from Pig Iron wagons - the Coil H - was specialist and quite sophisticated with new bodywork, fixed hood and a complete new paintjob. The Coil C converted between 1964 and 1968 had moveable bolsters on baulks with pins for location: the Coil Js (and most of the other conversions from Highs, Palbricks, etc.) just got great big baulks of timber, crudely shaped and pinned together more or less any old how.



My rake - in case you're interested - will be 7 of the Coil Js, a Coil C and a bogie strip coil and my Coil H. With a dedicated brake van that should fill a boxfile. The next problem, of course, is that I'm a bit short of suitable motive power: a type 3 is obvious but dad and I have but one between us. A 14 or a Western will have to do for the minute...



This is the Coil C version - there's some strapping and the pins to add. Oh, and the small matter of building the wagon.

Adam

 

[SimonT]

Adam,
mine are in 7mm and started as Peco sand wagons. They have Exactoscale suspension and the brake gear is a mix of Exactoscale and some of my own etches.


The cradle is rather wrong as we now have better information. Trouble is that the cradle is securely glued in!


The plastic strip used for the top rib is rather delicate at the corner.

Simon

 

[AJC]

The fundamentals are there Simon - this is another useful picture:

BR Coil J wagons converted from Iron ore tipplers KJO SJO | B386077 KJO

Note how the end planks are bolted to the wagon ends and everything else looks to be bolted through the floor.

Adam

 

[SimonT]

Adam,
thank you, a very useful photograph. A little job for tomorrow. The main change is to get the end baulk changed and then add the intermediate laterals. Bolts are now mandatory. Thankfully the baulks on the other example have come loose.

I really should get back onto generating the etches for the Coil A and the Coil F. And yes, I have started on a Coil V.
Simon

 

[AJC]

Oh, and the small matter of building the wagon.

As I was saying:



It's been pointed out over there by Hywel Thomas that these open coils don't really go with the Coil H which was meant for tinplate, which presents an opportunity to build something else: a Coil R or two - http://paulbartlett....lio.com/brcoilr (thanks again @hrmspaul ).

Adam

 

[iak63]

Fascinating stuff gents.
Nitty gritty wagonry has an addictive joy to it.