Mercian NER 8 ton Hopper

[David Halfpenny]

At Gauge 1 North (Bakewell) yesterday I treated myself to a 1/32 scale Trevor Cousens "LG28 NE 8ton Ironstone Hopper dia S1"



On eager inspection of the etches, it appears to be a welcome re-issue of a John Dale "Old Originals".

As I'm quite puzzled by several build aspects, I wonder whether there's anything online, either about the model or the prototype.

All I've found about so far is a side view:



Thanks, David

 

[Rob Pulham]

Hi David,

I have a 7mm Gladiator version of this in the stash - again from John Dale's artwork. I have the LNER Wagon Books volume 2 of which contains information on these but they are 80 miles away at the moment....

 

[David Halfpenny]

Hi David,

I have a 7mm Gladiator version of this in the stash - again from John Dale's artwork. I have the LNER Wagon Books volume 2 of which contains information on these but they are 80 miles away at the moment....

Thanks for that tip, Rob, and for the implied offer of a search.
You can relax virtuous, since my copy of that book happens to be within arm's reach as I type!
There's just one small but useful paragraph with photo, but no drawing.

I think I'll photocopy the etch onto cardboard and try making it up. That will give me a clearer idea of exactly what's missing from the etch and from the instructions. There's a mixture of parts that are merely lost and prominent features that aren't modelled, like the works plates and hatch monkey-tails. There's more than enough spare fret for them anyway. If i mangle the very exposed folded frame, I'm quite tempted by a wooden frame, using the etch for metal parts only - we'll see.

I'm amused to spot that the (inappropriate) axleboxes are labelled MER: Manx Electric Railway?
I wonder how that happened!

David

 

[Bill Bedford]

What is the purpose of that round hole in the in the side of the hopper?

Since all the photos are of a single wagon, I always assumed that it is damage that has been repaired with a riveted patch.

 

[John D]

As far as I can recollect there's nothing missing off the etch...the said 'monkey tails' we're going to be brass castings but I decided that a fair representation of them could be done from wire suitably formed. As to the works plate I 'm sure that Guilplates could do a much better job than I ever could.
I never actually went into production with it as a kit ( hence no instructions were done) ,I did a few RTR ones but as the original was to 10mm scale there wasn't much interest in it from G1MRA members who ,at the time, couldn't get their heads round an etched kit. Suffice to say it was designed as a model to be used........not a museum piece.

John

 

[Arty]

Here's one in G3

 

[Osgood]

Holes in the sides of materials handling hoppers are invariably for sticking a big bar through to help un bung a bung up. I've made a few myself (holes and bung ups).

Although in this case it looks like there are two doors, the hole and riveted plate being at the apex of the centre dividing chute for the doors.

 

[Arty]

Apart from the illustration in LNER wagons 2, I am led to believe this is the only other close up view of the hopper.



I dont know the origin of the photograph, so apologies to whoever holds the copyright.
There are some distant views of the wagons in Hayes & Rutters book on Rosedale Mines and Railways.

 

[Bill Bedford]

Apart from the illustration in LNER wagons 2, I am led to believe this is the only other close up view of the hopper.

The problem is that this photo shows the same wagon as the one in the LNER book, so we don't know if this patch was on all the wagons or not.

 

[Bill Bedford]

Holes in the sides of materials handling hoppers are invariably for sticking a big bar through to help un bung a bung up. I've made a few myself (holes and bung ups).

Yes, but but that would still make these holes a later addition, i.e. not something that would be on every wagon.

Although in this case it looks like there are two doors, the hole and riveted plate being at the apex of the centre dividing chute for the doors.

I don't think that there was a dividing cute. If there was I would expect to see lines of rivets were the chute met the sides. The indications are that the doors were parallel to the solebars.