Westies Work Bench

[Rob Pulham]

Very nice Tony

 

[Tony West]

Thanks for that Rob !, still not happy with the wooden decking weathering....I built a pair of single bolsters twelve years ago when I first started in 0 gauge, they have a much better finish to the planking .....and I just cant remember how I did it !.
As to intended loads, I purchased a kit for a pantechnican from Duncan models and would have bought a nice little cast resin furniture container from POWsides....if they had bothered to bring some along !.
Cheers Tony

 

[Rob Pulham]

from POWsides....if they had bothered to bring some along !.
Cheers Tony

I had a similar feeling at Slaters stand at Bolton, having asked for insulated hornblocks which they hadn't brought along

 

[john lewsey]

I like the wagons Tony there pictures of my wagons on the other side of the fence and I can't remember what base colour I used for the planking a bit frustrating really Weathering the planking and getting a realistic effect is quite difficult.

 

[Caggers]

Tony,

Both Loco's and Wagons look great...

Cheers Simon

 

[Tony West]

Compliments are always gratefully received...thanks!!.
I do find that wooden finishes are very hit and miss and thats without all the variations with coal/general merchandise and flat wagons where the interior surfaces were affected / damaged in different ways...possibly a whole topic in itself.
Cheers Tony.

 

[iak63]

GCR magic sir.
Very tasty...

 

[Tony West]

Ive just finished a GNR 4plk open, built from an S&T kit with D&S etched W irons , ABS grease axleboxes and brake gear. There is a second one 'in works' which has been built as an earlier version with a single brake and wooden door bangers, it will also have the earlier GN livery. something that Ive never seen done before....piccies to follow !!.
Cheers Tony.

 

[Rob Pulham]

Very nice Tony

 

[Tony West]

Thanks for that Rob and as promised heres a photo of the one in the pre 1898 livery awaiting a visit from Percy Filth and his weathering impliments!!!.
Cheers Tony

 

[john lewsey]

I really like that Tony I've never heard of those kits where did you get them just what is it about wagons that's so appealing

 

[Tony West]

Cheers for that John!!, S&T is the result of my friend Simon and I getting very hacked off with certain manufacturers promising kits that three years later were still just a promise . Thanks are due to the chaps on the LYRS stand one year at Telford who told us how to go about this .....much easier and cheaper than you would think.
Our past products including the GN wagon are due to be re released under the Quainton road Models label ( please check their website for details).
Yes you are right pre grouping wagons being so diverse are very appealing....just a shame that most photographers of the day were so busy focusing on the kettles pulling the goods trains that they ignored the vehicles they were pulling.
Cheers Tony.

 

[7mmMick]

Thanks for that Rob and as promised heres a photo of the one in the pre 1898 livery awaiting a visit from Percy Filth and his weathering impliments!!!.
Cheers TonyView attachment 19249

Tony,

You're workbench is top draw indeed and right up my street. I wonder if I might so bold as to ask what three wagons are lurking in the background here and any chance of further pictures please? I would be also interested to know how you went about producing your own kit as I share the same frustrations as you and looking at the kit market a tiny percentage of what i'd like to build is avaliable in kit form. And if you don't mind me asking could you elaborate on costings, although I understand if you would prefer this remain private

Many thanks Mick

 

[john lewsey]

Hi so I contact them to buy the open wagon

 

[Tony West]

Hi so I contact them to buy the open wagon

John,
first to be re released will be the GC D8 5plk open, the others will depend upon interest registered. The website has a facility for this !....however if you are interested in a GC open carriage truck or a Caley boiler tube wagon then 'we' have these in stock !!.
Cheers Tony.

 

[Tony West]

Tony,

You're workbench is top draw indeed and right up my street. I wonder if I might so bold as to ask what three wagons are lurking in the background here and any chance of further pictures please? I would be also interested to know how you went about producing your own kit as I share the same frustrations as you and looking at the kit market a tiny percentage of what i'd like to build is avaliable in kit form. And if you don't mind me asking could you elaborate on costings, although I understand if you would prefer this remain private

Many thanks Mick

Mick, thats very good of you to say !!, thanks .
The wagons in the background are some old ebay bargains that Im working through .....how do you put the ends on the wrong way round ??? . Anyway Im putting some POW transfers on for 'proper' pits !! .
Right then as to resin wagons .......it had to be simple for me to be involved !!.
Basically what you need is a good master now because the mould is created with a cold process then you can use plastic as the base material. The moulds are so sensitive to detail that even mek pak brush marks show on the castings !!.
Second , use a reputable casting firm ....CMA !!, weve been using them for the best part of nine years, friendly, knowledgeable and excellent quality ( weve never had a bad casting !!!).
Costs...........firstly you have to pay for the creation of the mould, then a fee for every casting made from that mould. These moulds seem to have a 'lifespan' of about fifty castings, so the most cost effective use is going for the full quota.
The moulds also have a limited shelf life so when a run of castings is done, whatever the quantity , the mould is binned, hence doing fifty at a time .....you can always sell the surplus .
The GN open was done about two years ago , moulding and casting costs came out around 8 quid per body, obviously prices will have gone up a little since .
Ive attached some photos ....of our most adventurous kit yet....we wanted to see just what could be acheived with a one piece casting that has lots of levels of detail and 'holes', First is the master in plasticard, then as received ....prior to removal of any moulding flash...and lastly as it still is today....cos I aint got round to finishing it ....yet !!!.
Hope some of this is useful to you.
Cheers Tony.

 

[7mmMick]

Tony, in a word a fantastic post and extremely informative for what I have in mind. I must also say that the nearly finished cattle wagon is lovely. A couple of further questions if I may;

1) Does the creation of the mould using the platikard master destroy it or can you use it, produce fifty and then If demand is still there go through the process again using the master again?
2) How thin can the master be and how fine can the detail go ?

Ok well technically three questions

I like the look of the eBay bargains, although you did say proper pits. So naturally I exoected to see names like 'Manvers', 'Denaby' or 'Hickleton' but then I saw the picture .......

Thanks again for posting Tony, I will look forward to watching your progress,

ATB Mick

 

[Tony West]

Mick,
1, the master is not affected at all ....we have done second runs with no probs at all.
2, just checked and the sides on the GC 3plk are 1.44mm thick, those on the GN, 1.5mm...but that does include the paint !!
2a!, as fine as you can go !.Ive attached a very cruel enlargement of the door pin and chain on the GC D8 wagon.
You missed off, Birley, Rothervale, Sherwood and Stanton !!!!......cheeky b*gger !!!.
Cheers Tony.

 

[7mmMick]

Mick,
1, the master is not affected at all ....we have done second runs with no probs at all.
2, just checked and the sides on the GC 3plk are 1.44mm thick, those on the GN, 1.5mm...but that does include the paint !!
2a!, as fine as you can go !.Ive attached a very cruel enlargement of the door pin and chain on the GC D8 wagon.
You missed off, Birley, Rothervale, Sherwood and Stanton !!!!......cheeky b*gger !!!.
Cheers Tony.

Thanks Tony, that answers everything playing on my mind. The fine detail really is great and i'm sure viewed on a layout would look just the part, attached are a couple of images as a peace offering



I can appreciate all sorts of foreigners,

ATB Mick

 

[Tony West]

Nice photos Mick !....Ill look forward to your rendition of it !!. Talking of Manvers and Hickleton etc...are you aware of any transfers for these ???. POWsides are good but a lot of their stuff is post 1923 !!!...alright for you 'modern' modellers !!.
Cheers Tony.