The Works wagon

Found at a 'The Works' outlet, was this small desk tidy box or as I saw it, the beginnings of a rake of neat little wagons.

It just needs a chassis, made from pieces of 25mm x4 mm pine softwood.

• 2 of 87mm with two corners cut to 45 degrees
• 2 of 118mm x (1 piece cut in halve lengthways)

• Wheel sets 24mm dia. (45mm)*
• Axles incl. bearings (4)*
• Roundhouse buffers (2)*

* Available from IP Engineering.

The axles were fitted to the two long pieces (10mm from each end) using M3 x 6mm pan-head self-tapping screws. A 3mm hole was drilled into the centre of each buffer beam for each buffer.

What could be simpler?

The Bird Box

This intriguing little model caught my eye as it was a little different from other wagons and brake vans that I'd seen.

Plateway Models provided this kit in a box containing separate  brown paper bags with the different sections and components.

Initially the sides and end panels and their associated overlays were checked for square before being glued together with Titebond Wood Glue.

However, before gluing the bird box end panels together, a thin strip of clear plastic for the window was inserted between the layers. 

Then after checking for 'square', the four complete panels were glued together.

All's square.

The remaining sides for the 'bird cage' were added, followed by the two roof sections. For the roof I used IP Engineering's roof gig to obtain that perfectly curved roof.

The doors can be glued in place or with a little ingenenuity can be made to open and close. I opted for the latter using coffee stirrers as a guide for the doors to slide along.

The hand rails and door handles were fitted using the little jig provided (nice touch Plateway).

The two chassis members were now fitted to the underside of the wagon. They were spaced according to my gauge. Axle boxes were then attached to the chassis using the locations marked with rivet detail.

(Included in the kit is Plateways totem which was duly fitted to the underneath)

I decided to paint this model by hand to give the wooden planking more texture and to help whilst painting the window frames. Using Humbrol Matt Light Grey No.64 for the body and Humbrol Matt Black No.33 for the chassis and iron work and hand rails.

Although the roof sections were scribed to give the appearance of planking, I preferred to utilise a method I'd used before using paper napkin tissue. The roof was sprayed with adhesive spray and a smoothed out napkin applied. Before it dried, another spray and another napkin was applied. Left to dry overnight prior to painting. The next morning Humbrol Matt White No.34 was applied to the roof sections. At this stage, the tissue will bubble and crease as it gets damper. Don't panic, just let it dry. Once dry repeat with a second coat of white paint and leave to dry. Once dry the roof should look creased as though it was stretched material.

Finally the completed model was varnished with Humbrol acyllic matt spray.

A working rear lantern was added to the rear, with a 3v battery box tucked up inside the wagon. The buffers were added and a little oil was added to the wheel bearings.

Saxa Salt Wagon

Saxa Salt Wagon

HLR's latest addition to the fleet of rolling stock is this Timpdon wagon.

A really simple, yet well made kit to make.

The only deviation I made from the comprehensive instructions was to add three layers of fine tissue, individually glued with adhesive spray to the roof sections.

Tank Wagon Kit - Pt.3

Straight form the body shop here's the completed milk tanker for HLR. The chassis was primed with Humbrol grey spray acrylic primer and finished off in Humbrol black spray acrylic satin (85).

The tank was primed with Valspar white spray primer and finished off in Valspar blue spray satin  (December Solstice). The tank lid/opening was hand painted with Tamiya chrome silver acrylic (X-11).

HLR lettering was applied using self adhesive vinyl letters (15mm, Arial Bold Black, White). 

Part 2
Part 1

Brandbright - Premier Panelled Coach Kit

Bought one of these last weekend for making on a rainy day(s) - should get plenty of opportunities then!

Have you got one? Any tips?

L&B Corridor Coach Kit - Finished

Since completing Stage 4, I have gone ahead and completed the model.

The end steps, lamp brackets and roof vents were painted satin black and glued into place with the latter glued after the roof had been fitted. For the roof fitting I used the very useful IP Engineering Roof Assembly Jig. Before I fitted the roof, a couple of passengers and posters were added.

Brass hand rails were shaped and fitted to the roof and coach ends.

All door handles and  grabs very enameled with Humbrol Enamel No.54 Brass.

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.4

Making slow progress but I'm now finding time to continue the first coach kit. 

The sole bars, 'W' irons and bearings were next glued together before a coat of primer and subsequent top coat of satin black acrylic paint were applied. Before spraying the sole bars a thin strip of masking tape was applied to the 'glue' face to assist adhesion to the underneath of the coach later.

Carefully the masking tape was removed and wood glue was applied to attach the sole bars to the coach. The wheels were fitted into one fixed sole bar before the other was fixed allowing for a slight play in the wheels.

Cattle Van

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway type cattle van.

Model: Mainly constructed from injection moulded plastic, with 45mm wheel sets fitted.
Length: 285mm Accucraft UK-BMS: R19-22B
Scale: 16mm to 1 foot (1:19)

HLR Stock: 1

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.3

The two pieces of each running board were next glued together and the window drop lights prepared.

A couple of coats of Humbrol Acrylic Gloss Varnish (35) were then applied and the parts left to dry prior to their fitting.

Box Car

Model: The doors on both sides of the model slide open.
Length: 250mm LGB: 94007

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.2.2

Not my best paint job but not bad for what I am trying to achieve. With the newspaper and masking tape removed the seats were prepared and positioned into the coach.

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.2.1

Managed today to give the coach a couple of coats of Humbrol Acrylic Grey Primer.

Tanker Wagon Kit - Pt.2

The tank keeps were next located onto the chassis to sit flush with the ends of the anti-slip plate. The tank was in position whilst the glue set and two parallel were drawn on the tank ends on either side of the tank keeps. Later, between these lines, masking tape will be fixed prior to painting.

The tank keep bolts were drilled at an angle to accommodate the wire for the tie bars which were subsequently super glued to each bottom keep.

A small hole was next drilled into each coupling block. A coupling wire for each end was then bent into shape and glued into the prepared holes.

The completed tanker now waits to go into the body shop to be painted.

Part 3
Part 1

Tanker Wagon Kit - Pt.1

My Grandfather had his own dairy in Manchester and this gave me the inspiration to create tankers for the milk industry and the community serviced by Homestyal Light Railway.

Photo: Swift Sixteen

Swift Sixteen have an excellent choice of detailed wagon kits in their range, all at affordable prices.

Reading the online instructions and accompanying photographs I began by marking out the underside of the chassis for the positioning of the axle holders and coupling blocks.

The axle holders and coupling blocks were fixed into position using the previously drawn lines. If you do not wish to use the coupling blocks in this position, you can rotate them 180 degrees to accommodate couplings of your choice.

The wheels and axles were prepared by firstly removing one wheel from each axle and sliding a bearing tube, lightly oiled, over each axle. Each removed wheel was refitted and gauged to 40mm 'back to back' for my 45mm gauge. Any excess axle was removed flush to the wheel boss with a hacksaw.

The axle bushes were sanded and glued into each axle holder with epoxy resin.

Each 'W-iron' was cleaned and super glued to the chassis adjacent to each axle end.

Part 2
Part 3

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.2

In preparation for painting, all surfaces were lightly sanded with a fine wood sandpaper (P180)  and cleaned with white spirit applied using a lint cloth.

To protect the inside surfaces prior to spraying, masking tape was positioned vertical down the windows and horizontally across the two ends.

The whole coach was then put in an unsealed plastic bag and allowed to dry over night.

Once dry the coach was 'stuffed' with rolled up newspaper to further protect the inside surfaces.

L&B Corridor Coach Kit Pt.1

Photo:IP Engineering

After recent reviews in Garden Rail and other garden railway magazines, I took a fancy to these little L&B inspired coaches. There are three in the range, a two and three compartment coach and this one. After purchasing the Corridor Coach from IP Engineering, this is how I built it.

Superglue or PVA glue is recommended for the assembly for which I chose Evo-Stik exterior weatherproof wood adhesive as it allows slight movement before setting. Ten minutes to set, and twenty four hours for the glue to clear.

The four sides were removed from the fret and the burrs cleaned off with a small needle file. The running board and end supports were then glued in place.

The floor was then located onto the running board whilst checking for square.

An end and then the other side were attached before the second end was located in place and all checked for square.

Using the lines on the inner sides, the outer sides were removed from their frets and glued in place. The same was done for the two ends.

This is how the coach looks at this stage. Next paint will be applied to the outside panels.

Pepsi Box Car

Model: Refrigerated wagon with two large roof fans and brakeman's platform. The doors on both sides of the wagon slide open and latch shut. 

Length: 300mm LGB: 4031

Leuna Tanker

From the beginning, Leuna was an oil company that operated its own tank cars. This model replicates a Leuna tanker operating on the Deutschen Reichsbahn.

Model: Complete with an opening fill hatch and working drain valve.

Length: 300mm LGB: 41406