padmack

Dear all, Progress on some wagons I have been working on for the last while. They are a mixture of SSM kits, to which I am new, Alphagraphix card kits which are certainly a challenge and of course the old fashioned kitbashed uk outlines - more so for beefing up the available rolling stock. All vehicles are to constructed to the 21mm 5'3" gauge which adds a tricky element to kitbashing chassis but I certainly think its worth the effort - especially since they reflect the correct scale proportions compared to modified RTR vehicles. I am working up to regauging Bogey carriages which, to be fair, is comparatively easy and of course beginning to modify some old RTR locos from the old 00 to 21mm. Anyway to the progress. 1.CIE livery ex-GSWR Convertible wagon - straight build from a SSM kit. Very solid construction, good weight. This vehicle has 3' 7' (14mm) split spoke wheels on a 28mm brass axles of my own construction. 2. MGWR (same as above) but the kit varies slightly in appearance from the GSWR. This vehicle has 3' (12mm) split spoke wheels 3. Parts of GSR horsebox. This is an Alphagraphix kit to be seated on a modified Ratio chassis cut down to fit body dimensions. It is fitted with 3'7" Maunsell coach wheels. The L/H body panels are fitted with the strapping and detailing the R/H have none. I forgot to score along the planking - an absolute must for realism sake. The buffers are Alan Gibson RCH sprung. 4. All 6 body parts fitted together. Very challenging shape to this body with the dogbox angles. This was was primary alphagraphix wagon kit and in construction decided to bevel the edges to create angles thinking they might fit together better. instead the effect was to create large gaps that are evident here. 5. Two Bachmann tanks to be repainted into "mex" and "irish Shell" branding. the one on the left is regauged the other is as bought. The solebars were removed from the chassis and glued them back with packing as necessary. This way we retain details and also dont compromise body-to-chassis securing. Im a bit stuck with the tank wagons - i cant seem to find any waterslide transfers in large red lettering for the rebranding. I thought these would be easy to find but so far i've turned up nothing. Does anyone know anything of use? 6. GSR Horsebox again sitting on its chassis. Much work needed on both to complete. 7. Later picture attempting to illustrate how a little subtle weathering enhances the strapping and fittings of the body. Anybody that has made a card kits knows of the white edges that utterly ruin the illusion of a 3d object be it building or vehicle. The corners and edges have been reinforced internally and covered up externally using very thin card strips of matching colour - an advantage of using card kits. Chassis had brakes, tie-bars and screw couplings fitted - also out of shot vacuum pipes as i belive this vehicles were fitted for working on passenger trains. The roof is not attached yet but has been finished with vent and lamp detail. for weight 2 AA batteries fit snuggly side by side and weigh in at the correct wagon weight, secured with a bit of pva. 8. The flash photography sems to show a slight "bulge" but it is not really there - its a crooked bit of strapping - an incredibly fiddly job all told. A bit of ageing/weathering should disguise this. 9. MGWR convertible wagon Alphagraphix kit. painstaking work involved in the strapping but it was worth it and stands up very well against the two SSM models. This van is weighted with 2cent coins 14 cents per axle! 10. And finally 2 modified Parkside Dundas palvans just thrown together for the craic really. I started them ages ago in 00 but never got around to fitting the chassis so I was able to modify the bodies to compensate for the wider gauge. I also did work on the doors just to give a bit of variety. Theyre not accurate but they will provide a bit of 60s/70s freight stock filler and they will look the part when the CIE broken wheels are applied! I look forward to your comments.