Tales from the carriage shops

[Mayner]

A bit of my personal modelling for a change IRM Bullied Open with Bachmann BR container load & one of my own GSWR/GSR/CIE "Irish Standard" Open Wagons with Bachmann conainer load.

Took some carving (removing of rasied detail from the containers) to fit the containers into both opens, though the IRM wagon possibly as a result of its very rigid construction was a very tight fit.

I guess Leslie must be right its a collective figment of the imagination that BR containers were carried in Irish open wagons, though its just about possible the rasied detail on the containers is a bit on the heavy side.

I spray painted the underframe to match the 'light grey" of the Standard Open and finished the wagon with a coat of Gunz "Mr Clear" flat finish to tone down the "sheen" of the unpainted corrugated iron body panels, its likely sheen the wore off quickly once the wagons enered service/were exposed to the Irish weather.

[Mayner]

664 is just about complete after another coat of "GSR' grey this time a semi-gloss laquer allowed to cure for a week before a coat of Gunz Mr Clear Super Clear Flat aerosol my standard finish. The existing paint finished was easily damaged and tended to chip when handled, the laquer appears more resistant to damage and the 'Clear Flat" results in nice eggshell finish

This time I soldered the vacuum pipe to the front buffer beam. I need to glaze the cab spectacle before dispatch to the customer.

On test the loco is capable of hauling 10 of my not so free running 3D printed wagons

Loco is wired for DC on the customers request using the "American" using 'live axle' pick up on the loco and tender. 

I probabably now have enough of my own loco/rolling stock projects to keep me busy for several years without needing to buy another kit or rtr model.

Edited November 8, 2024 by Mayner

[Tullygrainey]

Beautiful finish. Looks really well.

[Mol_PMB]

On 25/10/2024 at 3:10 AM, Mayner said:

A bit of my personal modelling for a change IRM Bullied Open with Bachmann BR container load & one of my own GSWR/GSR/CIE "Irish Standard" Open Wagons with Bachmann conainer load.

Took some carving (removing of rasied detail from the containers) to fit the containers into both opens, though the IRM wagon possibly as a result of its very rigid construction was a very tight fit.

I guess Leslie must be right its a collective figment of the imagination that BR containers were carried in Irish open wagons, though its just about possible the rasied detail on the containers is a bit on the heavy side.

I spray painted the underframe to match the 'light grey" of the Standard Open and finished the wagon with a coat of Gunz "Mr Clear" flat finish to tone down the "sheen" of the unpainted corrugated iron body panels, its likely sheen the wore off quickly once the wagons enered service/were exposed to the Irish weather.

Those look excellent and are a nice inspiration for a load. There are plenty of photos of BR containers (and the less common CIE containers) loaded into open wagons of both the corrugated and wooden varieties, and it looks like there's plenty of space within them. I suspect the wagon sides are a bit thicker than prototypical, and the detail moulded on the containers and wagons is a bit thicker than prototype, meaning that they don't fit so well in model form.

This IRRS photo shows dozens of (bacon) containers in wagons at Rosslare waiting to be exported:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53449386736

But they also appear in smaller quantities in images in the public domain, such as these from Ernie:

And this from Roger Joanes:

And finally from Brian Flannigan:

Was it the length or the width that was the problem with fitting them in? Or both?

[Mol_PMB]

The Barrowmore MRG have a BR container diagram book here:

BRContainerIssueB.pdf

They are not all the same size. The common 'BD' which features in many of the photos above has a footprint of 16'x7' over the body, but is 5 inches bigger in both directions over the fenders. 

An Irish standard underframe is about 16'11" long over headstocks; subtract 3" each end for plank thickness and interior ironwork and you're down to 16'5" which is exactly the same as the container length over fenders. No wonder it's a tight fit - perhaps it was meant to be?

Widthwise I wouldn't expect such a problem in the wooden wagons, but the corrugated wagons seem a little narrower?

[Mayner]

More of a taking stock and prioritising for 2025 than a workbench, I have very little time available for modelling for the next year or so as a result of family committments.

First priority is to complete a pair of 21mm gauge J15s started several years ago as a low priority 'standby' project as potential motive power for a Burma Road layout if I ever get round to building it, failing that find a space in a display case.

Although both kits were originally complete, I managed to mislay the coupling rods and some of the gearbox parts for the superheated loco. I have a set of rods from a spare chassis fret, though I will probably end up replacing the gearbox as its an old pattern High Level Load Hauler and replacement gears my no longer be available.

Apart from assembling the replacement the rods, next job is to fit the brake gear to both locos and small GSWR tender before completing detailing before I loose any more parts.

Next priority is to assemble a set of etched parts for a GSWR 60 Class 4-4-0 I designed in Jan 2024 and had in stock since last March! The 60 Class worked Limerick-Sligo passenger trains until replaced by AEC railcars during the 1950s.

Locos final priority, if I get round to it! 21mm gauge 650 Class. Although I completed a couple of 21mm test builds and completed a number of OO RTR commissions, I have not completed a 21mm gauge 650 for myself. 

Body assemby on both locos is basically complete, though require fitting with an operating chassis.

One of these locos will use Sharman wheels re-cycled from my first attempt at a 650 Class in 1985 but fitted with a more modern gearbox and motor.

Coaching Stock, I have 4 SSM GSWR 6wheelers of different types & GSR decals stashed away to compliment my pair of assembled GSWR 6 wheelers.

 

[Mol_PMB]

Very nice! Plenty to keep you busy by the looks of it.