Tales from the carriage shops

[Mayner]

Managed to find the remains of the decal set I used when I originally "completed" G617 (goodknows when) complete with replacements for the obliterated/damaged numbers and CIE, I also found a 'stash' of 6pin 1-2amp decoders I bought from the States several years ago but never used, when I had a problem with 0.7 amp decoders blowing on kit built locos.

I am using "Gun Blue" as a blackening agent in areas where paint damaged/chipped exposing brass before touching up paintwork

So at this stage a case of paint touch-ups and clear varnish to seal the decals and protect the paintwork.

Another un-finished job from several years ago was to fit the fuel tanks and gangway covers to a Tin Van I assembled about 5 years ago

Tanks (3D Printed) are both fixed to the floor of the van using 10BA bolts, originally intending to use a Kadee #36 couper, I have not fitted couplers at this stage (no Kadee #36 in stock and looking possibly at using smaller/more discrete B&B couplings (I have a fret of B&Bs somewhere)

While I used to represent the flexible part of the gangway in the traditional manner using (soft) foam rubber wrapped in crept paper, I mounted the Gangway end/cover on a piece of dense foam ground sheet which I think looks reasonably convincing. I usually represent the gangway hanger with a piece of 0.45 phosphor bronze wire with the bottom section wrapped in small dia brass wire to represent the suspension spring, but that's another day or so's work.

Once I get this 'modern' stuff out of the way I have a pair of J15s I started about 7-8 years ago to complete.

 

 

 

[Mayner]

Production Line

Big break through this week cleared tools and accumulated junk from the workbench to complete a flotilla of Tin Vans I started between 5-years ago.

The Vans were substantially complete, mainly door handles, gangway ends to add, replace some damaged/missing steps and complete paint touch ups to G617.

Two steps forward and one back, completed paint touch ups to areas where black had worn off (handrails, edge of running board, shunters and cabs steps & blended and sealed with a semi-gloss clear, then replacement set of G Class decals arrived from Des this morning. I need to check the new CIE roundels for comparision!

3111 Tin Van 1955 as introduced condition, unmodified doors. Although I fitted door handles on previous builds, I found it challenging this time around over 10 years after I initially produced the kit.

I need to adjust the axleguard assembly on the righthand side!

3123 with modified doors an early modification to these vans.

3114 a van with the majority of windows replaced with plain panels & 3111 a van in original as introduced condition. 3114 is based on a late 60s David Malone photo of the van at Sligo.

 

[Mol_PMB]

 

Looking good, John!

Loosely on this topic, here's one of the TPOs as later converted into a luggage/parcels van. Letterboxes sealed, and renumbered in the 27xx series - possibly 2766. I'm not sure if there were any other changes - possibly the rooflights plated over.

[jhb171achill]

29 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

 

Looking good, John!

Loosely on this topic, here's one of the TPOs as later converted into a luggage/parcels van. Letterboxes sealed, and renumbered in the 27xx series - possibly 2766. I'm not sure if there were any other changes - possibly the rooflights plated over.

I think the roof lights were inded covered over. But there were only a small number of these four-wheeled TPOs. Two, as you know, ended up in PW use, with gangways removed too. One, the last survivor of any type of tin van at all, is now at Downpatrick undergoing restoration. It will be used there as a genny / luggage / brake van. 

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Mayner said:

Production Line

Big break through this week cleared tools and accumulated junk from the workbench to complete a flotilla of Tin Vans I started between 5-years ago.

The Vans were substantially complete, mainly door handles, gangway ends to add, replace some damaged/missing steps and complete paint touch ups to G617.

Two steps forward and one back, completed paint touch ups to areas where black had worn off (handrails, edge of running board, shunters and cabs steps & blended and sealed with a semi-gloss clear, then replacement set of G Class decals arrived from Des this morning. I need to check the new CIE roundels for comparision!

3111 Tin Van 1955 as introduced condition, unmodified doors. Although I fitted door handles on previous builds, I found it challenging this time around over 10 years after I initially produced the kit.

I need to adjust the axleguard assembly on the righthand side!

3123 with modified doors an early modification to these vans.

3114 a van with the majority of windows replaced with plain panels & 3111 a van in original as introduced condition. 3114 is based on a late 60s David Malone photo of the van at Sligo.

 

I am delighted to have a couple of these JM Design vans on my layout; I came a bit late to the party ande they were sold out when I was fishing about looking for them. Therefore, I bought several Silverfox ones to make up numbers. There is simply no comparison. Plus, EVERYTHING Silverfox produce in supposedly CIE green livery is utterly wrong in all respects. Grey roofs instead of black - and light grey at that - white logos and lining instead of pale green, and above all, the green colour is like British Railways loco / railcar green - nothing remotely like CIE green. I got a green van - I might as well have asked for a tartan one. So I just repainted the damn thing in silver grey and had Mr Dempsey weather it within an inch of its life.

The JM ones, though, are superb, and a vitally necessary thing for Irish modelling in the late 1950s, throughout the 60s, and into the mid-70s. I think the last time I travelled in a train with a four-wheeler tin van must have been very early 1976 on the Limerick-Ballina run, just before it finished.