Thursday 7 April 2022

16-Ton Loco Coal Wagon, aid to scratchbuilding.

Pete has produced another 7mm scale "aid to scratchbuilding", the sixth in his series of Highland Railway wagons and displaying a higher standard of detail than ever. The new parts are resin sides and ends for a HR 16-Ton Loco Coal Wagon. They are based on the drawing and photos on page 153/4 of Peter Tatlow's "Highland Railway Carriages and Wagons", which modellers building the wagon will find invaluable.

Parts need from the trade to complete the wagon are listed below. A few parts for the brake gear will need to be made by the modeller himself from metal sheet and strip. Construction suggestions and photos to help are also included below.

This is what you get; inside and outside shown. 

Construction complete, full interior detail is included. I braced the inner with Plastikard with the intention of adding a coal load. 

There are brakes on one side only, Drummond's patent brake system was fitted to these wagons so they can be applied from both sides. 

The resin sides are available from the author, contact...

armstrongps1@gmx.com

017687 71302

07342 637 813

One set of castings £20.00 + post £1.45; two sets are post free: three or more sets attract a discount of 10% post free.

Parts to Complete.

W-irons...Slater's ref: 71550

Wheels are 3' 2" with 10 solid spokes. I used...Slater's 3' 1" with 8 plain spokes ref: 7121.

Couplings are CPL type to fit the hole in the draw-plate.

Buffers...Invertrain...HR 3-bolt single web. ref: FO26

Springs and axle-boxes...Invertrain.  

Transfers...HMRS Sheet 20.

Construction Details.

On the bottom of the solebar sits a short transverse tube, which takes the brake handle and cross-rod of the Drummond both-sides brake gear. This is the fixed axle, the rocking axle is at the other end of the under-frame.


The "v" hangers are double and are soldered to metal plates for stability, the outer one is inlayed into the solebar. Metal parts were made from nickle silver strip and sheet with additional brass rivets.


The brake handle connects to the cross-rod, the upward extension of the handle mounts a pin which engages into the slot at the end of the brake-lever


Main body colour is Precision P436 Caledonian Wagon Oxide. Transfers are HMRS Sheet 20, note the number is also on the end. Wagon number plate on the solebar is printed on paper and then glued to Plastikard. 

Wood adhesive is mixed with real coal on a Plastikard base to make the load which is glued into the wagon just below the top edge. Model based on photos on pg. 154 of Peter Tatlow's "HR Carriages and Wagons".