Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[Atlantic 3279]

On another theme: I've just been checking the rivet spacing on the photograph of the real wagon body and comparing this with what's available on my Archer sheet (AR 88016 by the look of it). It looks like the closest rivet spacings I have will put only seven rivets where there really ought to be ten or eleven - effectively changing the rivet spacings from 1mm to approx 1.4mm. I hope this doesn't spoil the appearance, as I really don't fancy doing individual rivets all the way around, nor do I want to buy a full sheet of the more closely spaced AR 88025 or AR88026 rivets as I suspect that most of the rivets on those two are too closely spaced for my foreseeable needs - I'd probably only ever use less than half of what is on those sheets!

Me - rivet counter? Of course not! How dare you suggest it?

[40C]

52D

I've found an MSDS sheet for Lemsolv (missing e ) on the 'net and this appears to contain around 10% orange terpene which I believe is another name for Limonene.

[52D]

Thanks for that check on the old chemicals.

[Bill Bedford]

Here's the basic wagon shell, with ends soldered in place, sitting temporarily on two neatly moulded one-piece-frame Cambrian LNER bogies. These may not be my final choice - they are more finely moulded than the Parkside multi-piece version but the centre spring and bolster detail isn't right for these wagons.

I saw a nice white metal diamond bogie at Railex from GraModels, which looked interesting

[Atlantic 3279]

Ta Bill, I'll check that out.

Was it brown paper and boot laces by the way? I seem to remember rolled up newspaper and bootlaces in the Reverend Awdry's story.

[WOOTANG]

Ta Bill, I'll check that out.

Was it brown paper and boot laces by the way? I seem to remember rolled up newspaper and bootlaces in the Reverend Awdry's story.

Atlantic you are correct the episode was called 'JAMES & THE COACHES'

[Atlantic 3279]

I bet the Fat Controller wasn't pleased on that occasion either - he normally wasn't.

Bill : I've e-mailed Gramodels as his downloadable pdf catalogue isn't recent enough to show that bogie or its price.

After some thought I'm not too happy to put rivets that are more widely spaced than they ought to be on the bogie wagon as I believe this may markedly alter the look of the double rows of rivets up the angle irons on the wagon sides. I can't widen those irons as that will definitely look wrong, but if I keep them to scale width put put in two columns of wide-spaced rivets the pattern formed by the heads will then become "tall rectangles" rather than "squares". I've had a quick go at making some hand-embossed 5 thou plastikard double-row rivet strip with 1mm rivet spacing. The trial piece looks quite neat and regular. It didn't seem too difficult to produce either. But will dressing the whole wagon in that way be just too tedious??????

[Bill Bedford]

Ta Bill, I'll check that out.

Was it brown paper and boot laces by the way? I seem to remember rolled up newspaper and bootlaces in the Reverend Awdry's story.

Hey, c'mon, it's nearly sixty years since I had that story read to me...........

[Bill Bedford]

After some thought I'm not too happy to put rivets that are more widely spaced than they ought to be on the bogie wagon as I believe this may markedly alter the look of the double rows of rivets up the angle irons on the wagon sides. I can't widen those irons as that will definitely look wrong, but if I keep them to scale width put put in two columns of wide-spaced rivets the pattern formed by the heads will then become "tall rectangles" rather than "squares". I've had a quick go at making some hand-embossed 5 thou plastikard double-row rivet strip with 1mm rivet spacing. The trial piece looks quite neat and regular. It didn't seem too difficult to produce either. But will dressing the whole wagon in that way be just too tedious??????

Have you thought of using Archer rivets?

[jwealleans]

I think you'll find that's where he started, Bill (top post on this page).

Graeme, have you thought about just marking the rivet positions then cutting the Archer backing sheet and positioning them one by one? Tedious but I have done it on occasion.

[wehf100]

re rivetting:

You could buy a ponce wheel (marketed as rivetting tools by companies such as Trumpeter.) Quicker than hand and most come with a selection of wheels.

Will

[45609]

So does a ponce wheel not quite run true and have a distinct wiggle when rolling along.....

Apologies but if I might be permitted to interrupt I'd like to advise of some significant progress on the Thompson Pacific detailing etches. Having spent a few weeks dealing with a frustrating printing issue the problem was resolved towards the end of last week. Yesterday a test etch sheet arrived for my evaluation. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the results. In particular the rivet detail on the smoke deflectors has come out very well. Last night a test build of the motion bracket for the A2/2 was completed and the foundation of the assembly procedure has been sorted out. However, this is most definitely stage one of proving the design. The results of part 2 will no doubt reach these pages very soon and are absolutely critical. If they don't fit the loco conversions as intended then some refinements will have to be made.

Thank you to everyone for their continued interest and support.

Morgan

Now some pictures....

Smoke deflector rivets are fine but they are all there. No thick coats of paint on these please.

The amount of variation in the Thompson A2 motion brackets is remarkable. All options are catered for.

Considerable time was spent on getting the shape and look of the A2/2 motion bracket right. I'm pleased with the result

[mick b]

Look very nice.
However it is a shame that there is no locating "pins/legs" on the smoke deflectors. They would be very handy especially on the A2/2 version which are a pain to locate and support once fitted.

[Atlantic 3279]

It ought to be dead easy to solder on stubs of any thickness of wire at any chosen position on the inside face of the deflector to produce pegs to suit the way you wish to fit the deflector to your chosen model.

[mick b]

I agree a simple procedure.
Sadly , they are hard to hide on the finished model, as even on the inside they can be still prominent due to the thickness needed to give some strength to the joint.