OO Ready to run wagons
Moderators: 52D, Tom F, Rlangham, Atlantic 3279, Blink Bonny, Saint Johnstoun, richard
OO Ready to run wagons
I know there are several (out of print) books around on the subject but I wonder if any members have ideas regarding making acceptable wagons from such as the Triang range. I know the old brick wagon was a remarkably accurate model but often wonder where the roots of say the horsebox or blue insulfish wagon lie. Even more modern stuff (mainline airfix hornby etc) has its issues such as stretched bodies to fit standard chassis etc. I'm just interested in what would be worth buying and bashing for a pre war LNER layout. Even help with relevant book titles / suppliers would be much appreciated
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wehf100
- GCR D11 4-4-0 'Improved Director'
- Posts: 486
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:42 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire
I would get hold of a copy of a book like Tatlow's LNER wagons (essential in my opinion), sit the rtr wagon in front of you (taking some basic wheelbase-overall length measurements) and 'go shopping'.
I believe the 'Insulfish' van is a LNER prototype, and not far off for accuracy. Triang fitted a generic roof, but Hornby upgraded this model in the 90's with something a bit better looking.
Bear in mind that in the LNER period a large number of wagons were of pre-group origin. Something like 35% of private owner wagons were of pre-1923 vintage even at Nationalisation! Bear that in mind before you go buy 20 RCH 1923 pattern wagons- Although needing a bit of work, the Dapol 5-plabk private owner wagons were probably just as common in the 30's as the Bachmann 1923 pattern version!
If you want to start kitbashing quite seriously to get a good model pretty much a whole new underframe will be needed as a lot fo the older wagons had 'blind' solid W-irons, open bearings etc. So there is a cost issue- before spending money I would heartily recommend checking the modern plastic kit manufacturers don't make a kit of the same wagon- Parkside Dundas have a lot of LNER types for instance. May work out cheaper- and easier!
Will
I believe the 'Insulfish' van is a LNER prototype, and not far off for accuracy. Triang fitted a generic roof, but Hornby upgraded this model in the 90's with something a bit better looking.
Bear in mind that in the LNER period a large number of wagons were of pre-group origin. Something like 35% of private owner wagons were of pre-1923 vintage even at Nationalisation! Bear that in mind before you go buy 20 RCH 1923 pattern wagons- Although needing a bit of work, the Dapol 5-plabk private owner wagons were probably just as common in the 30's as the Bachmann 1923 pattern version!
If you want to start kitbashing quite seriously to get a good model pretty much a whole new underframe will be needed as a lot fo the older wagons had 'blind' solid W-irons, open bearings etc. So there is a cost issue- before spending money I would heartily recommend checking the modern plastic kit manufacturers don't make a kit of the same wagon- Parkside Dundas have a lot of LNER types for instance. May work out cheaper- and easier!
Will
Thanks, Will, for the excellent advice. I have copies of the LNER and LMS wagon books and indeed did trawl through them and matched up the old Triang Hornby Brick wagon. Also the Airfix / Hornby Lowmac appears to be one of a batch built by the LNER for the LMS in the 1940's which is why it doesn't appear in LNER wagon books. The Airfix kit brake van is quite easily backdated. The Triang Hornby 6 wheel LMS milk wagon (body at least) is easily made respectable.
I'm fairly familiar with some of the plastic kits, having enjoyed making a couple of the Ian Kirk and Ratio offerings. I would never butcher decent old toys/models but do enjoy trying to make something respectable out of stuff that you usually find under the stalls at swapmeets. Bearing in mind your very valid point about costs I reckon my time would probably be better spent building accurate kits!
I'm fairly familiar with some of the plastic kits, having enjoyed making a couple of the Ian Kirk and Ratio offerings. I would never butcher decent old toys/models but do enjoy trying to make something respectable out of stuff that you usually find under the stalls at swapmeets. Bearing in mind your very valid point about costs I reckon my time would probably be better spent building accurate kits!
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wehf100
- GCR D11 4-4-0 'Improved Director'
- Posts: 486
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:42 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire
You might find this discussion useful (or like me, take it as a warning to leave the positive identification of RTR models well alone simply for sanity's sake!!!!)
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20266
Will
p.s- the Airfix Lowmac is supposed to be a pretty good representation of the BR built versions of the LNER MAC NV (v for vacuum braked). The LNER also built earlier versions without the vacuum brakes, and amazingly it appears that this wagon was itself a mildy updated (axleboxes and buffers, builders plates) version of the GCR 'Implement Wagon' of about 1913. The drawing appears somewhere in Tatlow's LNER wagons Vol.I, So that one def. has some modelling potential!
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20266
Will
p.s- the Airfix Lowmac is supposed to be a pretty good representation of the BR built versions of the LNER MAC NV (v for vacuum braked). The LNER also built earlier versions without the vacuum brakes, and amazingly it appears that this wagon was itself a mildy updated (axleboxes and buffers, builders plates) version of the GCR 'Implement Wagon' of about 1913. The drawing appears somewhere in Tatlow's LNER wagons Vol.I, So that one def. has some modelling potential!
Thanks Will
What a mine field this is. I couldn't match up the Airfix RTR lowmac exactly to anything in Peter Tatlow's book, maybe I missed something! Somebody must have snippets to add to the thread with their ideas. One thing that always used to annoy me was when manufacturers stretched or compressed a type of wagon (or coach) to fit a standard underframe when real examples of the correct length existed. Why squash an LMS xxx van when a GWR xxx van fits properly? Maybe it was a ploy to deter the purchaser from making comparisons. Now I'm off to study your link to the refrigerator van to try and winkle out the facts from fiction! Thanks again,
Steve.
What a mine field this is. I couldn't match up the Airfix RTR lowmac exactly to anything in Peter Tatlow's book, maybe I missed something! Somebody must have snippets to add to the thread with their ideas. One thing that always used to annoy me was when manufacturers stretched or compressed a type of wagon (or coach) to fit a standard underframe when real examples of the correct length existed. Why squash an LMS xxx van when a GWR xxx van fits properly? Maybe it was a ploy to deter the purchaser from making comparisons. Now I'm off to study your link to the refrigerator van to try and winkle out the facts from fiction! Thanks again,
Steve.
I'm not sure I have anything (useful) to add, but I do have a related question. I'm starting to update an aged PO coal train; many of the wagons must be 20 odd years old, and some have dreadful running gear. I have found no shortage of suppliers for most bits taht I need, but I have found no source for white metal push-type brake gear. Parkside do the well-known plastic underframe kits - of which I have several - but I would rather buy a pack of 40 white metal items of just the brakes. 5IL were my best bet for this (from Wizard Models), but it seems they do everything but! Etched brass is another alternative, but given the numbers involved I prefer the speed of white metal... I would be most grateful if anyone knows a source.
Best
Best
Tim
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jwealleans
- LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
- Posts: 4303
- Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:46 am
Try ABS - from http://www.keykits.net