GWR 12t Plywood Vans

[Richard08]

Turns out Dapol buffer beams must be a bit thicker than kits are, so a little spacer tensiones the spring nicely. I've used a split pin rather than the wire loop provided to fix the end - mostly because I rapidly got bored trying to find them when they pinged off into alternate dimensions. I'm stuck now until the wheels get here. Apparently delivery is The Angel Gabriel's remit.

[Richard08]

The wheels arrive! My preference is Peartree wheels (they don't do spoked wheels), as they come blacked which saves me having to do it, and I don't have to clean the crud off the wheels that blacking fluid creates. They also have somewhat shorter axle subs, which often makes fitting easier. On the compensator this means 'only' having to trim the bearing lengths a bit rather than doing that and chopping the ends off the axle. Chopping the ends off with a multitool generates a lot of heat, not good near the plastic inserts. I just noticed the right hand wheel on the Slaters set (bottom) is already loose...

[Richard08]

Wheels on and brake gear in, lifeguards and handbrake levers on after... After checking the wheels went in correctly I literally just went though checking the assembly as I'd left it before and soldering up as I went. I've had issues before with soldering whitemetal to brass so this time I threw caution to the wind and turned the iron up to 260' and applied heat only very briefly - it worked, if a little nerve wracking. Every day's a school day.

... checking that it will actually run. Which it does. Which is nice.

[Lofty]

Which is nice.

Always a bonus

[Richard08]

No, just for a change it wasn't my nonexistent photogtaphy skills as fault - the wagon really does lean down at one end. Out with the tape measure and it's the compensator end that is wrong, buffer height is about 3mm low. A somewhat depressing outcome, as there's only be way to assemble and fix it it. I must be missing something. but can't see what! The thing is supposed to slide over the lugs under the chassis, which works ok but 3mm low. At the correct buffer height the compensator is flush with the tops of the lugs - but how to fix it? Currently enjoying Living In Interesting Times...

[Richard08]

Well I've sat and stared and pondered. I must be still missing something I suppose, but time for Plan B. I've ordered some quaint BA brass screws and nuts and I'm proposing to mount the plate sort of like a bogie would fit, sprung but balanced on a ridge (edge) to get the rocking effect. It seems like a Plan... Returns to Waiting For Postman mode.

[Lofty]

Returns to Waiting For Postman mode.

I suspect that you may be some time

[Richard08]

Another transmat rapid delivery, this time from Hobby Holidays. Not being very Imperial I had to basically guess what size BA screws I needed - happily I got it right. And so Plan B commences...

[Lofty]

I stand corrected, that was quick

[Dad-1]

Hi Richard08,

I thoroughly enjoy watching someone overcome unexpected difficulties.
Just happy that I'm not having to do it and repeat to me How Many to do ??

Geoff T.

[Richard08]

Yes (Dad-1 above) it's the problem solving, starting with "how the hell does this go together" and working up to "So what does this bit do?" that I enjoy. As long as the outcome isn't a disaster, as that would be disfun.

Armed with screws, I made a couple of plates to fix the screw to the floor, the spot being half over one of the holes from a part removal. A spring that's probably vital elsewhere sacrificed itself for the greater good, chopped off at a fantastically scientifically calculated length ("looks about right") and the compensator plate screwed, or rather nutted, down until the slots engage with the, er, sticky up bits. I noticed that the axle supports are really quite flimsy, drop the wagon even a bit and they'd maybe bend. To this end I've made up a couple of brackets to strengthen them and make sure they stay at right angles to the plate so the bearing ends don't foul the W irons/axle boxes.

Nothings soldered yet as... testing. No.1 - is the buffer height now correct. The Western's buffers are exactly right (24.5mm above rail - O Gauge Guild specs) so this makes a handy height gauge. Tick. And No.2 - does it run. Yes, very nicely, the compensator is compensating very nicely.

Now, where had I got to pre kerfuffle.

[Richard08]

With the checking that running remains good, the safety loops and handbrake levers and ratchets were fitted, which with exception of buffers, only leaves the roof. I hate doing roofs. The one major contribution to the world by the plastics industry is that when concocting their mysterious brews all plastics have a fundamental rule built into them - if you want it to bend it either won't (or will fold up like paper) or if it is vital it does not bend it will, with g*y abandon. Plasticard is the former. In an attempt to fit this roof, which is very curvy, I tried out several Plans, ranging from A to about E.

Plan A :

and leave it over night.

Well, that went well...

Plan B : As A but dunking it in very hot water, while wondering at what temperature/pressure the can will explode at - it makes life more interesting.

Yeah, that went well.

Plan C : Very hot water and rolling it round a wooden spoon handle - guess what.

And so on...

In the end it was back to good old spread superglue on the contact surfaces, quickly enough so it hasn't gone off at the start by the time you get to the end, and then slap the roof on hoping against hope it's in the right place - which it was luckily. I could use epoxy or Evostick, but its a looooong time holding the roof down while it goes off - you can't use rubber bands etc as you can only hold the edges - any pressure on the middle of the roof and it sags.

So here it is, minus drip rail and end edgings (and buffers of course). A very enjoyable kit. I'll update this when the buffers get here and for painting, but I'm not proposing to document the other three vans, as they are much of muchness.

[Dad-1]

Hi Richard08,

Well that went well ..... enough.
3 more to go.
When painted and running you'll forget the pain !

Geoff T.

[Richard08]

And the buffers arrive, 24hrs after coming back into stock. I love Invertrain's buffers - sprung with nice body castings and turned heads, the length is fully adjustable with the nut on the back. I'm going for 'normal' vacuum pipes, as opposed to the 'high' ones, as it seems that these were acquired during BR days on many traffic wagons. Just got to a) make them and b) remember to make them. Then it will really be finished. I think.

The paint queue grows longer...

[Richard08]

With wagon No. 2 built, it was roof time again... While pondering many a plan to get the dammed thing to bend I gently slid sideways off the piano stool I use as a seat. One of the leg cross pieces had broken off. In the normal world this would have resulted in muttering and possibly some Language, but my private fantasy world the first reaction was... 'I wonder...'

Out with the tape...

and after a night in the airing cupboard - success! Almost exactly the right shape