Scratchbuilt scrapwagons- 0121modeller "show's you how"

[0121modeller]

Thanks Sleeper
PXA wagons (the sort with diagonal & vertical braceings) are the next build , a more complex achievement as the making bodywork & chassis is a little more complex than the 3x JXA's I've just built.
Pot noodles are an occasional treat / refresher between main meals, the foil lids from them will come in handy though

[0121modeller]

Okay, I mentiond I'd be sending one of these wagons off to a chap I know who specializes in making paint peel & exposed rust.

Today I recieved back the wagon I'd sent off, here's the result;



Thanks,
Dave.

[0121modeller]

SCRATCHBUILDING PXA SCRAP WAGONS (THE TYPE WITH DIAGONAL BRACEINGS)
I've now made sufficient progress on my next scratchbuilt wagon project,
Here's how things are looking so far, starting with the bodyside panels;

I've used 0.30 thou' (0.75mm) plasticard for the bodysides, I decided the height of this part of bodyside to be 22mm, its a difficult one to decide as the chassis is a little complicated with a box section area the length of wagon between body & chassis,
The horizontal bracer was positioned first, allow this to set, then i used my spaceing jig to mark positions of vertical bracer / stiffeners, I've used Evergreen #153 (1.5mm x 1.5mm) for these.


The reverse side of my spaceing jig has 0.5mm thin plasticard sheet/strip, this is to enable my fineline pen nib to mark the required positions of vertical bracers, or prevent the weld line sticking to spaeing jig (whichever method I decide to do it).


Vertical bracers put into position with the help of my spaceing jig, I've used Evergreen #153 for these main external bracers.


Diagonal bracings were cut to length & put into position , I've used Evergreen #143 for these.
Preparation & assembly of more duplicate bodysides was started,


I made up a spacer from Evergreen #4501 & some 1mm x 1mm microstrip welded to it to gain the required width, 1mm x 1mm (evergreen #142) used as the thinner endmost vertical bracers



I'm building more than one of the same type of wagon, so I made a "sample size" for each of many components & labelled them up #153, #143, #133, #142, #292, etc, so far!


The diagonal bracers for bodyside endmost panels were welded into position, Evergreen #133 was used, the variation of size used for stiffeners / bracers is based on photo's & diagrams i have, with a little guesswork thrown in too.
Next, enough Evergreen #292 were cut to size as to fit between #153 vertical bracers,

to be continued.....

[Jon37686]

Hi buddy,

Just read thru your JXA topic and its very impressive! These JXA's are a favourite wagon of mine and you've done a fantastic job of scratch building them even right down to the bogies & dinted body sides very good job sir, Also the new one your building looks the dogs I was actually eyeing these up the other day as it happens on Paul Bartletts site thinking I might have a go at scratch building the top and using the Cambrian BBA chassis with Gloucester bogies as the base but i've got loads of other stuff to finish before contemplating building one.

I also have some Appleby Model Engineering kits here with a JXA currently on my bench at spraying stage now so will add pics when its ready for transfer application to my workbench, actually quite pleased to of started building the kit as it was missing bits but I nabbed them out of my S-Kits un built wagon bits to complete the body.

Looking forward to your next update anyway

Cheers, Jon.

[0121modeller]

Thanks Jon, I look forward to seeing some of your work on those projects

I've just returned from Modellers Mecca in Dudley as to purchase a few Evergreen items including some Evergreen #122 needed for the box sections between upper chassis & bodysides -

Bad news is my car broke down on the M5 driveng back home , I had to be towed by the AA - either a major repair or destined for scrap, as I think the cambelt fell off its pulley

[Jon37686]

Thanks Jon, I look forward to seeing some of your work on those projects

I've just returned from Modellers Mecca in Dudley as to purchase a few Evergreen items including some Evergreen #122 needed for the box sections between upper chassis & bodysides -

Bad news is my car broke down on the M5 driveng back home , I had to be towed by the AA - either a major repair or destined for scrap, as I think the cambelt fell off its pulley

Morning Dave,

Yes will upload progress pics and completed pics aswell and modellers mecca my mate Graham goes there isn't the owner called July, sounds good on the evergreen, a nice looking wagon this one well both types are i'm surpised actually no one else has brought these style of box wagons out as there very popular and much sought after!

Sorry to hear about your car thats not good hope you get it sorted chief

Cheers, Jon.

[0121modeller]

Cheers Jon,Yep I've recently become a frequent customer to Modellers Mecca, A little out of the way for me to get to, but a very good shop as they've a good selection of most modelling essentials including the complete Evergreen range.

More progress;

I made up another spaceing jig as to easily achieve equal as possible spaceing of the box sections between bodysides & chassis/solebar,


Strips of 2mm x 2mm Evergreen were lightly tacked to the length of underside of floor as to keep rigid whilst bodysides & floor were welded together,


#294 L sections put into place as to keep the floor to bodysides square & rigid, additional strengthening will be done at a later stage...


Allowed to set,


Evergreen #136 were used to make the fish belly like girder chassis,


The fishbelly like girder chassis sides welded into position,


#105 cut for the flanges of stiffeners on lower solebars,


enough #153 chopped to do the lower part of stiffeners on solebars.

To be continued....

[Jon37686]

Hi buddy,

And wow very good job sir she looks amazing some fine modelling going on here chap loving the way shes coming together and again a template so you can make more which is just superb.

On the Gloucester bogies are you fitting white metal, plastic, bachmann jobbys or are you scratch building them chief?

Cheers, Jon.

P.S just took delivery of some nice wagons from my mate so i'll fot them and add to my PDW bench later today for you matey.

[Bufferstop]

Bad news on the car Dave, but at least this years AA membership has paid for itself. I'm still following the build with interest.
John W
aka Bufferstop

[0121modeller]

Thanks John, as a tribute to the long reliable service my kangoo had given me for the last 4 years, I've made an initial start on scratchbuilding a 4mm scale replica out of plastikard & other bits & pieces - although reality of whats happened to my kangoo has'nt quite sunken in yet though...

Anyway, back to modelling progress ...,

The other slightly higher bodied version of this type of wagons was started , much the same as haveing diagonal braceings, but haveing a slightly higher body, progress explained below featureing the making of end panels, the profile of these is rather nice i think.

End panel topmost girder adding the height was an Evergreen #264 (but I used a #274 modified to the same), beneath this was a #143..,


Components for the slanted end panels were Evergreen #169 (centre) & #139 sides , on top of these were #124 & #126 (middle) ,....


The difference in height of the 2 wagons, 3mm = approximately 9" is a rough guestimate of the height differance between the 2 wagons,


I made another spaceing tool as to get the same spaceing when doing the end panel horizontal cross bracers on this & the other end and the slightly lower version of this type of wagon I'd started in previous posts.

Why am I so fussy ???? what size best to apply for those horizontal bracers ! ...., #144 ? , #154 ? , , so I decided #154 & welded 3 of them into place , then decided #144 would be more in proportion with various other stiffeners ... there's 0.5mm difference in thickness ! - I've recently learnt that the tinyest measurement can make a LOT of differance- I never considered a millimetre to be "so big" , & accuracy is key & so crucial for perfection & self satisfaction !!
Anyway, I settled on using #144


The end panel detail on real examples can vary slightly, so I'll model the other end panel with a slight differance as seen on photo's (Paul Barlett website)


coming along nicely...

To be continued.....

[0121modeller]

Small update,

Using Evergreen #297 , i strengthened the solebar girders,


I also fitted a floor to cover the brass strip to help give some weight over the bogies, which is another thing; DONT add too much weight, as, I've fitted Romford wheels & brass cup bearings to the Gloucester RTR bogies taken from Bachmann TEA tankers.

I had to modify the RTR bogies as to fit brass cup bearings, the wagons runs okay but if too much weight is added then has a slowing effect, compared to the scheirlen bogies I'd scratchbuilt on other wagons which run perfectly free & smooth.


Notice the differnce of both ends, as seen on Paul Bartlett's Photo website


to be continued...

[Jon37686]

Nice updates mate,

Not bin on the kit building section for a while now but its good to see you've progressed well with the wagons and they look top notch too!

On the bogies would they not run as smooth or maybe catch with the bigger bachmann wheels fitted? Either way bet they look miles better side on with finer wheels fitted, I find with the cambrian SPA's if you add weight they scrape and scratch and make a horrible sound round corners but with no weight in they just derail so I give up with the ones i've got and will just have them noisy and squeaky! lol

And what happened with the kangoo then chap? also on the decals are you going to get smaller SHEERNESS STEEL lettering custom made to sit on the chassis? The one I have here has it on but I can't see were the bloke who made it got the decals from as Appleby doesn't supply them and can't find anyone else who does too!?! Eitherway theres a few guys out there who will do them if you give them sizes and pics etc....

On my bits i've not done nothing for weeks now as been to busy with loco's but hope soon if I catch up with the loco's then i'll do a bit on my many kits i've got on the go.

Keep up the good work anyway and I look forward to more updates.

Cheers, Jon.

[0121modeller]

Hi Jon, Thanks,
The kangoo has now been sadly sold on as spares or repairs, I now have a similar vehicle (citreon berlingo 1.4 petrol) which I find more refined & gives a smoother ride than the kangoo, but my berlingo is more costly on fuel consumption & a higher rate of road tax compared to my kangoo which had an economical 1.5dci diesel engine which had the bonus/option of very good** accelaration (**when needed) - unlike some "sluggish" diesel engines I've drove in the past.

Yep, as a tribute to the kangoo giving me 4 years service, bits & pieces for plans are still in infantcy as for me to scratchbuild a replica of my kangoo in 4mm scale- I've so far put aside suitable axle'd wheels, & other body panels, it'll feature in my scrapyard layout - most likely in a dis-membered condition.

On the subject of the "SHEERNESS STEEL" lettering, I've not yet given this too much thought for these wagons, but I'm sure I've seen white rubdown transfers that may be a suitable size for applying to the solebars sold on ebay, - But like the application of transfers to the the other type of scrapwagon, each letter will need to be individually cut out & applied due to the flanges on girder style solebars, thus more-so tricky & time comsuming to apply due to the tiny size of each letter - thats assuming a suitable size of white rubdown lettering are available - I'd imagine waterslide transfers (if available) to be just as tricky to apply for a different reason.
If given the choice of using the two types, I'd choose rubdown rather than use waterslide transfers in most instances.

Dave.

[Jon37686]

Hello Dave,

Any updates buddy? always nice to see what your working on chap, on the decals I know a guy who can do them in smaller style to fit on the solebar and with this area been flat you'd easilly get away with just waterslide jobbys and much less work too! Let us know if you want any and i'll get on to him.

Bin working on a few bits again but like you do i've not finished my other wagons yet and instead started more new ones! lol anyway hope to see some new pics on your topic soon.

Cheers, Jon.

[0121modeller]

Sorry for delayed response / no update with this project, continued work on these wagons & my main modelling project has been put on the backburner due to struggleing with recent personal issues.

I hope to get back into the full swing of modelling soon, and update progress in the near future.