I got the brake gear done today.  I spent yesterday and this morning and it was quite a challenge to work out the details.  I used the GWR toad mechanism as a guide.  I think I have it mechanically plausible.





John

I have no idea, John - but it looks very convincing.   

I forged ahead with some of the final details this afternoon:





Added the lamp brackets which are a bit of a pain as they are so small.

Also the duckets.  I made a template from plastic card and drilled holes.  I used the template to drill holes in the sides and castings so that these lined up.  I soldered wire through the holes and cut it off to about 2mm.  I then used CA and secured the castings.

Buffer guides are also CAed in.

Roof is on loosely, I still need to finagle it.

To those who say you can't see the brake gear, I disagree.

John

NBR brake has been primed and painting started.  I just need to get a decision on colour from my customer.

In the meantime, I completed a couple of commissions:

GWR Dia V5 Cattle Wagon





BR Shoc Van





I can deliver these today.   :doublethumb :cheers

John

I had a buffer issue with the Toad yesterday and had to replace the guide.  All done now:





Guard is from ModelU.

John

:thumbs :thumbs 
I liked the pins to attach the duckets.

 Nigel

Over last several days I have been slowly painting the brake van.  Today I think I can say that I'm done:



Guard is a ModelU figure.  I used blacktack to fix him in place.

Note the sand pipes.

Roof is on loosely.  When the time comes I think I'll use blacktack on this too.



Buffers were a pain because I should have assembled them first.   :It's a no no





Floor is 0.020" plastic card, scribed and painted.



Note the sand box in the corner.

The van has a couple of coats of Testors gloss spray.  Next up is transfers.  After that some matte varnish and then glazing, which I was working on today.

John

Excellent, John.   :thumbs

Black tack is a new one on me. Interesting Google results.

I am finding it to be a versatile and useful substance.  It grips strongly but things can be pulled apart easily.

John

Happy New Year Max, you're already in 2018.

In a moment of weakness last week I ordered Hattons' Warwell.  I'm not entirely sure what I'll use it for, perhaps farm vehicles.

Rail Album - Military Wagons - World War Two - 50-ton 'Warwell' Wagons





  I’m very pleased.  The chassis feels diecast so lots of weight.  The vacuum brake gear is well done.  The screwlink coupling works – maybe too well since I had to screw one of the ends back in.  I applied Threadlock Loctite to stop that happening.  Note the safety chains.  Must look into the buffers, the clipped top should be straight.



My guess/speculation is that the manufacturer is actually Dapol/Lionheart.


John

  

It's quite nicely detailed, John.

You're right about the buffers.  Can you turn them?

It looks like they had holes in their centres, as well.

The buffers are just a bit sloppy Max.  Yes the real thing appears to have holes in the center.   :hmm

John

Hi John.  Teriffic job. Which reminds me, I have a brass 4mm Etch model awaiting.my attention. My one, if I ever get around to building it, is a London Transport , Hurst Nelson brake vat by RT Models as used with the ex GWR Pannier tanks on engineering trains. I have had a look at the Etch and there are several fiddly pieces which is putting me off doing the job, one day but next the paint job, I have purchased the correct transfers. Best wishes Kevin 

Good to hear from you Kevin.  Doing etched kits has a lot to do with figuring out how to handle the fiddly bits.  There's nothing wrong with fixing small, non load bearing parts with CA.  You'll want to arrange things so that all the soldering has been done before using CA.

Let me know if you have questions.

John

Thank you John .  That sounds like a good idea. Best wishes. Kevin

Stunning work as usual, John.

Keep it a coming, mate. Always look out for your posts.


Allan

I got the transfers for the NBR brake yesterday, I can finish it now.   :chicken

Another Parkside kit on its way from Antics.  :doublethumb

John

Finally got the NBR done.  After putting on the transfers my customer said something like, "oh by the way the ends were vermillion".  That set me back.  Anyway he brought over a tin of the paint he wanted me to use:





The roof is held on temporarily with black tack.  My customer will weather it himself.

I have to say the red ends are striking.

John

Another project that I have come up with is to make up a milk train.  I have ordered a 6 wheeled brake kit:

http://www.crtkits.gbr.cc/product.php/394833/

Today, I received two Dapol tanks and a Corgi road tanker:



The milk tanks are OK.  I had thought about getting a Slaters kit but the transfer choices didn't include MMB which I felt was appropriate for early 60s.

There is no brake detail underneath but I can add that readily enough once I figure out what it looked like.  I also need to see how far these are from the LNER tank and perhaps do some nurdling.

The road tanker is second hand and missing mirrors.  I can reinstate these from wire I reckon.

John