I have pulled several wagon threads together to keep things in one place Every layout needs at least one of these, and although Slaters do a kit I prefer to build in metal, but I believe the connoisseur kit is also available in 4mm. The basic kit is accurate enough but as always I couldnt leave well alone what you see here is the kit as supplied but with a load of Slaters castings and Exactoscale W irons. hopefully it should be finished after Bristol when I get a couple more footboard supports
BR standard brakevan 7mm That looks a lot better than the one I got off Ebay a while back! I think it's the same kit, but mine turned out to have Coarse wheels (re-sold on Ebay!! ) and soldering that made even MY Comedy Soldering look like the work of an Expert!! It was painted in some thick horrible gunge; as I worked at removing that the whole model began to shed various bits and pieces... it was getting to the point beyond where a rebuild is worthwhile; far easier to start from scratch, and that's what I did, with a Slaters kit! I wouldn't mind a go at one of these from new, but the few I've seen on Ebay fetch quite a price, don't they?
BR standard brakevan 7mm Jim still sells them http://www.jimmcgeown.com/Wagon%20Kit%2 ... 20Van.html I got mine at the Reading GOG show last year
BR standard brakevan 7mm I didn't know that, neither had I come across that Website Some interesting stuff there! Thanks very much! You see, I've learned something new on this Forum already!!
Nothing fancy, a standard body but with an Exactoscale underframe. I think this is the easiest option if you wish to add some 'bounce' The downside is that it adds ?13 to the cost of the kit. The body needs some detailing and I shall replace the cornerplates with something a little finer. In the long term i shall be looking at doing my own etch for the parts as it is far more economical for a dozen wagons.
Parkside mineral wagon That's a really nice under frame, I would imagine that springing is essential for S7 :?: Cheers Phill
Parkside mineral wagon I would probably do the same in O/F, but I'm not building for a large layout a chap locally has a nice garden layout and everything is rigid, heavily weighted and it works very well.
The box has been opened Im not going to do a blow by blow account, as it has all been done before, what I intend is to comment on anything I have done differently and to try and give a balanced appraisal. Ill post some pictures later, but the first impression is WOW! I am used to etched kits which in their un-built state are two dimensional and bear very little resemblance to the finished article, so to pick up a 3 dimensional cab that looks complete is quite something so having washed all the main parts I held them together with some blu tack and spent half an hour admiring my Western! Next up are the instructions, which disappointed me. A series of photos and some captions is not good enough in a kit costing over ?450, at the very least an exploded diagram of all the assemblies should be included. Fortunately I have Dans 'RMweb thread instructions' which are much more help than those supplied. Some pictures tomorrow...
D1011 That bogie looks impressive! I'm suprised at the instructions (or lack of...) I was under the impression they were better than that? It is easy to see why it's said that the body can be put together in less than half an hour; it's only a few pieces! It's all the detail that takes the time!! You have a far tidier workbench than me...
D1011 Shame your not doing a blow by blow build (can't have too much of a good thing ), are you just having one motor bogie :?: Phill
D1011 Yes, just the one motor bogie ABC claim it will haul 14 lima coaches. mine will be lucky if it ever has to pull more than half a dozen coaches so it should be fine. Dont worry I will post updates on anything interesting.
D1011 I'm really looking forward to seeing another Western taking shape (and to finishing my own of course). :lol: I like all your transparent storage boxes - where did you get them from please? Regards Dan
D1011 Dan they are from the really useful box company http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/. you can get them from Rymans, but I you shop about you can pick them up cheaper on line. I when I get a kit I sort everything out into the boxes (I also have some A4 boxes for etches) as it makes parts much easier to find and it keeps the bench tidier
D1011 Ron Chaplin does some motorising stuff for the JLTRT kits too, I'm not sure if it's a motor/gearbox to fit them or a full motor bogie. If you don't mind me asking, how much is an ABC motor bogie :?: Cheers Phill
D1011 Ron Chaplin does some motorising stuff for the JLTRT kits too, I'm not sure if it's a motor/gearbox to fit them or a full motor bogie. If you don't mind me asking, how much is an ABC motor bogie :?: Cheers Phill[/quote:2dgla38e] Hold on to your hat..... ?170 inc wheels :shock: but I was quoted ?115 for a motor gearbox with delrin drive, which makes the ABC bogie seem more reasonable. So far the kit has cost ?750 :shock: if I wanted a sound chip you could add another ?150...... What gets me is that you could buy a RTR Heljan 47 with dual motor bogies for ?425 or less depending on the deal available. My Heljan Hymek cost ?210 :shock:
D1011 It is a very fine piece of engineering though & they are very efficent at delivering the power to the wheels, you would have needed 2 conventional motor bogies for similar pulling power. Does it have a flywheel too :?: I know what you mean though about Heljan v JLTRT (my 47 was ?325) :roll: Cheers Phill
D1011 There is no fly wheel with the maxon motor. but the bogie rolls on very nicely without one. The motor has shown up the age of my controller but I cant contemplate DCC or the like just yet as it is all rather academic up and down 12ft of test track :lol: You got the last Blue 47 didn't you ?
D1011 Yes I think I got Towers last blue one, I notice that Tower have stopped advertising Hymeks for ?299 which is just as well as I kept hearing Hymek number 4 calling me :lol:
