The Bigbee Line Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 (edited) Just found an HMRS drawing on line https://hmrs.org.uk/drawings/16-ton-all-steel-mineral-wagon-2-side-2-bottom-1-end-door-9ft-w-b-19ft-6ins-o-a.html This shows that the clearance on the Chas. Roberts Minerals is not massive on the prototype, so will go with it. I seem to be on a bit of a roll today. Adjusted the alignment of some Cooper Craft pushers. It will be fitted ar$e about face, so I might drill out the pin holes, just for fun, and add a wire safety loop.... Edited March 17, 2019 by The Bigbee Line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 Quite please with todays efforts. Fitted couplings to several wagons. Also sorted out some stuff in the workshop. I also got some underframes ready to fit. Here are some of the couplings, need some nice thin paint to weather them...: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 I made sure I did a bit today. Straightened a few buffers and cut a body to shorten to the right length for a 9’ wheelbase version. Here they are, with the newest first. next the one one without a top door... the 10’ wheelbase.... My second version... this is the first the production line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 Steady progress on the doors. I measured more this time. Using evergreen for the uprights, but cut up hot drink lids for the actual doors. I think I might work how many doors I need and batch build them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D602bulldog Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Hi did you manage to dig out some bolts i would like to have a go at making some buffers got couple of wagons with floppy ones Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 23, 2019 Author Share Posted March 23, 2019 The Cooper Craft Underframe has been screwed in place. It can now be unscrewed, slit into 2 and the spoked wheels replaced by 3 hole disc. There’s also a pair of brake blocks to come off..... Tonight it will get stand in buffers and drawgear. It can then run if required..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 23, 2019 Author Share Posted March 23, 2019 Working on the principle that you can never have too many projects on the go. Guess what it’s made from and guess what this will be. The clues are a spare set of 12’ wheelbase solebars and I have a picture showing one at Hayling Island..... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 23, 2019 Author Share Posted March 23, 2019 (edited) This is how I cut out the big train headstock to re-use it. The cuts are made with a rotary saw. The boss of the coupler is removed and the whole thing cleaned up. Edited March 23, 2019 by The Bigbee Line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 23, 2019 Author Share Posted March 23, 2019 The headstocks are turned upside down. Then secured with 2 screws. quite easy.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 (edited) One of my minerals is using the original chassis shortened. The ends are located using the corner pips. It actually sits up inside the lower extension to the body. It has scrap styrene glued underneath, so that when sawn in half it sits evenly. As usual everything is held together by screws I drilled out the axleboxes to take Peco bearings. Enlarging the holes to let it sit at the right height.... Here is a stop gap headstock fitted. The axle boxes will be filled when the bearings are set up at the right height and flat fronts added to the boxes. My own view is is that this modelling style is the true spirit of O gauge. Edited March 26, 2019 by The Bigbee Line 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 The 'red' 'no top door' version has had some more body parts added. To enable running I have fitted some couplings to the 'stop gap' headstocks.. I have used some Dapol links from their 3 link version, These are slipped into the Peco RCH hook, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 The 'red' one has a Cooper Craft Underframe. The 'green' one has a Big Train Underframe, bodged to enable its use. To get the ride height correct it gets mounted inside an evergreen 'skirt'. I therefore needed some cosmetic solebars to complete the illusion. Luckily I had some spare evergreen channel that has been added, just need to wait for the cement to dry and to fettle the ends to join to the headstock. This one needs the rest of the door and end detail added, plus some couplers, then a first coat of grey will take them to that next stage.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 I want to get to the end of my Mineral production line, so am seeking to batch each job where possible, as I want to get them to the 'running stage' as quickly as possible I cut a sheet of thick styrene to form the base to give the extra height to the Big Train / Lima body. I have used my 'weapon of choice', the small circular saw blade in a dremel, to hack out the door and trim to allow assembly at the new shorter scale length. Cutting the next 4 bases... So 4 more doors to make... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 Here are my 'too long in the workshop' specimens... The one on the left has the Cooper Craft Chassis split into 2 and screwed to the body. The 'stop gap' buffer beams are also screwed to the body. I want to try making some of similar shape, but with sprung buffers. The use of the Big Train / Lima underframe is too much of a work up and is not likely to be repeated. So tomorrow Matthew I'll be making doors...... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 The doors are a lot of faffing about. Now I have a stock of the narrow ones. I can cut and shut to do a scale width door. It was actually easier than I thought. Which is which? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 4, 2019 Author Share Posted April 4, 2019 Slightly different subject tonight... I'm always thinking about the numbering etc and how it can be quite random in font style. I had been musing about the old 'John Bull Printing Outfit' and the hours of fun as a kid.... So a quick search on ebay got me a cheap Dormy set of 3 and 4 mm letters / numbers.. Being as patient as always I had to give it a try. Here is the first attempt with some acrylic white. The number was random. I need to cut the holder down as it would not sit down evenly. It has spurred me on to get more practice in. This is the effect, then below the cruel close up. Has anyone else tried such a technique? 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share Posted April 5, 2019 (edited) I have been talking to a Rubber Stamp company today.. Most enlightening, they actually do white ink and 2 mm letters /numbers, So I've placed an order for various items and included this beast in the order. So am looking forward to seeing how the white ink compares to the acrylic paint... Edited April 5, 2019 by The Bigbee Line 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sf315 Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Brilliant idea Ernie love to see how it turns out. steve. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 Steve, thanks. You know I’m full of stupid ideas. Too many in fact..... i was thinking that unfitteds could have their numbers printed onto black decal sheet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 (edited) I’ve been churning out the cut and shut doors. Here’s the latest recipient. I’ve also extended the side stanchions downwards. This one has got a Slaters wooden underframe rejigged to look like steel. Plus a couple of standby buffer beams. Frigged up to screw on... Edited April 6, 2019 by The Bigbee Line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
N15class Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 Just a query, surely a steel bodied wagon would have a steel underframe? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 7, 2019 Author Share Posted April 7, 2019 1 hour ago, N15class said: Just a query, surely a steel bodied wagon would have a steel underframe? The Slaters wooden sole bar is getting a cosmetic re-work to look like steel. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 7, 2019 Author Share Posted April 7, 2019 Today I've been fitting couplings and buffers. I can now shunt with them, setting the ride height, so the tops are all even. The second wagon is a 'Lionheart' model, the rest are Big Train/Lima conversions. It will be good to get to the stage when they get a coat of grey paint... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 On 07/04/2019 at 01:27, N15class said: Just a query, surely a steel bodied wagon would have a steel underframe? Just adding the cosmetic steel underframe. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 Good morning, In Cardiff for a meeting. I've now got a 'travel kit' to enable some modelling tasks to be completed in the hotel. Last nights efforts were cutting some holes in wooden planking to create a wagon used for laying cables during third rail electrification on the former Southern Region of BR. The donor wagon is a Parkside SR 8 Plank. Big hole for the cable to run through, plus foot / hand holds. Pilot holes for the other end. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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