Midland D333 Traction/Implement wagon to drawing 708 in 4mm scale

[k22009]

During the Xmas break i picked up copies of both Essery's Midland Wagons 1 and 2. With lots to go at i thought about getting a drawing done for the Traction/Implement wagon D333 as i'd not seen anything available elsewhere, i'm not sure if a kit has been produced before.

I started it, left it and then read Stephen's great summary of all things Traction Wagon (mid way down page 263) and thought wow that's a coincidence.

 

 

It gave me the impetus to get back at it, so i went back and finished it, sent it away to the etchers and this is what arrived a few days back. I'm certainly no expert when it comes to wagons, a lot of what's on the etch is gleaned from the few photos available and very basic outline drawing. The underframe will not be accurate however the profile from side on should be close whilst allowing the small 10.5 dia wheel sets to be used. I've included 5 different number plates for those that have been recorded.

 

 

 

 

[Compound2632]

Hi Dave, 

 

Have you got yourself a scan of Drg. 708, Midland Railway Study Centre item 88-D0274? It's not one I've got, so I'm not certaint there's been a high res scan. There should anyway be a scan of the microfiche version, which would be good enough, if not as pretty.

 

This is one I'd certainly be interested in!

 

 

[k22009]

20 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

Hi Dave, 

 

Have you got yourself a scan of Drg. 708, Midland Railway Study Centre item 88-D0274?

 

Hi Stephen, 

I've not got a copy, i used the 2 good photos plates 309 and 311 in Midland wagons Volume 2 and applied a scale to get most of the dimensions i needed. 

 

I've started with the headstocks which are laminated from 8 pieces, wire is used to align them all.

 

 

All soldered together.

 

 

The support beams are a little tricky to form but i scored the etched bend positions slightly and they folded over quite easily. The beams have to be assembled upside down as the outer beams that connect to the headstocks are tapered on top and bottom. 

 

 

There are half etched recesses in all of the main cross supports to guide the longitudinal beams into the correct locations.

 

 

With the headstocks fitted which once again have recesses to enable an accurate positioning of the supports.

 

[k22009]

Stephen aka @Compound2632 very kindly sent me a wonderfully detailed copy of drawing 708 which will be very useful when i revise the artwork for this. But until then there's still  a wagon to finish.

 

 The solebars were made up from a stiffener piece and rivetted outer that needed sweating together to give it a little rigidity. There is also an angle framed piece that stiffens the top edge, this is made up from 2 flats one fits directly to the solebar front and the other is soldered via a half etched groove to the top (sorry i forgot to take a photo).  Both solebars fit into half etched recesses in the headstocks, there are also half areas on the rear of the solebars to locate the 2 support beams which protrude below the bottom of the solebars.

 

The floor unit is folded up at the ends and fits snugly between the headstocks and solebars, this is lower than the solebar top angle section and so there is a lip around the edges. The plates where the wheels sit will need to be revised as this is a little smaller and are actually rivetted plates that sit on top of the timber deck rather than a recessed plate as i had initially thought.

 

 

With the floor now fixed i added the w irons with bearings to half etched locaters in the underside of the floor (thats where the 5 small holes above and below the flats in the floor deck are see above, these fill when the w irons are soldered in place). Wheels added to check they fit ok between the support beams. 

 

 

The next job was to add the brake gear to the one side with V hangers, levers etc, the straps that fit around the brake rods are fitted to half etched areas in the beam bottoms, the brake shoes are loose and need soldering to the rods so can be fitted to suit however much clearance you fancy. Self contained buffers are from Lanarkshire models, 8A axle boxes are from Dart. This is it pretty much finished, so onto a squirt of Halfords primer and then painting

 

 

Pretty much the finished item with some tie down eyes from 0.31 wire (there should be 8 of these according to the drawing so i'll add more locations for them.

 

 

 

Underside view with some lead shot for added weight.

 

[k22009]

Another D333 nearly finished,  just tie down eyes to attach. 

 

 

 

If anyone is interested in one (or more) message me please, i will need to revise the artwork slightly to cater for the change that needs to be made to the wheel covers but as a guide at current prices etches only would be in the £16-18 ball park and full kit with buffers, axle boxes, bearings all wire etc would be around £23-25 p+p will be around £4.

[k22009]

Last call for anyone that is interested in these, message me please if you are.

 

 

[Flymo749]

Hi Dave,

 

Lovely bit of kit design.  that makes up into a very nice looking model.

 

One question on Midland Railway practice: did these wagons only have number plates on one side?  Because I can only see one set of the five plates that you mention in the unmade etch picture.  Unless I'm looking straight through them!

 

Best wishes,

Paul

[k22009]

Hi Paul,

 

The answer is i don't know if they were both sides. The photos i've seen show the same side except one which shows a rake of  at least 7 with Davey's removal wagons loaded and this is too small for my eyes to tell whether it's the other side as well.

 

The revised etch has 2 sets on, the original was done as a test piece to see if the plates could be read at all never having etched any before.

[Compound2632]

13 hours ago, Flymo749 said:

One question on Midland Railway practice: did these wagons only have number plates on one side? 

 

It's reasonable to assume the numberplates were on both sides. That was standard practice; also, one has to consider the number-takers...

[Flymo749]

6 hours ago, k22009 said:

The answer is i don't know if they were both sides. The photos i've seen show the same side except one which shows a rake of  at least 7 with Davey's removal wagons loaded and this is too small for my eyes to tell whether it's the other side as well.

 

The revised etch has 2 sets on, the original was done as a test piece to see if the plates could be read at all never having etched any before.

 

Thanks Dave, for the honesty of the answer!  

 

I can completely understand why you wanted to test out the concept.  I've done something very similar to product 4mm LNWR wagon plates, to go onto various of the Ratio wagon kits.  Of which I have a small mountain, so I'm going to need a lot of plates (and numbers!).

 

 

They came out very well :-)

 

Best wishes,

Paul

[k22009]

All of the members that have requested kits have now been contacted and most have been sent out.

 

In the instructions i failed to mention the wheel diameter to use, i used 10.5mm dia wheels as they should be 2'-8 1/2 dia.

 

There is one set left if anyone would like one £24.50 + £4 p+p just message me if you do.

 

Dave

[k22009]

I've been asked by a couple of members for kits so i'll be re ordering from the etchers etc before the end of October. Message me if you are interested.

 

Cheers

[Compound2632]

13 minutes ago, k22009 said:

I've been asked by a couple of members for kits so i'll be re ordering from the etchers etc before the end of October. Message me if you are interested.

 

Pour encourager les autres :

 

 

Currently in the paint shop.