Castle

Hi Philip, No worries - I know someone on here has had a test etch to build the loco from Roger so the artwork and bits must exist but I totally understand that real life gets in the way of all of us lot playing trains! I hope something is unearthed as this could be quite a popular machine... Best of luck with the company and its great you are keeping us all up to date here on RMWEB - most appreciated! All the best, Castle

Hi Philip, I know that work was proceeding under Roger's ownership to release the 4mm scale version of Didcot stalwart and Ex Cardiff Railway Kitson No. 1338, which is kind of a big hole in my locomotive collection. Is there any further news on this one at all please? Many thanks by the way for continuing to keep this great range alive for the benefit of all! All the best, Castle

Hi All, How has it taken me so long to notice the kit for an A26 ex-railmotor auto trailer? I know a certain collection of now preserved vehicles in late GWR / early BR (W) that it would be perfect for and the next big push is to be the assault on the lack of coaching stock! Has anyone built one of these and have knowledge of what are they like please? All the best, Castle

Well done RJS! I was trying to get the Black Knight scene in there somewhere and couldn't get it to fit! I did get the parrot sketch in though... All the best, Castle

Welcome to the Flying Circus! Hi All, Snakes alive! It's PYTHON time. Actually, it's the second PYTHON I have built. The first one I did, I was never that happy with. What made me less happy with it was dropping it on the floor so I either spent a lot of time fixing up something I wasn't that pleased with or I cut my losses and start again... What a Gumby I am! The PYTHON is a covered carriage truck (CCT) or, in GWR parlance, a brown vehicle (although this term covers more than just CCTs on the Western). The PYTHON code name refers to a set of usually 4 wheel, 18' wheelbase vehicles that were built originally in the early decades of the twentieth century. They were built to the limit of the loading gauge and had both small side and large end doors making them very versatile. There was a legendary member of these vehicles that was the last of lot 1238 of 1914. No. 580 had a specially strengthened floor and this was done for the conveyance of circus elephants of all things! Another, No. 560, was converted for use during the Second World War as part of a 'Fire Train'. Coach No. 7995 was used for crew and their gear and the PYTHON had a set of specially enlarged doors which could open up to reveal a small derrick that could swing out a Coventry Climax fire pump. The last surviving PYTHON is No. 565 at Didcot. It was built in 1914, just at the start of the Great War. It is part of Lot 1238 and is constructed to Diagram P19. It was preserved as part of the GWS collection but, due to its use by the Heavy Freight Mob as crew accommodation and its subsequent immortalisation as the inspiration for the name of the DRC pub, The Black Python. It WAS painted black for a long time but is now slowly returning to a more suitable livery. The model is a lump of best quality and fully Whizzo Parkside Dundas! It's a great little kit and doesn't need a huge heap of work to really make it pop. The bits missing from the kit are the hand rails from the sides, the lamp irons and the end steps. These will all be etched items. I have also added my customary LMS buffers. Nothing to confuse-a-cat here! It's a straight forward build, so no funny stuff - nudge, nudge, wink, wink! A couple of brake etchings from the scrap box found a home. I also found a few other etchings for the beastie... ...and a couple of bits of styrene to do the buffer rests on the lower door. That is little No. 565 materially complete. Not wishing to be Ron Obvious but I painted it in the same colours as I did before - BR maroon. Transfers. Then weathering and final assembly of the roof and windows to complete! Steps and vacuum hoses were added at this stage as I had run out and I was awaiting a Dart Castings order. Well that's it (again!) for this one. Mind you, I have always enjoyed PYTHON re-runs! So, I had better go and do something completely different. Come along Patsy! All the best, Castle PS: What happened to the other one? It's not pining, it's passed on! This PYTHON is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker!* This is a late PYTHON! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed it to the siding, it would be pushing up the daisies! It's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex - PYTHON! *You will be pleased to know I haven't actually sent the wreckage back to those fine kit makers in Kirkcaldy...

Hi All, Thanks for the update on the POLLENS Noel - it was the trickiest bit of the whole build of the BR sets that I did to cobble together the transfers for both sets so that is really useful. I presume these are in GWR livery? How do we get hold of them as well? There's always one who MEX a GWR telegraphic code joke isn't there? I guess this time it MITE B you... All the best, Castle

Hi Sierd Jan, Those are some really nice models there - they all have that elusive sense of weight and purpose that very good weathering such as this lends to a project. I look forward to seeing the next batch! All the best, Castle

Hi Robin, Sorry it has taken a while to get back to you with a full and proper answer! The CCT stuff were sets S1 and S2 as these deal with the Parkside and Cambrian vehicles. The Modelmaster stuff was mainly from the very useful large sheet that had lots of wagon markings from post nationalisation on it but I can't seem to se it on their current website and I don't have the packet any more. The Fox sheet was their basic GWR wagon selection which is obvious on their website. I hope this helps good sir! All the best, Castle

Hi Robin, Errr, yes - that was a while ago... The likelihood is that the Fox transfers general GWR wagon sheet was used for the Grey one and the Modelmaster general BR wagons one for the bauxite version. Both are still available I think! I hope this helps. All the best, Castle

Hi Horsetan, The theory is correct, No. 5051 has earlier non - webbed, small balance weight wheels and No. 4079, as I said, has the later, webbed type. I hope this helps! All the best, Castle

Hi All, Thanks to both Siberian Snooper and Lofty for the kind words! Thanks for the kind words Mikkel! I know what you are saying about showing a vehicle through its life. A friend at Didcot who is one of the team involved with No. 3650 has a series of Bachmann 8750 models that shows the pannier throughout all the various phases of its life. I think the total number is about 6 or 8 different versions from shirt button right through to Stephenson Clarke blue! Hi Horse. I haven't done a full survey on the wheels - No. 4079 has the later, webbed type and I think No. 5051 has at least one set of the earlier type but I will need to take a look and a few snaps at the weekend when I turn spanners yet again on Pendennis Castle! All the best, Castle

Hi Johnster, It really isn't that difficult but it does require care and confidence to do well. Seem like you have had a few failures and that is just natural and, with a bit of practice, you WILL get better. As Jonboy says however, you can write thousands of words on this topic (and goodness knows there have been thousands spent on this forum telling people that they are doing it wrong!), but having somebody show you in the flesh so to speak is much better. Get to a show and get someone to show you. It will revolutionise your attitude to it I assure you and open a great many more doors for your modelling. The suggestion that the Snooper makes about trying it on something that doesn't matter is also a great one. That way there is no pressure to get it right first time. There is no black art, just careful preparation and careful execution. We are now seriously off topic here and I don't want to spark another 'how to solder debate' so back to meat on the rails. All the best and good luck! Castle PS: Like I said, there is the Parkside version of the MICA in lovely injection moulded plastic for you too! Conversions to other diagrams with a change of brake gear is easily done for a bit of variety and a little light kit abuse will result in the TEVAN...

Going against the GRAIN? Hi All, The next exciting (?) instalment do the wagons of Didcot is with the V20 convertible grain wagon. The construction of bulk grain vans started in 1905 with the V10 version. This was a variation on the V5 van with a sliding door on the roof and a hopper in the floor. This van was truly convertible in that it had a fold down floor so that it could also carry other types of merchandise. The later versions of this idea was the V20 which were much longer that the V10 at 21' 6" over the head stocks. These also had the convertible fold down flaps to seal off the hopper for optional normal van usage and the roof hatch. In the early 1930s the V20s were converted to bulk cement carriers as the bulk grain imports they were built for had reduced dramatically. This involved the lining of the interior with galvanised steel which cut across the doors and interfered with their operation so the were screwed shut. The glass windows in the ends were also plated over and the only external modification was a roof of a slightly shallower pitch. In 1939, the first of the V20s (No. 42243) was converted back to grain traffic and the other 11 vehicles followed suit by the end of 1940 - presumably for the war effort. This final rebuild did away with the original convertible nature of the wagon and also finally did away with the side doors once and for all. The example at Didcot is another that is owned by our friends in the 813 Fund. It is currently hiding round the back of the carriage and wagon works and has a tarpaulin over the top to prevent water ingress via the roof hatch. It is overall in quite good condition however and should make a fine display piece one day. On to the model, which is the time honoured kit bash of the LNER Parkside vehicle. The panel layout is a bit different and the braces change but the overall dimensions and look of the thing is spot on. I toyed with the idea of modifying the sides but on reflection, I figured that it was just as easy - if not easier - to make new sides. LMS buffers complete the look. I scraped off the L angle from the end panels and then added my own blank sides from pre scored styrene and new L angles from appropriate sections. This is where the award for 'King Stupid for the Month' comes into play. I spent a couple of hours producing the sides you see below. Which is great if you are doing them in their first incarnation. However, I'm not. I don't know quite how I did this having already read the chapter on the wagon in the big book and realised that in their rebuilt form, there are NO SIDE DOORS... This early version is clearly more work and having go as far as I did, I was quite annoyed. Needless to say, one or two choice word were uttered and we started again. Thankfully, the wagon came apart again fairly easily... That's better - and a great deal easier! I also put the hopper and the under frame detail together mostly as per the kit and added the panels that hold the control for the hopper door too. Brass was then thrown on in the form of an etched step in opposing corners and handle on the sides and on the roof. I also threw on a bodge to the axle boxes to make them more to the GWR flavour. I also remade the roof as there was a lot of detail that needed changing and it was just simpler to start again. Once the roof was done, the end hand rails were made with 0.3mm wire from MSE which is intended for signal use but it was lovely to work with. I shall be using this for handrails again! A few bits to suggest the hopper operating mechanism was added to finish off. Paint, transfers and weathering later and Little No. 42239 lives! Well, that took longer than it should due to incompetence on my part. It is a well trodden path so I claim no originality here but this is, I think, at least my own version of the project. If you get it right, it's not too taxing and well within most people's skills to do. I think the new sides made it far easier as refinishing the planked sides would have taken far longer. I only need the one but I can see that a short production line would be more than possible and could be finished in a fairly short time. All the best, Castle

Hi Northroader, No, the wheelsets supplied are quite heavy so I didn't add any more weight. It floats around on its own and seems to not have a problem on my test points. I hope this helps! All the best, Castle

Hi All, Hi Stewart, Sadly not - 20th is the next one and then 3rd June. I will be doing RAILEX on the 27th... If this ties in at all please stop and say hi! That's another member of the 6 wheel club - well done Rich! All the best, Castle

Hi OTBL, Yes, you can glue whitemetal but it's MUCH stronger if you solder it. Low melt solder is made out to be a black art but it really isn't.. A decent temperature controlled iron and some good flux and solder and you will be well away! Don't forget that Parkside do a plastic kit of a MICA in 4mm scale too! All the best, Castle

Hi Mick, You are getting good at this - well done! If it's any help, Ambis Engineering do a really good range of etched shackles and chains. It's best to drop them an e-mail with what you want from their website and they will arrange an order for you. All the best, Castle

Hi All, Thanks No. 46! I am really enjoying your build of Hercules so I'm glad you have enjoyed some of my work too! Go on Chris - you know you want to... Join the exclusive club - there can't be that many people out there with one in 4mm scale!* All the best, Castle *and here comes 300 pictures from people that have models of the 6 wheel Beetles!

Hi Keith, Yep correct - one traction motor still fitted in the centre of the modified bogie! All the best, Castle

Holy Cow! Hi All, The closest thing to a complete and fully original GWR designed cattle conveyance is squirrelled away at the back of the carriage shed at Didcot Railway Centre. This is the Diagram W17 BEETLE Special Cattle Van (SCV) No. 725 built in 1952 as part of lot 1774. The only thing that makes this one a little less Swindon is that it wasn't built at Swindon. It was built to a Western Region design by the works at Ashford. Apologies for the less than stellar prototype photo but the light at the back of the carriage shed is quite poor... The first prize cattle wagon dates back to 1888 and was in fact one of the first goods vehicles to be given passenger vehicle equipment but remained in goods train formations. This vehicle had Mansell wheels and safety chains and other such period items. A compartment for a groom or attendant was not provided and in truth it was just as open as the typical unfitted cattle wagons. As time went on, the special cattle wagons became more enclosed, looking a bit like a cross between a cattle wagon and a SIPHON. The W6 & W7 types from 1907 began to resemble the Didcot example in that the space for the individual animals was increased and the centralised attendants compartment had been added. Inside, there was a water tank in the roof which supplied water troughs and fodder racks to supply the cargo with sustenance. With a series of modifications up to the W14, the GWR vehicles were constructed up to 1937. The biggest difference between the older GWR types and the Didcot W17 is obviously the centre wheel set. This is not braked but of course improves the distribution of weight over the vehicle. The model required that I buy two of the Parkside Dundas kits for the 1927 Diagram W7 version of the BEETLE. These are very close to the W17 apart from the chassis of course. I started here as if this bit didn't work, I would have to think again! Chop, chop, chop (as Alice Cooper once sang!)... I added the two modified sole bars to the floor moulding and tried it through a bit of pointwork and it seemed to go very well! The secret here is the old 'oversize tube axle' dodge. The wheels were pulled off their axle. The plastic centres were then carefully reamed out to fit the plastic tube which had been cutting width. The wheels were stuck in place with thin superglue. The axle was put in the tube and then the axle was clipped into the axle boxes. The floor was cut away above the wheels to allow the wheels to go all the way up on their new axle. A tray was made in styrene to hold the liquid gravity and this was glued in with the same thin superglue. The body was made up... ...and added to the chassis. LMS castings for the GWR self contained buffers were added. The kit's brake mouldings were added and a few etchings from the scrap box were adapted to form the rest of the detail of the brakes and brake levers. The roof is just resting in place as we are doing BR(W) maroon livery and the roof needs to be a different colour. Steps, couplings and a few other last details go on. A splash of paint next! Then a few transfers from the CCT range went on too. After weathering and final assembly, we can call this one finished! That was a fun little build that doesn't require a huge amount of work to bash the already interesting kit subject, into an even more unusual prototype. I could have spent less by simply ordering the kit parts I needed and the extra wheels and bearings directly from Parkside but there is a nice pile of bits in the scrap box now so this is a good thing! All the best, Castle

Hi All, No. 18000 was built to just under 13' 4" and therefore is too tall for the modern network and it would not be looked on kindly by the modern authorities as a result. The lower body modifications are a major headache - quite right Pete - but the locomotive was give a special one way trip into DRC despite this. It was a slow, specially routed job with lots of eyes on the ground equipment all around as it came through, but, there were no wires up at the time. What was a "yes, just this once if you are really careful" then might well have been be a "no" now. Never say never, but whichever way you cut it, it's a pain as non standard things are always a bit difficult on the big railway. Funnily enough, cutting it up and loading it into some wagons might well be the easy way to get it out again...* I suppose you could put a new bogie in and undo the other external modifications. The problem with the height is that she is just under 13' 4" for almost her full length. The King and Castles at DRC can be cut down to fit but its just cab roof / spectacle plate and chimney capuchon for the Castle and add to that the upper boiler fittings and the chimney itself on the King. Can you imagine the level of surgery required to get No. 18000 down to nearer 13'?! I suppose you could machine 8" off the wheel diameters? Hat, coat, gone... By the way, my first ever project chronicled on RMWEB on my Little Didcot thread (link below) was my Little No. 18000 if anyone is interested. I thought that building this would be a sure fire way of promoting someone like Heljan to immediately make an RTR model of her but apparently not this time! All the best, Castle * I am kidding here!

Hi All, Why does it need to be a new build? http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/18000/18000.html Best of luck getting it out of the railway centre though with the wires up... All the best, Castle

Hi Mick, Top job - well done! I agree with others here, wagon kits are addictive and this is just the tip of the iceberg. It starts with a little light detailing - some Lanarkshire Models and Supplies buffers here or an etched brake handle or two there. There will then be a wagon you see a diagram for that isn't produced but, that one is kind of close isn't it? Then there is all sorts of kit bashing in your future too. And, one day, the wagon you want just isn't there as a kit. You do know the truly dark area this all leads to don't you? Scratchbuilding... In all truth, it is a great way to accomplish a nice little project, get something that runs and to achieve it all quickly. I have said before, they are the Pringles of the model railway world! Keep up the good work - a smattering of care and confidence in equal measure will see you through most of the kits out there. All the best, Castle PS: I think some sort of sub-forum / help group on RMWEB is needed. Wagons Builders Anonymous anyone?

Hi Scott, It looks like the LNER has been exporting a few creature comforts to a mogul... Yikes! All the best, Castle