The Bigbee Line

Can you post some links. thanks

It's buffers and couplings on the G W van. My plan for a central spring won't work on this one as the brakework is in the way. So I used the as purchased spring, but really struggled to get the nuts on. In the end I resorted to a strip of 'post it' and a coffee stirrer.... Little bleeders did not want to go on. If I had to go under the table I must have gone down at least a dozen times to retrieve bits......... I then checked the size of a fitted buffer, using my conversion chart a 1'8.1/2" buffer scales out at 11.96mm. the nuts were screwed on to achieve this projection. I opened the headstock to take some Dapol Screw Couplings. I wanted to have these hanging from their 'rest hooks' so roughed one up from a small piece of wire. Because the tommy bar is fixed, I had to reverse the coupling in the drawhook. To aid this I filed a gedges flat on the coupling (quite crudly I'm afraid...) Here the flat is lined up with the slot and the coupling removed, flopped over and re-fitted.. Here is the finished product, I'm quite pleased with the effect and the ease that the rest hook can be fitted.

Yesterday was a sorting out day. found some floor under the junk. I fought the carpet monster and retrieved a couple of buffers and axle bearings..... I also found a piece of Evergreen Tube, from an assortment pack. The hole was the right size to take the threaded end of a buffer. Just need to see what it is sold as and get a pack. I also found a biro spring. Might be able to use some. At the Churnet Valley today so it will be Tuesday before the next instalment.

The Class 37 brake block assembly is quite complex and you can't actually see too much of the block. Here is a picture that might be of some use showing the key parts. Quite basic in design but performs well in service, if a little labour intensive as it needs manual adjustment on the slack adjuster, then attention over a pit to adjust the rods, all in addition to the block change when they are worn out..

Good evening Life and work have inhibited modelling this week. I did make a purchase of some buffer shanks from ebay, I got 24 which will be useful as some of my purchased spares and repair items are without buffers. I am not a fan of the spring that goes in the shank.. So I thought of mounting them without the spring and screwing them into a block of some kind. A quick search found a bit of round sprue, roughly cut to length and a hole in the end... The buffer will tap its own thread, then mounted on the wagon.. So on the left it is fully compressed, on the right extended... Not sure what to spring it with yet...

There are lots of pictures of GW toads converted to run with cranes as mess vans. When were these converted?

Here’s my crap weathering on the Dapol Brake. I looked at pictures of step boards to pick the colour. The ironwork needs an even overcoat of grime.

The Chas. Roberts van. Not sure if the tare is as shown. Maybe the Roberts vans were light weights.

The GW van with roof. Seems to be getting there. Roof needs rain strips etc and painting.

It's only when I look at my pictures can I actually see what's going on......... Must get the magnifier out.... The Big E has gone,,,,,

Another van lettered. Again the Microscale sheet has been used. I have seen the BIG E used, but think I may replace with the same size....

The GW 12 ton box has received another wash, and the body colour is almost there. The roof has been painted with body colour on the underside and cemented to the body. The vents are open at the bottom, so the fumes should dissipate OK. I have added a number on one side. I have various decal sheets, but have a big gripe with most UK ones... I can't see the lettering, it is white on white backing paper. I have tried the trick of using a dark felt tip on the back of the sheet as a contrast, but is a pain... The lettering used here is Microscale, the actual sheet is a Norfolk Southern Diesel sheet in N scale. The backing sheet has a bluish tinge so the lettering is visible....... For me the font looks right. Although this will be a fitted van I have a couple of pictures where a patch of body colour has been applied as a background to the lettering. Just need the 12 T now....

I’ve another brake van to do. I think I’ll do an all over this rust wash, then dry brush with the grey. I’m looking for a colour picture to use for the step boards. I might change the rain strips on the second one.

Finally a Lionheart Mineral that gets a brush when the paint brush gets cleaned with thinners.

A Dapol BR Brake that has been rust washed and is now getting the grey dry brushed back in layers..,,

This is an eBay ‘badly built’. In the shop to come out as a ‘Chas. Roberts’ 10’ WB. Wooden framed unfitted. It will have a 2 block Morton Brake. Should really have the “Doncaster strapping” on the bottom corners. First coat of the black patches, again to be masked off for the bodies next wash.

The crate and shock has also had a bit more weathering. I need some longer screws to reach the crate. Then it can stay in.

I won’t blame you Steve.... I’ve given the body various washes. Today a light brown wash in a Matt finish. Then a couple of darker patches as the base for the lettering. Tonight I’ll mask these off and give the whole thing a satin brown wash.....

Good morning Whichever style of wiring you decide upon, you need to check at every stage... Fault finding is a b@stard... I use red and black for track feeds, with the 'black to the back' to decide which rail it goes to. I like to wire up an old Doverbeck controller, as each wire is added I run a loco up and down to check progress and to show any shorts, trust me they will happen... For frogs/crossings I use another coloured wire.. Any just my thoughts, Have a nice day Ernie

Good morning Just finding my way around the new RM Web... Now the shock open is almost finished I thought I'd sort my various Kits to choose the next victim. A Parkside GW van fitted the bill. Assembled easily and I have a picture of an example seen during a 1980's visit to Three Bridges. It is a GW V21 Lot 999 114080 Seen here with a base coat of Humbrol 19 Gloss Red..... Recommended by Steve Farmer, so I'm giving it a go. Steve is no fool when it comes to modelling, so his advice is appreciated... Detail of the ironwork that wraps under the body and the goes down to join the solebar. Detail of the brake slide, no pin and holes.. just a set of teeth.... Buffers, Screw couplings and vacuum pipe detail. Detail of the metal angle that forms the end of the roof...

Not too much today, broke out the decals.... Not sure what to do with the other side, go earlier or later...

The open is taking shape now. The plastic spring covers are on and the various parts are being assembled. I want to get some lettering on and start weathering it.....

We went to Canterbury last weekend, but had to come home early because of Flu. It was the 'Final Fling' of Tonbridge West Yard and I had also been to its first outing to Blackburn over 30 years ago.. The Flu has been slow to go and am not completely over it. The only modelling of any kind has been shuffling of storage boxes... Tonight I thought I'd add the etched brass covers for the shock absorbing springs. I scored the etched fold line to make the bend easier, look how it turned out.... Pretty crap effort if you ask me...... So I've just knocked up a couple of styrene versions.... Hopefully I can add them tomorrow, that should allow a base coat on the underframe.....

Guy Thanks. In the new Larkin book he mentions that repair shops were allocated batches of numbers. Used as wagons were repaired. So I will assume a minor repair. Just need to look out for pictures now.

Guy Thanks for the information. Would such a wagon have survived to Nationalisation? Any guide is appreciated Thanks Ernie