Adam

Aha! I've always wondered what these looked like, ever since I found the diagram for them. The cradles are very like those in the converted pig iron wagons (Coil Cs) with moveable bolsters: http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/BRFreight2Issue.pdf (pages 46 and 47 of the PDF) The diagram states that the end door was 'locked' (presumably welded up). There were 200 of these, with the numbers given - the second wagon from the camera (B266689, I think it is) looks interesting because it appears to be grey - the lettering is clearly on a black patch - but with what appears to be a vac' cylinder clearly visible and the inverted white triangle on the door indicating (actually, what does that indicate? Where the vac' release cord was?). being in the middle of the rake, I assume that it was vac' fitted. The plate affixed to the side looks a bit like this one attached to a 24 1/2 tonner: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/110665-return-to-plate-on-br-24-12-ton-mineral-wagon-oakdale-colliery/ So, more than enough gen to model the type now. Great! Adam

The one shown at Pen Mill was in service in 1974 - I doubt that it lasted all that much longer. I'll ask my dad if he can remember, but I suspect that they went about the time RCH type containers ceased to be used. Adam

It would be about the right time for the construction of Hinkley Point A (as Brian says) - work began there in 1957 - though there was quite a substantial amount of building and residential expansion under way in and around Bridgwater at about that time so it could be something else. That the tippers appear to have been modified with roofs suggests that this was regular work and the steel reinforcing rod (at least, I assume that's what it is) would tend towards power station construction work. Adam

That's a great find Bubbles - in addition to the Freightlifter, there's a Ransomes and Rapier electric crane, pair of Blue Circle liveried tippers (both Kew Dodges, I think), Scammell Mechanical Horse, a Presflo in early condition without the additional side struts, a rake of Conflat Ls with associated containers (one being discharged) and assorted bogie bolsters delivering steel rod. I especially like the wagon sheets draped over the buffer stops at the siding end. Wonderful! A little further south east, Yeovil Pen Mill had one and I'd be surprised if there weren't more at say, Taunton, Exeter and so on. https://www.flickr.com/photos/invader1009/14664462249/ Adam

Much better! And it was already really good, well worth the effort expended. Adam

Thanks for the digressions about covhops, very interesting. Meanwhile, I've been pottering about with a couple of things, notably a Parkside 21 tonner which will end up branded for Charringtons coal traffic. The prototype picture (which I can't reproduce here since it's not my copyright) shows a Freight Brown vehicle with boxed lettering, through vacuum pipe but without the vac' bags or brake cylinders - odd. Here's an exemplar courtesy of Paul Bartlett (thanks again Paul): http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/br21thopperweld/h3d4f477e#h3d4f477e As well as that, they'll be brake levers with a reinforcing rib and fabricated open steps, like this one (again, thanks to Paul for recording these wagons and for making these pictures available): http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/br21thopperweld/h29810564#h29810564 This isn't exactly what the Parkside kit provides for but the modifications are quite simple. The end supports in the kit are the plate type, and those required were, I think, angle or channel. They'll be Evergreen strip on mine. While it all goes together fairly well, as the last couple I built did, but the interior will need a fair bit of filler. Hornby's most recent effort - for one of the riveted versions of these hoppers - does all this rather well. The weathering, by the by, was simply a series of enamel washes, matt 100 and metalcote gunmetal, followed up with black weathering powders. I'm still quite pleased with it. The same method probably won't work with a welded body, but we'll have to wait and see. Adam

Glad to see that it's got this far and pleased to hear that it runs! My temptation would be to clean the tank sides of the prairie and then maybe work back in. You could paint or blacken the crossheads too. A couple of other things though; perhaps the smokebox plate should be a bit further down the door - the brackets on the real thing generally fitted over the top of the hinge and pushed the plate noticeably proud of the door. plates at the top of the door were an Eastern region thing but not on the Western. Perhaps this one was different? Weren't the bunker number plates on these cast iron rather than brass? That probably doesn't matter, but on such a grubby loco, they are certainly too clean. Sorry if this sounds picky, but having worked so hard to get this far, it would be good to get the last little things right. Adam PS - Are vac' pipes on the agenda?

Thanks Brian - there's more detail on the wagons (Covhops and Presflos) used for Delabole traffic here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/9674-north-cornwall-railway/?p=123647 http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/75331-kernow-model-rail-centre-cornish-exclusive-wagons-oo-gauge/?p=1138789 One thing that is very evident from other published information is how many different traffics these were used for and how, in the early period of their existence, they could evidently be found in penny numbers in mixed freights all over the place. All this means is that I have a pair; that's probably plenty. Adam

Anyhow, a few days later, lightly dusted and dusted with talc (smells lovely): And from above - note the work done on the catwalks; boltheads dimpled and painted to represent the wood of the originals. Since we tend to veiw models from above, this is worth the effort. Adam

Thank you for the likes, the clicks on the other buttons and the kind words; these have come out quite well, I think. Thanks, I don't think there are any preserved, but Paul Bartlett has an excellent gallery of the type, here: http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brcovhop It's not done yet - there are some streaks that are not quite vertical and these need tidying up. There's also the question of load spillage which was characteristic of the type. I have some ideas about this, but haven't tried them yet. Adam

That's the aim, as well as I can, but perfection? That'd be too much to ask. Thank you everyone. Anyhow, for the benefit of @Zero Gravitas, this isn't exactly a step by step (because I haven't anything to hand), but this should give you an idea. I do everything by brush and this is based on practice rather than any particular recipe and nothing is really new - Martyn Welch was my guide; I've just adjusted the ideas and techniques for the smaller scale. Would they work in 7mm? No idea. 2mm would probably need a different approach again. I start with a base coat of rust colour, to choice (this was metalcote gunmetal and a bit of orange). Allow to harden for a good while, though it may need a couple of coats. This pair of NCB hoppers from Dave Bradwell kits give you the next phase, the livery colour splodged roughly over the top (copying photos, that's the key). Again, that's allowed to dry for a few days (quicker if you use acrylics, and why not?), before lettering, by hand in this case, before damp brushing - a sort of dry brushed technique with thinned rust colours with washes to fill out the corners. Note that I've left rust showing through at the seams where water and other things would attack the edges of the platework. Once that's dry you can either knock back the effects with a thinners-moistened cotton bud or accentuate it with 'normal' dry brushing to simulate knocks and chips and so on. There's no substitute for looking at the real thing (builders lorries provide an excellent and readily accessible simulation of the kind of abuse steel wagons got and still receive). Hope that helps? Adam

So here we are, one complete hopper (the grain), one near complete (the covhop), and one started (see below). First, fresh from the paintshop: The better of the two sides - I've just done a bit of remedial work on the other. Transfers are a mix of CCT and the usually useless HMRS sheet. The 'GRAIN' branding is actually usable, and resembles the real thing! Two sides of the covhop next. This needs to harden off properly for a few days before being treated to a bit of dust from its load. Nearly there, however. Meanwhile, here's another hopper; a Parkside 21 tonner which will be based on that part of the fleet branded for Charringtons. The prototype is interesting in that it had all the fittings for vacuum brake bar the crucial ones: a hose and a cylinder! Adam

I've learnt never to take anything chassis related for granted though wagons seldom cause me any significant problems, locos always seem to lead me a merry dance. I'm pleased to see that the hard work is starting to pay off and that you have something that looks prairie-shaped and that (finally) moves. I look forward to the next instalment. Adam

A view from the paintshop. First, the GW opens, now complete: And with the first stage of weathering applied, a couple of Bachmann hoppers: Adam

Escaping the unexpected heat this afternoon, following the addition of livery colour and a first pass on the underframes, the GW opens have been given identities or, in one case, a couple of identities based on the wagon illustrated in the picture below. This has been extensively re-planked including planks from some other vehicle, retaining its original lettering: https://www.flickr.com/photos/david_christie/8375659451/in/set-72157625418636168/ The lettering is a mix of Modelmaster's (no longer available) ex-Cambrian sheet and Cambridge Custom Transfers, the arrangement being based on photos. Finally, with the load for one posed and the first pass weathering painting in the replaced planks. Already two near identical wagons look slightly different. Now to leave them for the paint to harden off for a day or two. Adam

Inching forward now, and the GW pair have taken the lead, arriving at the primer stage. I'm quite pleased with the little rope cleats which I've done using little bits of 10 thou' solvent welded in place and, once set, pinched at the ends with pliers. The BR hybar hasn't got to the same stage just yet, but it's getting there and really, all that's left to do is the tarp' bar which will be a bit of a fiddle involving flattening and drilling 0.7mm brass - the scale of the challenge is here, but the tarp rail fittings from Rumney Models are very good: http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/wagondetailspoetc/h1dbaf749#h1dbaf749 So, all good fun. Adam

Thanks Colin (and to all the button clickers). Since we won that particular game, I'm happy. The one dayer from Trent Bridge occupied this evening, but tomorrow's game is off so modelling may be the winner. I have trimmed the clips back though. Adam

Not a lot of modelling on the agenda just lately but I have managed to progress a few things, just a little bit. Hence, here we have the three opens which now all have door springs (of different patterns - scrap etch in the case of the GW pair and spares from Rumney Models for the BR one). The GW opens, being modelled on earlier versions of the GW 5 and half plank, have necessitated more modifications with more to come. The most obvious are the capping clips which I have done in this instance by cutting slots in the top edge with a razor saw and fitting little bits of 20 thou' plastic solvent-welded in. This idea came from Colin Parks [thank you Colin] and works quite well; it's certainly less fiddly than mucking about with 5 thou'. The protector plate on the door has been moved closer to the centre line to match the door spring (itself moved in order to make way for the vac' cylinder). The other side of the same wagon - the prototype picture I'm following shows different types of tie-down cleats at different points on the same side - the round ones are taken from the Rumney Models etch for tarp' rail details - and different capping clips (that type will be better rendered using 5 thou' strip, being longer and wider). Almost time for brake levers and then, paint! That's all for another time. Meanwhile, it's currently dry and Cricket is calling... Adam

Looks good - a nice rendition of squared, uncoursed stone walling. What's up with the prairie chassis? Adam

And this - which I hadn't seen before now: http://railphotoprints.zenfolio.com/p395858735/h1670D20A#h1670d20a This confirms the heavy fading and - to me anyway, the green looks like heavily faded BR(S) stock green. This image on ebay (though I'm sure I've seen it somewhere else, Railway Bylines, perhaps?) shows the earlier livery and supports my thought that it was bought by the SR in standard Ruston finish: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTE0MlgxNjAw/z/tfIAAOSwU9xUTStb/$_1.JPG Adam

Nice to see someone taking this up as a layout idea = I had toyed with it myself but never got further than daydreaming about it. Good work - the embankment should make for a useful backdrop. Adam

Long-winded it may be, but it is certainly informative and thus useful. Thank you. You wouldn't happen to know where their facilities were (or even some of them) in south Wales by any chance and which, if any were likely to use tinplate? There is, as you might gather a South-Walian layout plan somewhere in the back of my mind. Adam

There's no date quoted, but inter-war, I would think, probably the 1920s. Adam

The style certainly changed over the years (not altogether surprising as styles and tastes change in typography as much as anything else). Compare the Peckett official pictures below: http://www.martynbane.co.uk/peckett/slides/page62.html http://www.martynbane.co.uk/peckett/slides/page67.html and also http://www.martynbane.co.uk/peckett/slides/page78.html Adam

Here we go. I'm not sure of the date, but the photographer was a railwayman based at Yeovil and this picture was taken in the course of his duties. Members of Yeovil MRG were asked to clear the house and this was one of the pictures that emerged. This is not the condition in which it was acquired by the SR... Adam