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After bashing the Newqida vans I remembered I had a couple of cheapo open wagons which I bought over 10 years ago, sitting on the shelf (one of my existing opens in between for comparison). As you can see, they were too large for my railway but, given the Newqida van was as well I decided to attack them.
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The wagons were made by Echo Toys in the 1990s but can still be found on eBay from time to time (one on there at the moment for around £6.00, but it's in the USA). I started with the most challenging one which had been painted green (badly).
Out came the trusty razor saw and and it was hacked about a fair bit - trying to retain as much of the moulded detail as possible
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I think it's turned out OK - well not bad considering the original cost.
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The second one should be easier - I've learnt how to do it by now and I don't have to strip off the old paint.
Rik
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:45 pm
by tom_tom_go
You cease to amaze Rik!
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 7:48 pm
by ge_rik
tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:45 pm
You cease to amaze Rik!
I do hope you mean " ..... never cease to amaze ... " Tom.
Rik
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 8:17 am
by pandsrowe
I must say I am a little disappointed here Rik, here's me thinking I'm going to see a step by step conversion when all of a sudden after the first saw cut the wagon is finished
Seriously though, another brilliant conversion, do you plan these in detail before you start or do you just make it up as you go along?
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 8:45 am
by ge_rik
pandsrowe wrote: ↑Sat Sep 15, 2018 8:17 am
I must say I am a little disappointed here Rik, here's me thinking I'm going to see a step by step conversion when all of a sudden after the first saw cut the wagon is finished
Seriously though, another brilliant conversion, do you plan these in detail before you start or do you just make it up as you go along?
Very much make it up as I go along, Phil, though I do spend about ten minutes beforehand figuring out where I'll make the cuts and generally stick to that. Mind you, on this one I did vary which three planks I removed on each side to see which would make it easier to cut back the diagonals on the doors. Actually managed to do this one without slicing into any of my fingers - a first!
I'll write up the full process as a blog post when I've done the second one - though I could document that conversion here if you prefer.
Rik
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 10:09 am
by ge_rik
Talking about making it up as I go along ..... After looking at the pictures of the wagon, I decided the proportions looked wrong, so I decided to add another plank over the solebar. I think it looks a bit better.
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Rik
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 6:38 pm
by ge_rik
pandsrowe wrote: ↑Sat Sep 15, 2018 8:17 am
I must say I am a little disappointed here Rik, here's me thinking I'm going to see a step by step conversion when all of a sudden after the first saw cut the wagon is finished
How about this? Only half-finished so far (unlisted on Youtube as yet). Will finish off the rest tomorrow mebbe......
Rik
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:56 am
by IanC
Blimey Rik. I knew you were quick, but that's a speedy build. At that rate I reckon you can build a wagon every two minutes.
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 12:52 pm
by ge_rik
IanC wrote: ↑Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:56 am
Blimey Rik. I knew you were quick, but that's a speedy build. At that rate I reckon you can build a wagon every two minutes.
I wish .....
One of my favourite films as a kid was "London to Brighton in Four Minutes". Does anyone else remember it?
Rik
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 2:08 pm
by philipy
Blimey! My head is spinning from that build video! Well done.
Yes, I remember the London to Brighton in 4 minutes.Used to love that. They showed it at school from time to time when we had a film evening! ( back in the days when hardly anyone had a little 9" screen black & white tv).
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:32 pm
by ge_rik
Now finished the bash of the second wagon. Seems to look OK.
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And here's how I dun it.....
Hope it's of interest.
Rik
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:08 pm
by IanC
Yes. I remember the London to Brighton film too.
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:34 am
by Lonsdaler
IanC wrote: ↑Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:08 pm
Yes. I remember the London to Brighton film too.
They did several didn't they. I'm sure i remember one of Euston to Birmingham
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 12:53 pm
by Andrew
Love the curved ends - very Southwold-esque!
And yes, I've always been fond of "London to Brighton"... It had an almost mythical status to me, because my dad was very fond of it and had told me all about it long before I ever saw it... There was an 80s version too, with Rail Blue EMUs all over the place, almost as historic as the original now...
Cheers,
Andrew.
PS Inspired by all this cheapo wagon-bashing I've just made an eBay purchase... It probably won't amount to anything any time soon, but it'll be another project to daydream about, and we all need a few of those...
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:01 pm
by IanC
My cheapo building is wagons from lolly sticks and coffee stirrers. The aim is to build wagons for less than £20 after buying wheels, axleboxes and buffers. Everything else is from bits 'n' pieces I already have. I should peruse the auction sites more.
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:25 pm
by philipy
Nice job Rik, I do like te rounded ends.
I've had a number of cheapo wagons sitting in a box for years, perhaps when I've done the stream, reroofed the thatched cottage...!
Re: Latest bash on the PLR
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:33 pm
by ge_rik
Thanks chaps. Yes, I thought the second wagon looked like it could have originated on the Southwold. I do like curved-end wagons.