Time to build a railway...but where?

[Peter Butler]

Thanks for that information Steve, I wasn't aware of the changes.
To get the ball rolling I can add pictures of my most recent build of one of Dave's (Sixteen Mills) kits. I previously mentioned purchase of two and began with details of the Horse Box, although whilst waiting for paints I have already finished the second kit first. This is a Fish Van with upper louvres and external overlays......

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After painting the box unit and overlays separately the overall effect looks very neat and tidy.....

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Earlier in the thread I have also shown his Covered Sheep Van and Serpent Brake-Van.
I hope Dave will show more of his range as they are very well constructed.

[Sixteen Mills]

The fish van looks great. A very neat job.
I've been doing some very minor tweaks today to a couple of G3 coaches. Hope to test cut tomorrow.

[FWLR]

Really impressed with the van Peter.

It's worth the time you put into them, you always produce excellent models. I always look forward to more of your work.

[Peter Butler]

Some time ago I scratch-built a pair of small coal wagons but never had a satisfactory way of coupling them. Conventional centre buffers were too big and small chain too difficult to connect. However, Jerry Irwin to the rescue with a new type of coupling he now makes himself......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccMIKsvF5W8&t=11s

I have fitted some to my wagons and I think they look the part and work well.....

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[Andrew]

Those look very good indeed... I could do with something similar for smaller wagons, but with a conventional hook on top, might have to invest in some of these and have a play - thanks Peter!

Andrew.

[philipy]

Interesting Peter, thanks.
What are they made of?
In design terms they look reminiscent of Festiniog couplings, although I'm no expert.

[Andrew]

In design terms they look reminiscent of Festiniog couplings, although I'm no expert.

Nor me, but I think you're right - the ones on the FR 2T slate waggons are like that minus to he central strengthening bit...

Andrew

[Peter Butler]

Interesting Peter, thanks.
What are they made of?

My guess is that they are printed in UV resin..... they are black on the surface but beneath that they seem to be opaque. They show no striations and are ready to be attached to the wagon, although I did file off the paint for better adhesion.

[FWLR]

Those wagon do look so good Peter. I think I will need to go back to Plasticard to make some similar.
It's the wheel sets that are in short supply for me at the moment though.

[Jerry]

Just a a little update on the couplings that Peter has fitted.
I loosley designed them on a Slate Wagon Festiniog image. They were designed to be fitted to my New Slate Wagon that I am at present designing.
I ended up designing 2 types. The one as fitted to Peter's wagon ( as well as glue can also be secured by 2 off 2 mm Alen Bolts / nuts ) and a second that is similar but has no 'buffer bar' and relies on glue bond.
If any others are interested I can do ANY CHANGES required.
I have carried out pull / break tests and the chain parts company with its self at 5 Kg.. see you tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNbc5FFwlms

They are indeed UV Resin Based. They are not painted, that is the colour of the resin . But when scraped / sanded they have a grey colour.
I will leave it to the experts why the colour is different .. way above my pay grade !!!
After designing them it was suggested that I put them on ebay for others to enjoy..
This I have done.
Any other questions then thru forum or email me direct... Jerry.irwin@homecall.co.uk

[Peter Butler]

Many thanks for the detailed information Jerry, they certainly look good on my small wagons and I am in the market for more..... email to follow!

[ge_rik]

Just a a little update on the couplings that Peter has fitted.
I loosley designed them on a Slate Wagon Festiniog image. They were designed to be fitted to my New Slate Wagon that I am at present designing.
I ended up designing 2 types. The one as fitted to Peter's wagon ( as well as glue can also be secured by 2 off 2 mm Alen Bolts / nuts ) and a second that is similar but has no 'buffer bar' and relies on glue bond.
If any others are interested I can do ANY CHANGES required.
I have carried out pull / break tests and the chain parts company with its self at 5 Kg.. see you tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNbc5FFwlms

They are indeed UV Resin Based. They are not painted, that is the colour of the resin . But when scraped / sanded they have a grey colour.
I will leave it to the experts why the colour is different .. way above my pay grade !!!
After designing them it was suggested that I put them on ebay for others to enjoy..
This I have done.
Any other questions then thru forum or email me direct... Jerry.irwin@homecall.co.uk

Hi Jerry
Do you want to start a thread in the Suppliers Forum. I've just unlocked it so you and other suppliers can post info about products there.

Rik

[Peter Butler]

Continued from page 165... 'Sixteen Mills' Horsebox kit.
The kit went together without any issues being well designed and cut from MDF. Whenever there is an overlay framework I always paint the parts separately to make it easier and tidier. In this case however, with the exception of the ends, I had to paint frames and other parts which were cut from the same sheet without overlays. It takes longer and needs a steady hand, but the finish is satisfactory.....

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In addition to the kit as supplied I also fitted metal wheels, Binnie buffers, rivet (coach-bolt) heads, cast brass door handles, company initial lettering and crest, finished off with a clear satin lacquer.....

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That is another stock item finished and put safely in a box waiting for some sunshine.

[Soar Valley Light]

Hello Peter,

That's yet another superb vehicle. The Sixteen Mills kits appear to be lovely vehicles. Based on your description of the builds I'm tempted. I'm not sure I could make quite such a good job but they look like they would be a pleasure to put together in themselves.

Thanks for the description and the photo's of the finished article.

CFLR Andrew

[Peter Butler]

Since moving away from scratch-building to kits I have experienced many different standards of manufacture, the majority of which have satisfied my 'value for money' quest. 'Sixteen Mills' kits have met that criteria with honours. It is important to look carefully at any kit offered for sale as they don't necessarily conform to a standard 16mm. dimensional expectation. It must be remembered that prototype stock was built for a specific use on any narrow gauge railway, either for carrying goods or taking environmental restrictions into account. The horsebox is based on Irish 3ft. railway stock and modelled in 15mm/ft scale, making it a larger than normal vehicle. On the other hand, some freelance kits are possibly smaller than average, but when stock is based on Ffestiniog Railway items they look perfectly OK together.
Just to show a quite extreme comparison these are two such examples.....

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As long as these are not used together I have no problem with the size. In fact, when scratch-building I had made a cattle wagon from HIP and when the horsebox is put alongside it they are perfectly matched......

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Should anyone need clarification about dimensions, Dave at 'Sixteen Mills' is open to discussion and even modification to his kits.

[ge_rik]

Wow, that's quite a difference in scale, Peter. I wouldn't have expected such a wide variation between 15mm and 16mm scale. I have models in both scales on my railway and not noticed such a big difference.

Rik

[Soar Valley Light]

Hi Peter,

That's a really important point and most dramatically made. One thing I always check when looking at kits is the overall height. I'm sure some people would find character in a variety of stock heights and the effect it creates, personally I prefer stock that looks like it was all built to the same overall specification for the railway, at least within the same train - the very point you make in your post and which your photo's so splendidly illustrate.

Just out of interest, how tall are the two larger vehicles?

All the best,

CFLR Andrew

[Peter Butler]

Just out of interest, how tall are the two larger vehicles?

CFLR Andrew

The dimensions of Dave's kits are shown on his website.... 'Sixteen Mills'.... The horsebox is.... L. 220. W. 105. H. 160. (mm). I think my HIP cattle truck was based on W&L stock, so is fairly substantial.

[FWLR]

Thank you so much Peter for your excellent explanation of kit size's. Scale is something I find so hard to fathom. I usually look at my "Billy" for height for most, which isn't much, of my builds and you have shown what to look out for to all members when considering kits and indeed scratch building.

This surge, well it's been going for sometime now, in 7/8th's for 32mm and I guess 45mm was something I was considering doing at one time. Would I be right in saying that 15mm scale is on the lines of 7/8th's, or am I completely talking rubbish.

[FWLR]

I do love the horse box by the way.....