AeroTram

[Petersfield]

Wandering round a few sites this evening, I saw this: https://www.platewaymodels.co.uk/shop/p ... -tram-semi

Alternative with a capital 'A' I think? Cheaper than most locos as well!

Yes - I'm tempted!

[ge_rik]

I hadn't realised how many models they had in their range. Some very nice Irish stock there

Rik

[Petersfield]

Yes, I think the range has expanded a bit recently. Last year* I bought a couple of their wagons to try, partly with a view to future kitbashing. I also keep looking at the sleeper wagons and pondering an Emmett-esque special train. It wouldn't be in Mr B's class but it might amuse me. Perhaps a Dictator (for Life) of [the Back Garden], with a personal - though unarmoured - train, sleeper, dining and kitchen cars, observation and cigar saloons etc.? This could be his Sunday morning 'play vehicle'!

* I've opened the boxes... (On a serious note, I'd suggest anyone getting the wagons think carefully about upgrading to the enhanced chassis, from the limited work I've done so far it looks like they are much better than the standard chassis wheels and it's only another £3/£4 per wagon).

[WLR_CD]

I have a couple of their cattle wagons on the shelf waiting to be built.
They do look like nice kits.
Martin

[Old Man Aaron]

I quite like that!

And wow, their range has expanded hugely since I last looked. I hope the owner does well for all the time they've put into designing and manufacturing these kits.

[Petersfield]

I quite like that!

And wow, their range has expanded hugely since I last looked. I hope the owner does well for all the time they've put into designing and manufacturing these kits.

Yes, I spoke to him at Exeter. I've been there (sort of, more 'indoor' modelling and scales) and you do need a reward in appreciation (and hard cash!) when you've made a serious effort to offer a decent product otherwise it is too easy to get disheartened.

Well, I couldn't resist the delightful insanity of this kit - I bought one and it arrived today. I have to finish a fish van first to avoid having too many half-finished projects on the workbench but then will have a crack at this. I've posted a Q re metal wheels - I think they would add some useful stability and weight - more news to follow!

[gilfachphil]

Micheal of Plateway is a good guy with great imagination and sense of humour, well worth chatting with him at one of the shows he attends. If you want to buy a particular kit it's worth getting in touch with him in advance as he cannot carry the whole range to every show.

I have made five of his kits so far, detailed in my thread:-

viewtopic.php?t=13912

Phil

[Petersfield]

... I have made five of his kits so far, detailed in my thread:-

viewtopic.php?t=13912

Phil

That's interesting, thanks. As above, I'm building a fish van at the moment, so page 17 had some useful info. It'll take me a while to read the whole thread, so my apologies if you've answered these already elsewhere in the thread but:

• where did you get the rivets (on the metalwork framing) from?

• did you spraypaint the topcoat or use a brush?

• you mention adding weight - this is something I would like to do (as per my thread about wheels) - what did you use?

In terms of grooves and gaps between the ends and the sides, this is something I've encountered - have you tried filler or glue to soak into the crevices and fill the cracks? I superglued the ends and sides to the floor/chassis but then when dry went over the joins again with Woodland Scenics glue (a concentrated/gloopy PVA type) which helped. There's also Deluxe Materials' 'Perfect plastic putty' (as the name implies, intended for plastic kits but a modelling compound rather than coarse DIY 'Polyfilla').

[gilfachphil]

The rivets are nail art , readily available via EBay. I measured the laser cut rings of the kit to get the best size. They are glued on once the first few coats of paint have been applied in case you need to rub down between coats.

I used rattle can paint, several coats for the white finish. A primer was used first. Close up I was not altogether satisfied with the quality of the finish but from a little further away it really is not an issue. Colours other than white are easier to get the best finish with.

The added weight, if I recall correctly, is self adhesive 10g steel squares fixed underneath the chassis.

With regard to filling the gaps, I do use Perfect Plastic Putty in places where it is really obvious that some filler is needed. Being a plywood kit means that you are unlikely to get a perfect smooth joint where several layers meet and it is very difficult to hide all of the surface effects of the grain so I go on the good enough but not perfect principle and remember that when looking at a train in motion it’s the overall appearance that really matters,

Phil

[Petersfield]

Thanks for the information.

Yes, I've worked with 1:1 wagons and smooth joints are the exception even there!

[Petersfield]

Has it really been six months?

Well, after I got some work round the house done, I now have a decent C&W workshop (estate agents would conventionally describe the space as a conservatory) and the furniture has gone back in. I mentioned this on another thread and Rik asked how long before I decided it was too small... well I'm happy enough with the workshop but would like a bigger desk! It's the same desk I've used for modelling for 15 or so years but in smaller scales. Though at the previous house I did have some shelves I could use as supplemental spaces. Hmmm, time for the tools to come out again!

I had serious problems in sourcing some metal wheels with the correct (3mm) journals. In the end I used a pair of Slaters metal tyred wheels acquired from a fellow 16mm group member. The axles on these had to be cut down in length but were the closest match I could find. I think someone on here suggested axles which sounded promising but turned out not to be. (I'll use them for something else). I did think long and hard about using the [plastic] wheels and axles supplied but did not like the idea of plastic wheels, partly for weight/stability reasons and partly for running reasons.

I confess I struggled with the instructions a bit. I had a lot of dry runs and used some Tacky Wax to hold things in situ to check they would work and I wasn't going to build myself into a corner. The basic chassis was straightforward to build, though some of the joints needed filing to fit without forcing them.

The wiring took some effort and I needed a bit of help. The length of wire provided proved too short and I had to use some of my own stock (finding this took an hour!) and solder a length to the wire provided. Fixing the wires in place to the switch, motor and battery box was a bit fiddly. You do need to anticipate quite a bit, not least keeping the wires out of the way of the wheels. Especially as the Slater's wheels I used were wider diameter than the plastic wheels supplied. There is very little clearance between the wheel flanges and the battery housing. I used two bolts from BA Bolts to locate the switch to the front bulkhead (10BA x 3/8" shallow head), these were a tight fit in the switch but hold the switch firmly. As a belt and braces measure, I also glued the switch's screw/bolt tabs to the bulkhead.

Two pictures of the build so far, showing the basic parts - the cigar box is an old one inherited from my father and used to keep my modelling drill bits and attachments in!

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After plenty of checking and some remedial filing and grinding, I test ran the chassis on Ingleby Yard before gluing the second solebar in place. It ran OK - though it shed the axle bearings a couple of times on the pointwork. More worryingly, it did derail half the time on the [Setrack] point frogs when running over the 'turn off' directions. I looked at this and tried running manually through the points and it still derailed half the time. When it did, the rear axle rode up on the outside of the bend and this forced the front axle to understeer into a derailment. Because of the weight being mainly at the rear of the vehicle, the front axle does ride up easily. I will try and weight the chassis more as I build the bodywork, especially over the front axle. (Watch this space). I did try the vehicle on Peco's Streamline points and it was quite happy with these, no derailments at all.

So as of this evening, the chassis is complete and tomorrow sees the start of the superstructure.

[Petersfield]

The 'cabin' went on without much fuss. There's a central 'spine' which provides a locating timber for the three seat and roof support pieces. Two armrest pieces glue against the outer two of these pieces and brace the whole seat assembly. The seats comprise two bases and two backs and except for the right hand base, these slotted into place without difficulty. There's a 'mirror-image' of the seat spine for the roof, this helps locate the three vertical pieces and form the roof support. Most of the work here is in painting the pieces rather than gluing them in place. I am currently undecided as to final livery so pro tem, went with a grey metalwork and light timber undercoat.

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[Petersfield]

The running boards were put in place. The cab front was (as advised) constructed separately and glued on afterwards. The roof was tricky, if I do more of these kits I will invest in one of Plateway's formers or make my own. I scored along the plank dividing lines and bent the roof piece between my fingers. After some work on this, I bent the roof piece over the supports and used bulldog clips to hold it in place while the superglue cured.

With the control desk, I added a brake lever. With the benefit of hindsight, this may have been tempting Fate. But while Plateway provide a [throttle] lever, there was no brake and while I'm not fussy enough to try and recreate a complete authentic set of controls, I thought a brake wouldn't go amiss. I placed a glob of glue on the ends of the wires, partly to simulate the knob each would have had and partly to avoid impaling any fingers handling that part of the vehicle.

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Caption competition time, our intrepid test pilot (Clouston, Biggles or Flight Lt Fairfax?), is looking decidedly perturbed. I want my nice simple firebox back!

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[Petersfield]

So, the moment of truth. The aerotram had run for five or six feet along Ingleby Yard but now it was time to head into the great outdoors. It posed with two of the Directors of the WLB and the Company Secretary for photos at the local station. These three very sensibly insisted on stepping off before traction tests began.

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And finally Ladies and Gentlemen, the test runs. Those of a nervous disposition, should not view the attached clips .... Anyone with a weakness for mathematics or insomnia may calculate the scale speed. Whatever the numerical value, I'd describe it as fast. Too fast. *** scary fast...


https://youtu.be/SgUeZuYUFX4

https://youtu.be/g1aEkGqSN9E

https://youtu.be/fJ9CLzgRZkQ

https://youtu.be/ZjprS5ADj7k


Sadly, I regret to inform you that on the final run, the aero-tram was caught by a gust of wind and left the rails at some speed, landing on its roof on a path. The comments of the WLB CME will not be repeated but can be imagined. The vehicle is still operational but the roof is well and truly *-d. Damage assessment tomorrow.