This weekend I have been mostly building....Gravity Griff wagon

[Simon-m]

A new arrival today for the fleet. These go together exceptionally well, I do enjoy slaters kits, I enjoy making etched brass kits too I just don't have the time I once did. Wagons thankfully are easy, the plan is to do a slaters Alice class hunslet when winter arrives again.

[Simon-m]

We've had a opening in the weather & the sun came out, the forecast was for rain so it was a bonus. Taliesin was in steam today on the slate wagons & it looked superb in the sun.

Incidentally, the trenarran models slate loads arrived this morning giving the wagons the weight they needed.

[philipy]

That is a fantastic picture!

[Simon-m]

Thanks Philip

[Andrew]

That is a fantastic picture!

I agree, a lovely looking train - thanks for the inspiration!

[Simon-m]

Your welcome chaps

Tonight I made a brief start on a slaters Ffestiniog braked slate wagon. They are a lovely well etched & designed wagon kit. I've built one before in 7/8 scale & they build well.

I've riveted all the components & made a start on the chassis. I soldered up all the solebars & the centre solebar. The kit does have some extra parts that are purely cosmetic for the underside of the chassis. I've left those off as they are optional bits & you'll never see them anyway.

That's all for this evening though, might get a bit more in later in the week.

[Simon-m]

I've had a few sessions on the Ffestiniog slate wagon & got it to a stage where I am now painting. I didn't really take many pictures during the build. The other one I have to make I will document a bit better.

I got home from work early today so had time to get some primer on. I used upol acid 8 which is excellent spray primer that sticks to brass like that brown stuff on blankets. It's a lighter grey than the standard primer I used on the binnie wagons so it gives a bit of contrast to the others. I've added a red line for the Greaves, Llechwedd quarry on the centre rail of the wagon as per prototype.

I've started weathering it back now using mig starship wash. It's a good earthy, wash that I think looks good on grey. I slap it it on thick with a brush & allow it to settle for a short while before using a tissue & wiping most of it off. A few coats & it gets into those nooks & crannies. I've still a long way to go with this one before it's anything like. The deck of the wagon will get a spray of vallejo air rust before darkening areas with burnt umber & some powders. I might even ding it up a bit with a small hammer on some of the darker areas on the deck & add a little gloss varnish to give the impression of water sat in the slumped areas of the deck.

I will keep chipping away until it looks right.

[Simon-m]

I've more or less finished the slate wagon from Slaters. It's turned out rather nicely & happy with the weathering. Another unbraked version arrived today so I am already preparing the etched & cleaning it up for assembly.

[ge_rik]

Really good quality - very crisp.
Why is the middle bar on each side red?

Rik

[philipy]

Why is the middle bar on each side red?

Rik,
To quote Simon's own post bit further up," I've added a red line for the Greaves, Llechwedd quarry on the centre rail of the wagon as per prototype. "

I don't know the details but I believe quarries each had a different colour code to make sure they got their own wagons back from the ports.

[ge_rik]

Why is the middle bar on each side red?

Rik,
To quote Simon's own post bit further up," I've added a red line for the Greaves, Llechwedd quarry on the centre rail of the wagon as per prototype. "

I don't know the details but I believe quarries each had a different colour code to make sure they got their own wagons back from the ports.

Sorry, missed that ....
A bit like smearing dye on sheep, then?

Rik

[Lonsdaler]

Sorry, missed that ....
A bit like smearing dye on sheep, then?

Rik

I thought that was so you know which Tupp has been where? Slate waggons didn't err... y'know. Did they?

[Andrew]

I thought that was so you know which Tupp has been where? Slate waggons didn't err... y'know. Did they?

That's why the FR had over a thousand of 'em - they're like rabbits...

Lovely wagon, by the way!

[Phil.P]

I have never seen a cute, furry, slate wagon!

Furry with rust, yes.

[Simon-m]

I have never seen a cute, furry, slate wagon!

Furry with rust, yes.

If they weren't so expensive I'd make one haha.

Funnily enough last night I built another start to finish in under 2 hours. The only thing I had done firstly was clean up the parts from the etches & stamp out the rivets.

I will post a picture tonight of the 2 before this next one hits the paint shop.