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Mail/Guard's Van

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 1:22 am
by IrishPeter
This one is another mésalliance between a KSR prototype and one from the DHR. As usual the body is Bristol board, and as the interior is relatively hidden I decided just three layers - panelling, and then two laminations for the body itself.

Here we have the three layer. Drop light layer (top); outer layer (bottom right) and panelling (bottom left). Ready for painting between services on Sunday, and lamination on Monday.
The three layers
The three layers
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When finished the side should look like this, but in brown and cream, with a red panel for the TPO end's post box.
Dry run
Dry run
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The ends have already been laminated as they are a simple paint job - black on the outside and cream on the inside. Guard's end, with its lookout windows shown.
Guard's end
Guard's end
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The third saloon now has its roof seen from the short rails side...
DHR Saloon
DHR Saloon
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Here is a flash pic of the same vehicle...
DHR Saloon (flash)
DHR Saloon (flash)
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I do need to touch up those white lines, but that is a five minute job for when I do not have time for anything more serious.

And I forgot to include a piccy of the dummy brake gear on the vans when I mentioned that a couple of posts back, so here we go...
8MarB.JPG
8MarB.JPG (44.75 KiB) Viewed 7131 times
After the mail van a couple of more wagons will be in order, then another carriage. Then I really need to get some track laid!

That's it for now.

Peter in Va

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:43 pm
by Andrew
Your latest rolling stock's looking wonderful Peter - the metal bodied vans are wonderful, and I really like the look of the mail van. Looking forward to seeing it all heading up the fearsome grades you describe - I do hope you manage to make it steam-worked...

All the best,

Andrew

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 5:35 pm
by IrishPeter
Andrew wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:43 pm <snip>Looking forward to seeing it all heading up the fearsome grades you describe - I do hope you manage to make it steam-worked...

All the best,

Andrew
I know that I could work it by steam, the question is do I want to torture a rather expensive steam locomotive that way on a regular basis? When I get surveying I am going to see if I can keep the grade to the KSR's 3%, which is less savage than the original S&CT's worst gradient which was 30 feet of 4% with a short length of 5% in the middle! The issue tends to be wear on the motion more than anything else. Roundhouse's locomotives are extremely game, and I have discovered it is extremely hard to stall them; however, heavy loads and steep grades are a recipe for high rates of wear. I think there may be a prohibition on loads above 10 lightweight four wheelers. At least as it is all one uphill one way, and all downhill the other the runaway problem can be contained even with manual locos. ;)

The side of the mail/guard's van were laminated today. I had hoped to get the underframe built, but we got hung up at the doctor's. so we lost an hour there. I am also "beat" after the weekend. Hopefully better results tomorrow.

Peter in Va

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:19 pm
by Andrew
Fair enough re not wanting to wear out your motive power - but the occasional steam special will be great!

I worry a little about that sort of thing with my line - sharp-ish curves and much of the line at 1 in 50, but mitigate the risks by hardly running any trains! The short loops help too, by limiting train lengths - 3 bogie carriages, 6 or 7 4-wheeled vehicles or about a dozen slate wagons.

Hope you managed to make the progress you wanted to on your new van. I seem to have very little time for modelling at the moment, but there's a huge backlog of projects I'd like to be working on piling up in my head!

All the best,

Andrew.

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 4:09 am
by IrishPeter
Andrew,

I would really prefer a steam hauled line, but right now all my steamers are 45mm gauge, and there is a certain shortage of mad money for the time being. I think a lot of the problem in Arizona was dust, so I would be prepared to make a modest wager that it won't be anywhere near as bad here. I am trying to justify to myself buying a Bertie, or making a start on a Roundhouse 'George' kit, but given that I am not given to lavish expenditure it may be a while. In the meantime various battery electrics will be holding the fort.

In the end I got a fair bit done today. In the early morning brain fog I managed to get a three compartment 3rd class four wheel carriage drawn out. The beginnings of the next project. I also got to the local hardware store for some bits and pieces before managing to spend an odd half hour early this afternoon making the underframe for the Mail/Guards van. The sides and ends were attached early this evening, followed by the stiffening bars along the top edges of the sides about an hour later, then the running gear and buffer-couplings also went on. All that is left is fitting out, a roof, hands rails, and a few other details. Photos tomorrow - probably.

SWMBO and I also managed to have the 'this is where I want to put the railway' talk and it went well. She was a bit surprised about the main station being raised above ground level, but I am 50 this year, and I have noticed that the deck is slowly getting further away. The rest is ground level complete with 1 in 33 grades to climb up to the shed where the other terminus will be. If I go any further than that it will be quite a project. The character of the line is still hovering uncertainly between Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Kalka Simla Railway, so I guess it is going to be successful in being my own beast!

Cheers,
Peter in Va

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:57 am
by Andrew
How about a Regner? They'd manage your gradients with ease, are gauge adjustable, relatively cheap, and full of character - just imagine a Konrad or Wilma with a few cosmetic mods (big Darjeeling style lamps?) and a garish Indian NG style colour scheme!

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 3:01 pm
by IrishPeter
I'll give the Regner idea some thought. I won't be able to say with certainty what the steepest grade will be until I get out there with the surveying tools, but some sort of geared locomotive would be an idea if I have too much of the really steep stuff. Realistically, if I have to go steeper than 1 in 30 for any distance then probably it is gears time, and it will have the advantage of keeping the top speed realistic.

I tend to prefer the older liveries, which tended to be dark green or black for locomotives, but the carriage liveries tend to be more interesting - for example cream and brown, with the cream dominant, or dark red, rather than deep brownish red or the ninety shades of blue that have prevailed since the 1960s.

Cheers,
Peter in Va

Photo Round-up 19/03/19

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 3:52 am
by IrishPeter
I have been able to get down in the basement again the last couple of days and seem to have got quite a bit more done without really trying.
Mail Van 1
Mail Van 1
19Mar trains1.JPG (37.47 KiB) Viewed 6671 times
I am a long way on with the van with the partition between the mail and guard's compartments in position, and the roof rolled. Lots of little finishing jobs at this stage - handrails, roof stretchers, maybe a basic interior, and of course, the essential letter flap.
3Q view
3Q view
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Here is a three-quarter view showing the guard's end windows. The Kalka-Simla influence is winning at the moment, so it will also need some brake pipes when I can cobble some up.

Third Class Coach
This vehicles dimensions were guestimated off some 1903/4 photos of the KSR, so it is only intended to look the part.
The drawing
The drawing
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Stage 1 is to draw out the needed parts on 100lb Bristol board. Three laminations here - panelling, body, and then droplights. Then the cutting out begins.
Panelled side
Panelled side
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In this case the panels and the main body have been laminated early on, as following KSR practice the body is going to be cream without the panelling being picked out in brown, though the window shades will be brown. I cut the windows and panelling before dividing the sheet into the three layers as that seems to make it easier for me to line things up.
The SAS Sachsen Coach
The SAS Sachsen Coach
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The SAS Coach
The SAS-SAR Sachsen Wagonfabrik coach is being worked on again. Size wise it does not overwhelm the DHR/KSR four wheelers, though weight-wise it may end up marshalled towards the front of the train as it is plywood not Bristol board.
Passenger stock so far
Passenger stock so far
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Here is the FET's passenger stock. DHR saloon as running in the 1950s; hybrid DHR/KSR mail and guard van; and the SAS coach.
Passenger stock look t'other way
Passenger stock look t'other way
19Mar trains7.JPG (44.32 KiB) Viewed 6671 times
And here is a view from the other direction.

Work Outside...
has begun. I suppose I ought to start a separate thread for that, but the surveyors were out with a spirit level and blocks of wood getting some preliminary gradients today. It seems that 1 in 33 will do the trick, so things may well end up more KSR than DHR.

That's all for now!

2-1

Peter in Va

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 3:32 pm
by ge_rik
Looks like a fair bit of progress, and a few sods are being dug as well. Hopefully, there will be an inaugural run before too long.... :thumbup:

Rik

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:31 am
by IrishPeter
As anyone who knows me can tell you I tend to be motivated by deadlines more than anything else. Until I have a deadline looming I will ding around, read, do research, chase various rabbit trails, and generally amuse myself whilst dealing with the routine. I guess it is a case of 'knowing one is about to be shot - or in this case inspected - focuses the mind splendidly.' I have my name down for a visit from the I. N. Spectre in a few months so I need something up and running by then.

Spring also promotes progress on the railway front, and with the Lent roses at their best, crocuses already with us, and the daffodils well on the way it is time for me to get moving. The temps are in the 45-55F bracket, and I think the hard frosts are done with for this year. I have not so much turned the first sod, as cleared ground, had the measuring tape out, moved some bricks, and laid in supplies from the building supply store. However, the next update should contain outdoor construction photos.

Cheers,
Peter in Va

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:31 pm
by IrishPeter
Of course, having got myself organized it is pishing it down today! :roll: Good job I remembered to put the cement straight in the shed - everything else is dumped at the work site. They have promised us a full day of it, so I am going to have to watch the basement too, because if the water table gets too high tend I end up with an indoor paddling pool until it subsides again. After this we are in the clear for the next 10 days.

Cheers,
Peter in VA

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 1:38 pm
by Andrew
The growing rake is looking lovely - I really like the mail van. I'm impressed by how you've combined speed with quality, and more than a little tempted to have a go with card myself...

Cheers,

Andrew.

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:21 pm
by Andrew
Ah yes, I've got one of those early Brandbright carriages with card overlays. I was 16 when I first built it, and I probably did a pretty poor job, but it's been rebuilt and repainted twice since then, and I think it looks OK now, probably just through the sheer number of times it's been painted and sanded back!

Cheers,

Andrew.

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:47 pm
by IrishPeter
Rattle cans, masking tape, and painting before laminating help me enormously. I am not good with a paint brush being generally best at applying a single colour to a large area, and anything lucky enough to get in the way. Removing the expletives, my painting style has been described as being reminiscent of a squaddie whitewashing coal. The mail van had the beading painted dark brown, the body panels cream, and the innermost layer dark tan on the outside, and cream on the inside before assembly. I find all that paint, assisted by spray glue, stiffens the structure nicely. It also makes it somewhat damp proof, though I have to admit, my card vehicles have yet to survive a Virginia summer.

Cheers,
Peter in Va

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:33 am
by FWLR
Your rolling stock is sure coming along Peter. Soon be behind a loco and a video of them hopefully.

Can I suggest if I may taking your builds as you go along outside (Weather permitting) to take some photos. I know it may seem a bit of a pain in the backside, but you would get some better photos wouldn't you.

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 7:31 pm
by IrishPeter
Now the clocks have changed there is a danger that that might happen, especially as there is now track outside. My favourite time for rolling stock building is late afternoon, so I usually grab the camera at the end of a session and record the recent results, which is not very conducive to outside photography November to March. You have also reminded me that I need to get the fluorescent lights rigged up again in the basement. I pulled them a while back to pinch the three-to-two adaptor for another job (the wife's computer, IIRC), and I have now remembered to buy another. Anyway, not much rolling stock building going on at the moment as I am getting a flying start on the outside track before skeeter season starts.

Cheers,
Peter in Va

Re: Rolling Stock for the Far End Tramway

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 3:34 am
by IrishPeter
The weather required a break from outdoor hobby activities after work today, so I did a little more to the three compartment third I was working on a couple of weeks ago. The ends were laminated up, the underframe made, and the first coat of cream paint applied. W-irons, wheels, and couplings were liberated from the bit box. Parts still to be fabricated: compartment petitions, seats, sunshades and roof.

Pics in a day or two when I have something worth photographing.

Cheers,
Peter in Va