Semi-scale BR: low cost tank wagon

[BertieB]

1. Purchase cheapo (£17.95) Newqida copy of LGB, German narrow gauge, tank wagon
2. Disassemble
3. Secure the 12 small screws in labelled, sealed envelope and place on mantelpiece (or similar, highly visible, memorable location)
4. Apply Wilco (or Poundland) spray paint to all parts. Leave overnight
5. Retrieve envelope and put most of it back together again, leaving out readily identifiable but structurally unnecessary components (and sawing off obviously inappropriate detail, if not too difficult). Do not fit wheels
6. Apply inkjet-printed, waterslide decals. Leave to dry
7. Touch up decal edges as necessary. Wait 24 hours
8. Apply spraycan matt varnish overall
9. Fit wheels
10. That’s it

[steps 2 - 10 optional] It’s not even ‘semi-scale’. But as it trundles past with other, similarly dodgy rolling stock, or when viewed from the other side of the garden, I don’t think you really notice. I’ve trained myself not to.

Buffers lead to derailments and are probably best avoided

[tom_tom_go]

Works for me although I would weather it!

[ge_rik]

Works for me too!
Just so happens I have an untouched NQ tanker sitting on the shelf ..... another Round Tuit project.....

Rik

[invicta280]

Another masterstroke from Bertie B !

[philipy]

Very nice. As a total non-expert in Esso tankers, I can't see anything wrong with it at all!

[Peter Butler]

Looks great to me too, and because of its heritage I imagine it is a faultless runner.

[BertieB]

Thank you all.

Well, it’s a German narrow gauge wagon (with a couple of bits chopped off) turned out, you know, in a reasonable approximation of a 1950s British Railways livery. You could do more but, hmmm... diminishing returns and all that. And I am a bit lazy. But it does the job - so on to the next one!

[Andrew]

on to the next one!

Excellent - keep 'em coming! That's a beautiful finish you've achieved - which I reckon goes a very long way to detract from any non-authentic features? Kind of like a slick magician using misdirection... That's intended as a complement, hope it comes across that way!

Cheers,

Andrew

[BertieB]

“...like a slick magician using misdirection...”

Ow! Frighteningly perceptive. Not sure about ‘slick’ but I did think of it in almost exactly those terms: that the overall black finish with immediately recognisable, powerful graphics, would hide and divert attention from the detail of what was underneath - it would just become ‘that Esso wagon’.

But most importantly, it was quick and cheap. You should be working in criminal profiling!

[RobRossington]

Excellent!

[BertieB]

My other couple of elderly tank wagons were looking a bit worse for wear, so they’ve had a similar, quick makeover, too.

And, (prompted by Andrew’s Chocolate Factory prototypes from late 2018) the ancient, LGB Toytrain starter set, flat wagon chassis are now sporting new foamboard and plasticard van bodies. Not quite sure what a Banana van is doing on a Dorset branchline. Presumably, they’re being imported from the Channel Islands, or possibly the Isle of Wight.

The one on the right is missing detail not because I cleverly adapted it but because I lost the bits

And i still haven't tidied up the garden

[Andrew]

Looking good!

The vans are very nice indeed... I never did finish the chocolate factory (it was just taking up too much time and space), and the van remains unfinished too - I might have to crack on with it now! Quite how a standard gauge design to a made up scale will fit into my 16mm narrow gauge world remains to be seen, but I might as well finish the thing!

Anyway, how many wagons do you have now? I look forward to film of a lengthy goods train...

Cheers,

Andrew.

[BertieB]

"...how many wagons do you have now? I look forward to a film of a lengthy goods train..."

Not very many really. But enough to sit comfortably behind the bigger locomotives, I hope. Ten wagons looks like a lot, at least in my garden.

There are a couple in the early stages of build / rebuilding – but frankly, I'm running out of space to keep all this stuff. Some of it is going to have to go (as other members of the household have been heard to suggest).

Thanks.

This is only nine wagons but doesn't seem ridiculously short, I reckon

[tom_tom_go]

That looks the part to me.

[philipy]

Yep, I agree with Tom, very tasty.

[Andrew]

That looks just right!

My family drop similar hints, but I just get better at hiding things... My line can only manage 6 average length wagons, but the more I have the more variety I can have...

Keep squirreling 'em away Bertie!

Andrew.

[LNR]

Those van bodies have come out very well.
Grant.

[Sylvian Tennant]

Lovely work, would you able able to do me and favour and give me the lenght, width and height of your tanker. I just want to compare to the rest of my stock before i look to buy some.

[BertieB]

“...length, width and height of your tanker? I just want to compare to the rest of my stock before i look to buy some.

My pleasure.

Newquida tank wagon sizes (in millimetres). A bit plus-or-minus, as I’ve just held a ruler up to it.

Length 258 (ex buffers, couplings)
Width 113-ish (across access ladders)
Height 148 (from rail to top of tank filler. I removed the ‘continental fencing’ up top)

Buffer beam width 92
Tank diameter 82
Tank length 225 (excluding that thing sticking out of one end)

Buffer and coupling height as LGB, etc.

Hope this is helpful.

[Sylvian Tennant]

More than helpful, thank you my friend. Please keep this up, i love what you've done.