A very impressive water truck from America

[Keith S]

I have always wanted something to compliment my rather generic small rake of goods wagons. They are the usual four-plank open wagons from IP engineering and a box van. I could build more of these but they are a little boring. I thought a liquid-carrying tank of some kind might be interesting, but they seem relatively rare. Also now that IP engineering has joined the rogues’ gallery of small shops who refuse to ship to Canada, I have been looking farther (or perhaps I should say “nearer”) afield.

I should say I was not fully unaware of this company because my Dad, who prefers North American prototypes, has built some of their kits and I have observed the quality before

This is the 10-foot “water car” from OZARK MINIATURES in America. What a stunning kit it is.

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It is 1:20 scale nominally, however being generic it is now 1:19 because I say so. The quality of this kit is superb, probably a bit better than a Brandbright coach in terms of features and additional parts. It is a bit pricey, but in comparison to a Brandbright panelled coach the water truck kit is 6 American dollars more expensive. But LOOK AT what you get! (I’m comparing it to a BB panelled coach because that’s the only other kit I’ve seen that approaches the value of this one.

The axles are fully sprung in functioning journal boxes. All the litttle ratchet straps and chains, frame irons and a functioning top hatch are included, plus a little ladder and an American style brake wheel. The ends of the water barrel come ALREADY PLANKED, and all the timber is already cut to size. There are no frets to pull plywood bits off. In fact there is very little plywood at all. The deck is plywood, etched with planking detail, and the end caps are ply but as I say already planked with real timber veneer. The rest is timber. Already cut to size and all. This kit is excellent value. To achieve the level of detail it offers, an IP engineering wagon would require a lot of extra parts, like the frame irons and brake apparatus, which would put the cost of the build past what this kit cost.

Also even though it’s an American model, it seems basically generic and so will probably fit in just fine with my British equipment, which is mostly all generic as well.

Here are some pictures of the kit as unboxed. Observe the wealth of extras. The wheels are pre-blackened.

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The only drawback to the wagon is, it doesn’t come in 32mm gauge. It does look easy enough to modify although you’d need new wheels. They look to be similar to the ones Brandbright sells although that will add to the cost.

I will add more photos as I build this. So far I am extremely impressed. I hate to say it, but you seldom if ever see this many features on a UK model, at least not without spending a lot more money.

[Keith S]

P.S. I am looking for suggestions about what kind of liquid this truck should carry on a fictitious narrow gauge line in the UK. To have written on the side. Humorous suggestions always welcome.

Also here is how the parts look in comparison to my 16mm scale IP van.

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[drewzero1]

I recently saw a similar tanker at the railroad museum in Green Bay. It's like a giant barrel, in fact the staves on the one I saw have dried out and shrunk down so the hoops all hang loose.

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As for lettering suggestions, it could be painted for I. M. Bibe (purveyors of fine drink), or for younger viewers a cow-spotted milk tanker. I painted one of my tankers after a favorite local cidery.

[Keith S]

There is one like the one in your picture in Toronto or Montreal, I forget which, and it was made for carrying pickles, which I always found funny.

“Purveyors of fine drink” is a good idea. I was also thinking of Yorkshire pudding batter or “Mr. Porky’s Best Lard” or something.

[Preseli Chris]

How about

"WURZEL'S ZIDER"

From the Wurzels song Drink up thy zider.

[Phil.P]

Purple Moose..

Appropriate for Canada, I think?


Phil.P

[drewzero1]

Purple Moose..

Appropriate for Canada, I think?


Phil.P

I thought that sounded familiar: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4732868

[Lonsdaler]

I went for goat's milk

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[ge_rik]

I went for goat's milk
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I like the motto ...... Very relieved there's no bull in it ......

Rik

[drewzero1]

No bull... Love it!

Found a picture of mine:

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The colors are matched from the labels on their bottles. I had a bit of trouble with the freehand lettering so I made another version with raised letters, have printed it but haven't painted it yet.

[Old Man Aaron]

Extremely nice kits, aye.
Used quite a few of their whitemetal castings, they've all been excellent - though the shipping to Aus cost more than the hoard of parts ordered..

I've no talent for coming up with names, and all the pictures of tank wagons I have, seem to carry only rusty water!
Even so, I'll be watching this one with interest.

[Petersfield]

P.S. I am looking for suggestions about what kind of liquid this truck should carry on a fictitious narrow gauge line in the UK. To have written on the side. Humorous suggestions always welcome. ...

Any local names or something redolent of the UK as a whole, perhaps invoking stereotypes?

Drink/foodstuffs - alcoholic or otherwise - not just breweries but say local farms for milk, cream, custard (maybe yoghurt if a rough PW...) or honey, jam?
Industrial - say tar, oil, fuel or something in an industrial process, whether ICI 'nasties' or vinegar for the local chippy?
water - mineral water or for the loco, signalman, local inhabitants or camping coach residents?
whimsical - nectar, ambrosia, gravy, live lobsters/goldfish/trout etc. in transit?

[drewzero1]

Could be molasses if you have a slow enough speed limit, maple syrup for the railwaymen's pancakes, coffee for the early bird freight service, oil & water, pigeon milk, old-fashioned churned ice cream, tears of your enemies... Maye even your own blood, sweat, and tears.

[Keith S]

There are some funny suggestions so far guys, thanks. I think “Gravy” might be the funniest. “Tears of my enemies” does have a certain panache too, although my railway is meant to be a peaceful place so “molasses” or “Maple Syrup” is also good. For years I have been sending bottles of maple syrup to my family in England, only to notice when I was there last week that Lowdi’s and Tesco are both well stocked with it. I am also leaning towards “Nut Brown Ale” not because it’s funny but because it’s one of my favourite things.

…or maybe “LIQUID COURAGE”.

Here is progress on the tanker. Frustratingly the kit was missing one of the chassis corner brackets so I’ve made one from a scrap of brass. Otherwise everything is high quality. The frame is relatively heavy timber and the castings are crisp and fit together well. Under magnification the bits of bolt sticking out the ends of the separately fitted nuts on the frame irons even have threads!

One thing that I will have to address is the vehicle’s height. The axles are sprung, but of course the wagon doesn’t weigh much so it rides very high. The centre buffers just barely touch the IP ones, and they float right over the ones on my Roundhouse locomotive. When I squash the wagon down onto its springs, it sits at an appropriate height. I appreciate the interesting detail but I will have to put little timber blocks under the journals to compress the springs and allow the completed truck to be compatible with my British rolling stock. Still, I am impressed by this clever kit.

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[Keith S]

Some more progress on the tanker. The kit did not come with enough staves for the barrel, but luckily I had some similar wood from a model ship I’m building.

I wish I hadn’t cut them off so close to the end caps: a real barrel would have some overlap but I didn’t think of it until I was nearly done trimming them off. Still loads of metal bits to stick on, but it’s looking OK so far. Still haven’t worked out what colour scheme it will have.

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[Bad Droid]

... but it’s looking OK so far. Still haven’t worked out what colour scheme it will have.

It's looking great! I love Ozark Miniatures, I've used piles of their detail parts and I've sent their kits to my dad in years past and he always enjoyed them. I like those sprung wheel journals as well, I used those on a 4 wheel passenger car that I built from a pull-out plan in Garden Railways Magazine.
I was eyeing this exact kit as yours here, glad you did this write up. I have a color suggestion for you, it's what I was planning on doing if I buy this kit. I'd leave it unpainted and do what looks like a "brand" type of burned in logo, similar to what they do with whiskey barrels and what not. You could do the ends too. Same with the car number and any other lettering and car specifications like its volume or weights. Black barrel bands then I'd clear coat the whole works with a flat.
Anyway, just a thought, keep up the good work.

[Keith S]

You know, that’s not a bad idea. If I did it skilfully enough it would look quite good with burned details.

My Dad has made some of their models too. He has a little live steam “Porter” and has built some logging offsets and the “bush caboose” van. I prefer UK prototypes but I can picture myself someday with a Shay loco and a train of Ozark ten-footers. They are full of character and the amazing detail makes them look like “model engineering” level models.

I do like the sprung axles in principle, but they aren’t bushed with bronze rings like wooden kits are, so I wonder how long they will last. Mind you my railway stuff doesn’t put on many miles.

[Bad Droid]

And when I said burned in or branded, I of course meant painted like it's burned in.
I think after a kit or two you could reverse engineer a few things and scratch build your own 10 footers. Add a couple stringers inside and move the journals in for your 32mm wheel sets. A nice "hunkered down" look. Those drilled out 32mm wheel sets would look dang good on that sort of model....

[philipy]

That is a superb looking vehicle.

On the subject of names, but at a slight tangent. I used to have a photo of a square tank wagon, which proudly bore the legend, " The Scottish Fish Oil & Guano Company - Aberdeen" . I did build one in 4mm and we ran it in company with a GWR manure wagon!

[Bad Droid]

You know, that’s not a bad idea. If I did it skilfully enough it would look quite good with burned details.

I've been thinking about the 20 footer version of yours. I think a dry transfer with a bit of detail / weathering might do the job....