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!