Garden Railway Forum

I must admit I prefer the older wooden design, rather than the more 'modern' metal milk crate style.
Both beautifully modelled, though!

Rik

They look great Andrew. I was thinking of doing a more scale NWNGR wooden wagon using a Line Side Hut 45mm slate wagon - they're a bit larger than the 32mm so it'll be a good starting point!

JMORG wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 12:34 pm They look great Andrew. I was thinking of doing a more scale NWNGR wooden wagon using a Line Side Hut 45mm slate wagon - they're a bit larger than the 32mm so it'll be a good starting point!

Hmm, now that's a good idea!

The real thing (well, the works photo one) has an addition column of "bobbins" at each end - I replicated those with a cocktail stick and some slices of biro inner. You could add the latter to the Lineside Hut kit to make them more realistic? Are you thinking of replacing the axleboxes with the apprropriate type of Binnie one?

I have actually made many slate wagons using this very method Andrew: This is the latest - IP axle boxes are used on all of them, they will need added plastic strips to thicken the chassis or else the wheels won't fit!

Yep, I'm definitely going to do that, looks great...

Are those 24mm wheels you've used? I'm wondering whether LH would be prepared to provide an extra of the "lower chassis" parts - no harm in asking, I guess?

You've inspired me - I should be returning to working on carriages, but maybe I'll make more slate wagons instead...

See this page:
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... &start=420

The good thing about the LSH wagons is that you can add a fair amount of variation to them. I used the original wheels as supplied in the kit.

The 2-plank wagons started off as his flats, they're great starting points in my opinion.

JMORG wrote: ↑Thu May 05, 2022 9:39 pm See this page:
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... &start=420

The good thing about the LSH wagons is that you can add a fair amount of variation to them. I used the original wheels as supplied in the kit.

The 2-plank wagons started off as his flats, they're great starting points in my opinion.

Ah, I really should have remembered that, it's on this very thread - thank you!

Hello all,

I'm working on a Phil Sharples Padarn Railway guards van at the moment, as a quick bit of fun between more "serious" (hah!) projects. I think it will be allocated to the (fictional) Clarach Quarry, and so make occasional trips out onto the (equally fictional) Clarach Branch of the Welsh Highland.

It's a very nice little kit - here's where I've got to so far:




The interior will have a guard and a brake wheel - that's a departure from the original, as I understand it, because I think that was only a guards van in that the guard rode in it, along with the slate wagons, atop 4' gauge transporter wagons.

I'm not sure how to finish the thing. It seems grey or maroon would be prototypical, and would fit with the rest of my stock, but I'm also thinking that - as a private owner wagon in my fictional universe - it might be fun to paint it in a faded blue or green. Maybe with a rusted corrugated iron roof, to really bring out the garden shed vibes. Any opinions welcome!

Cheers,

Andrew

'Any opinions welcome!'
I would love to help Andrew, but I'm distracted by spots before my eyes!

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri May 06, 2022 10:03 pm 'Any opinions welcome!'
I would love to help Andrew, but I'm distracted by spots before my eyes!

Faded maroon, with dirty-great white spots, perchance?

Faded blue/green I reckon. Can't go wrong with extra variety on the narrow gauge.

Would it be possible to do a varnished wood livery?

Now if only I had taken some photos..

There were two very nice NWNGR coach bodies, where I was on Saturday..
Varnished, made from real Teak.

Morning all,

Not much time for modelling this week but, in a brief update, I knocked up a corrugated roof for the van, just to see how it would look. I liked it, so I'm going down the "shed on wheels" route, and I'll paint the thing either sky blue or pea green. With or without spots.

I really like the varnished wood idea, but perhaps a little posh for this little van, and I don't know how well it would work in MDF? I do like the idea of varnished teak carriages at some point though, either a freelance rake (balconied saloons, or really ancient looking 4-wheelers, maybe?) or the NWNGR Cleminsons you mention Phil, although I seriously doubt my ability to build a 6 wheel underframe that stays on the rails!

Further progress with the Padarn van, which I'm now trying to finish before my PDF Kerr Stuart body kit arrives.


I'd said I wasn't sure whether to paint it sky blue:


Or pea green:


So I went for both! Blue first, then green, sanded back so that both show, in an effort to replicate peeling paintwork where the colour beneath is showing through:


And here are all the bits, weathered and awaiting assembly, including a corrugated roof, which isn't a feature of the original but which I though added to the garden shed vibes:


It's currently sitting on the kitchen table, with bands clamping the roof in place while the glue dries. Having added a brake wheel, I'd better also add the brakes themselves, but other than that I think it's ready to go...

Andrew.

Very nice peeling paint effect Andrew, looks the part!

Yes, I agree with Peter, it does look excellent. Your weathering finishes always amaze me.
The inside looks a bit pristine though... all that slate dust and fag smoke ought to have toned it down a bit!

philipy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 04, 2022 1:21 pm The inside looks a bit pristine though... all that slate dust and fag smoke ought to have toned it down a bit!

Ah, yes, you're right. Too late now, the roof's glued on, but it doesn't look too shiny in the gloomy unlit interior. I did stick some notices to the walls to add a little detail. It doesn't look like a very inspiring place to work, I'm afraid, rather like one of those little booths that guard the entrance to car parks, but at least the little chap inside gets to enjoy the scenery trundling past.

I'm glad you like the overall effect. Part of me wishes I'd gone a little more bright and cheerful, instead of washed out and grimy, but a leopard can't change his spots - I guess I'm just a washed out and grimy kinda guy!

Looking very good Andrew. I can't wait to see it all put together. Will your brake gear be scratch built, or do you used purchased items?