As I'd mentioned in my gauge conversion thread, I needed to replace and extend my short rake of 45mm tippers.
My recent visit to Darrell's line in Brisbane highlighted the need for some rain-proof rollingstock. I'd already bought enough replacement 32mm Binnie skips - along with some bolsters, bogeys and skip chassis for other projects - and thus set about cleaning up the skip kits for assembly.
I prefer putting these on 20mm wheels, as it brings the couplings up to my 20mm (plus or minus 2mm) standard, and allows variation in wheel type for extra character. Couplings are my usual oil-blackened picture hooks, and what little lead could be hidden was glued under each wagon for extra weight.
They were weathered in my usual manner for skips, using iron powder activated with vinegar.
Didn't bother with the salt chipping of last time, as for the 1920s-70s period I'm modelling, these skips wouldn't yet be that decrepit.
The completed (but not yet weathered) Essel Fowler pairs well with the skips. The wagons (just) fit inside my cane truck cassettes for easy transport.
Home storage is a problem though, will need to find/make a box and get my shelving better organised..
Four of the trucks are permanently-coupled, as I'll generally run these as a rake.
The other three being loose allows one or two to be thrown into navvy trains as needed.
Besides the usual tasks required of skips, sugar mills used them to transport filter press mud - the muddy cane pulp left over from sugar extraction.
It was commonly used as fertiliser in the canefields, among waxmaking and other uses.
Again, nothing special. But a good staple of rollingstock crossed off the "to-do" list. I'll be looking forward to running this lot at Darrell's next time.
