Garden Railway Forum

Nicely explained, thank you!

I hadn't realised that couplings were a reason for having the "small Birminghams" at the top of the rake, always good to learn something new!

I think it was Van 5 that was turned, presumably when it was converted. I probably should've modelled that one really, it's perhaps more associated with the WHR, but I really like how "normal" Van 4 looked (ie without the bigger observation windows added), and Van 4's quite prominent in those (1934?) publicity shots in the Aberglaslyn Pass and elsewhere, with an England loco and two "Summer Cars"... Van 5 can wait a while longer...

Cheers,

Andrew.

Andrew wrote: ↑Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:24 am I hadn't realised that couplings were a reason for having the "small Birminghams" at the top of the rake, always good to learn something new!

I think also, the Birmingham's were generally added at the top due to the fact they were through-pipped only. Being between both the locomotive and the bogie stocks powerful brakes probably made it much easier to control (I'm no expert in this field).

Carriage 2 and 5 (the Victorian-liveried bug boxes) are now semi-perminantly coupled together, carriage 2 has also be retrofitted with proper vacuum brakes in a similar vein to the replica semi-opens. I think the replica Asbury also has proper brakes as well although I'm not sure. I can imagine driving the flea in the 60's was probably pretty interesting!

I do love these little operational details. Makes the railway come alive. I must think of a few idiosyncrasies like this for the PLR ....!

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:14 pm I do love these little operational details.

Me too! Less operational, but still quirky, is that "flap" on the non-brake end - I think that covered the vents in the dog box that was a feature of the original full brake...

Andrew.

Hello again,

An extra day of post-Easter leave today put me at just the right place and time to observe a test working I'd heard about on the grapevine today - both of the (WH)WHR's current carriage projects being given a first run.

I managed to snap the train leaving Trefechan tunnel, with Van 4 emerging into the sunlight, but unfortunately Welsh hillsides can be treacherous underfoot, and I slipped and fell just as the Mystery Carriage followed it out of the gloom, missing my chance to capture this elusive beast on film. I don't think we can learn much that we don't already know about it from this view??


Cheers,

Andrew.

Oooh you are a tease, but we like you!

Time for a carriage update from the (WH)WHR...

Sorry, it's a ropey photo, but Ffestiniog Van 4 is coming along quite nicely, with external detailing added, along with a coat of paint. I couldn't get my usual Revell brick red enamel for the ends and solebars and so used what the internet told me was the Humbrol equivalent. It looks OK, I think, but just a little too pink, so I may well order some of the usual stuff and repaint.


Meanwhile, the "mystery carriage" also seems to have reached the painting stage and has been turned out in a rather startling shade of yellow - a return to the WHR's "rainbow" period of the 1930s??? It'll certainly stand out...


The Ffestiniog tipper wagons are nearly there too - they're currently sitting on the top shelf in the bathroom in the hope that the steamy environment will encourage the iron filings I've added to the interiors to rust a little more...

Have a good weekend everyone,

Andrew.

Van 4 is looking very tidy with the detailing adding so much to the overall appearance.

Superb work on the rolling stock especially those coaches.

Don

The mystery carriage is coming along nicely and I love the colour.

Very impressive Andrew, although I wouldn't personally go for the rainbow period. But as we say - your railway, your rules.

Lonsdaler wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 8:30 am Very impressive Andrew, although I wouldn't personally go for the rainbow period. But as we say - your railway, your rules.

I've always been tempted to do some rainbow Summer carriages just for shows, kids would love it.

Anyway, impressive as always Andrew.

Been a while, but with the nicer weather gradually upon us I can reveal two wagons:

Firstly, another NWNGR 4t wagon by Jurassic: This is lightly weathered using drybrushing, inks and lightly sanding the red down. This gives a decent, 4 wagon train without needing slate waggons.

Also a 2 plank wagon, this time in WHR livery: This is weathered as per the 4t wagon.

Very nice! What are you using for lettering, it looks good?

JMORG wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 6:57 pm Been a while, but with the nicer weather gradually upon us I can reveal two wagons:

Firstly, another NWNGR 4t wagon by Jurassic:
IMG
This is lightly weathered using drybrushing, inks and lightly sanding the red down. This gives a decent, 4 wagon train without needing slate waggons.

Also a 2 plank wagon, this time in WHR livery:
IMG
This is weathered as per the 4t wagon.

Those are beautifully finished, and weathered.

Andrew wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 7:30 pm Very nice! What are you using for lettering, it looks good?

Endon Valley make them for me, a sheet of WHR, NWNGR and sample numbers. I'm sure if you mention it to Tom (and quote my name), he'll print off a sheet and maybe introduce as a product.

Lonsdaler wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 10:50 pm Those are beautifully finished, and weathered.

Thank you, drybrushing is now my preferred technique.

Hi Andrew,

The wagons are great, lovely workmanship. I really love the coaches though.

I somehow missed the post back in April but having just had a close study of the photos I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed. The yellow is an interesting colour!

All the best,

SVLR Andrew

Morning all!

Forum members may have noticed that I'm not the fastest modeller among our ranks - I've been working on the current Ffestiniog carriage project for over a year now, for example...

This weekend, however, my wife's away, the weather's rubbish and I'm in s modelling mood - so I'm aiming to build a Wagon in a Weekend.The wagon in question is WHR brake van No. 2, finally giving me an original guards van for the rear of my goods trains.

Here's where I'm up to so far - not a thing of beauty quite yet. Actually, the real thing never was, it looked like a garden shed on wheels...

Time to work on the ends now. Oh, and hang up the washing, put another load on, do the shopping, buy my Mum a birthday present and sort out the skirting board in the front room. Hmmm... I think a Wagon in a Weekend might be a little optimistic! I'll keep you posted...

Andrew

Andrew wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 10:29 am ...it looked like a garden shed on wheels...

You've certainly cracked that bit then!

Seriously, when you've finished your household chores ( you sure your name isn't really Howard?) I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

philipy wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 10:34 am when you've finished your household chores

Just remembered! I'd better feed the children too!