OK ...... The a combined second and third review here of the Darstaed Well Wagon in both LSWR and CR liveries. Both have the same detailing and are constructed the same of the same materials. now ..... to kick off, it comes in a very nicely presented box ...... and upon opening the same you are met with a neatly and securely packed product which is well protected within the foam insert. It comes with a sheet of numbering option transfers which would allow you to portray a specific wagon number should you wish. some nice livery detail down the side of which I think is a resin main body. It may just be plastic but it feels a little like resin to me. the underside portrays a metal ribbed framework plated with timber flooring ...... as is the top working surface ........ The timber flooring decals are a bit sparkly but will look good once weathered down to a duller more used finish but none the less are pretty good. tonnage and tare weight transfers are presented on either end of both sides along with the small doofer handles. there is plenty of rivet detail on the top surfaces and also along the main outer side structures. The bogies, wheels, sprung buffers and 3 link couplings are all of metal construction with the bogies having a nice amount of free movement on their pivots and the wheels running very smoothly. No slop has been identified with everything feeling very positive. The bogies look like they have been secured via a moulded in threaded bolt into the upper body but I think the nut type arrangement facing to the underside is capable of being undone to separate the bogie from the structure. here is a view of the version in CR livery ....... the rivet and livery detail ....... and the well bed with the timber planks and sheet of transfers that come with the wagon. I myself have one of these wagons which I bought when they first came on the market and must admit, I'm fairly impressed with the quality and overall appearance. Again, due to my lack of knowledge of the prototype, I am maybe not best placed to give an authorised verdict on its prototypical values but these wagons were fairly basic so I would assume that most of the relevant detail has been more or less covered in Darstaeds portrayal of this wagon. As per their Oil Tanker wagon my biggest comment would be tat the transfers are a bit sparkly and that the wagon in general would look better with a reasonable amount of weathering but that is everyones own specific preference. Some folks like running pristine models. the pricing point of £ 69.00 ( again unless you are lucky enough to win one ) I think offers value for money. In comparison with the aforementioned oil tank wagon, I think the tanker possibly offers slightly better value as there is certainly quite a bit more to the build ...... But ...... considering the type of wagon the well wagon is and the fact that it is still a very nicely produced product, Darstaed have produced another winner. I am pretty sure these will sell by the bucket load and leave some of their competitors ( in RTR ) with something to think about. As before, if you wish me to expand on any part of the above or provide further images ....... shout out. Feel free to catch up with Ellis at any one of the many exhibitions that he attends and get yourself a better hands on experience in order to judge the product for yourself. To be in with a chance of winning one of these ....... keep your eyes open on our competitions as the two models featured are both only in my foster care until they are won. thanks again toto
Now Toto just box those back up and express post down under I have a project that they will fill the bill for nicely Roll on the competition.
Hi Chris, Glad you like them. As I said, definitely need a weathering. Just to take the glossy look away from the load beds and to a lesser extent, the main chassis.
This is one competition I may well enter, depending what it is of course. Of the selection provided by Ellis the well wagons are the only things that fit with my modelling period.
Scroll down the page, you’ll see what I think Chris has in mind..... http://platform1mrc.com/p1mrc/index.php?threads/new-shinnies-from-darstaed.2098/
Ahhhhhh very good and maybe not so difficult to do provided you can get the strength at the join. Maybe more than one cut and make it towards the end as opposed to near the middle. Interesting. Toto
