As I'll need a few wagons for my intended layout I bought a Parkside SR/BR meat van kit from Sheffield Transport Modelling another Sheffield shop only a few hundred yards away from the rather better known "Rails" via their website. I've not built plastic kit wagons before, but the Parkside ones are pretty simple, though the exploded drawing of the brake gear leaves something to be desired. It went together quite well, all four axleboxes are moveable so will compensate for any uneven track, and after painting and decals, I'm quite happy with the end result, might try one or two Slaters kits as an alternative as they offer a few BR types in their range. This is the end result. Keith.
Hi Keith, Slaters wagon have a bit more additional detail in the form of etches and brass castings but they don't have any form of compensation/springin as standard. You can buy it as an optional extra for some of their kits. They do build into nice wagons though.
It is indeed and I thought it would be easier 'cos everythings bigger, but that means there's also a lot more small detail to add, so it means more work! I have another project I've been working on for a few weeks which is now about complete except for decals, and that is a Connoisseur Models 'Queen Mary' brake van, and it's bigger than the Connoisseur 02 loco I have also decals to do on. I intend getting around half a dozen wagons, won't need a lot as my layout will be a 'Heritage' one, so a few for shunting or token goods trains will be enough. I plan on about 3 brake vans since 'Heritage' railways always seem to offer 'brake van rides' to the general public. A trip to Slaters (about 6 miles from my home) is on the cards for later this week hopefully, enough to keep me occupied up to and over Xmas! Keith.
Lovely build Keith... strangely today I built a wagon also, apologies not intentional to bomb your build thread but this is a one off build for me. Now a friend is renovating an ex diagram 80 BR design Blue Spot fish van for a client, number is E87614 as I discovered when I asked him but the weird thing here is the decal sheet in this Parkside kit supplies numbers for E87613. This one is going to run as an SPV Express Parcels in Rail Blue when its painted, I've just got the brake harnesses and pull rods to fit.
Know what you mean about the glasses Paul, I've just ordered my Xmas present to me from me, a 2020 27" iMac, in the hope that I won't need glasses to view the screen. (Well, it seemed like a good excuse, my old iMac is a 2012 21.5" and things have moved on a bit computer-wise since then), no point in saving money with interest rates the way they are, as our late departed local Funeral Director used to say "there ain't no pockets in a shroud!" I want my epitaph to read "I being of sound mind have spent the Bl@@dy lot!" Keith.
Nice build Keith. Brake rigging is fun to play with..., not ! But when it is complete, it is pretty rewarding after putting yourself through all that torture ! I chose to paint my wagon that strange pinky colour as advertised on the Parkside box..., A very strange colour, a little like sausage mince... Cheers, Gary.