A few wagon kits to keep me busy.

A trip to Slaters at Darley Dale the other day, and I now have a few more wagon kits to keep me busy for an hour or two! As they are only about 6 miles from where I live it's easier, quicker and cheaper to go over and collect rather than pay postage and await Royal Mail delivery. Slaters are very helpful, a quick phone call, and by the time I rolled up at their premises, all I had to do was ring the bell, and a nice lady appeared with the kits all packed in a big 'Jiffy bag'......easy!
Anyway, here's what I've got.



I may get a few more, probably Parkside next time, 6 wheel brake van is something a little different, and hopefully Jim at Connoisseur will be contacting me shortly for my pre-ordered brass brake van kit.
Keith.

 

I bought another 3 kits, this time Peco, from Peters Spares, and my order for a further brake van from Jim at Connoisseur also arrived, so more work ahead.



I built the 16 ton mineral wagon and made a start on the Southern cattle truck, body completed and then it struck me that despite this being a new and sealed kit, apart from wheels, main chassis and the 2 solebars, everything else from the undercarriage was missing! I emailed Peters Spares and Peter came back suggesting I should contact Peco for the missing parts, which I did, with reservations, as I felt that it was their problem to sort rather than mine. A call to Peco and they said exactly the same, and cast doubt on the validity of the kit with that amount of parts missing, admitting that occasionally an odd part did get missed, but not entire sprues. A call to Peters Spares, and I pointed out that since my contract was with them, it was their problem to sort out, and that Peco had also stated that. I shortly after had another email from them asking if I was ok with them giving my details to Peco (GDPR regulations) for them to send parts direct to me, so it remains to be seen if things get sorted out, and I post this as a warning to anyone contemplating a purchase from them (especially from overseas) that you may end up with protracted dealings if they are in the habit of 'Passing the can' when problems arise. In the circumstances, I doubt I will be buying from them again, despite having used them in the past for 4mm stuff.
Keith.

 

I've had a succession of heavy colds over the past few weeks which have slowed progress on wagon building somewhat, but I have now managed to complete construction and painting of them all, though 3 still await decals which I have to order, Fortunately "Peters Spares" sorted the missing parts for the SR cattle truck which I received on Xmas eve, and allowed completion of that one too. Here we have the selection, although all will need a degree of weathering which will be done as a batch.Here's the SR cattle wagon.

 

Next up, a Meat Van.

 

16 ton Mineral wagon.

 

6 wheel Brake Van.

 

LSWR 24 ton Brake Van.

 

SR 25 ton Brake Van.

 

This is the Connoisseur "Queen Mary" Brake van, quite a heavy lump weighing in at close to 600 grams!

 

Now for the 3 awaiting decals, first up a 'Palvan.'

 

Next, a Fruit Van.

 

.....and finally, a 13 ton open wagon.

 

With the exception of the "Queen Mary" Brake van, all have needed 'ballast' in the form of lead flashing to be added as, like 4mm models, 7mm wagons are generally far too light. I think these will be enough wagons for my immediate needs, plan is to order an SR Bogie Guards Van and SR 4 wheel 'BY' van from Slaters this week when they re-open. Unfortunately, since we in Derbyshire are in 'Tier 4' for the foreseeable future, I'll have to let them post me the order rather than a quick visit, as I've now run out of kits to build.......there's always the points kits though!
Keith.