Great Chesterford Junction Part Two

G`day Richard.....Happy New Year,
Yes the Maybach ( 52 Class ) is a recent addition. It was part of a deceased estate sale at Woodpecker.
It will look better when the couplings are converted over to smaller modern version.
Gormo

 

G`day Folks,
Just a little side track for a moment..........I decided to create a removable pipe load for one of my bogie bolster wagons.

It`s really quite a simple process and I have used paper drinking straws. I have a good supply of plastic straws, however I`m keeping them for other projects as the supply of plastic straws will eventually diminish in this country due to Govt. regulations which have banned them to protect the environment.

The paper straws are surprisingly strong and have a thicker wall compared to the plastic version. The thickness of the wall better suits the look of industrial pipes in 1/76th scale.




The downside with the paper straw is that you can see how the paper was wound. You can just see it in the pic above and this is after two coats of Matt Black.
It`s probably more noticeable in the pic below, however at normal viewing distance you may not even notice ??........I suppose this project could be a rivet counters picnic.????.....but as you well know folks......I don`t care....





The chains are glued to the pipe and they just drape over the side rails of the wagon. Now these chains should have screw links in them to tension the chain, but I don`t have any screw links and really it`s only an impression of an authentic load. The chalk writing on the pipes was done with a white water colour pencil.




The thing I like about the load is that it gives the impression of mass which I think looks pretty cool....
In the pic below, the unloaded bogie bolster behind the pipe load now seems like it is lacking visually, so I will make a load for that one too.
Of course the advantage of a removable load is that you can create various other different types of loads to create some variety and interest......eg. Timber, Steel RSJ`s, Girder Plates, Trees.




Gormo

 

G`day Gary and thanks for your suggestion re the primer.
The jury is still out on painting the inside of the pipes. My first inclination was to go that way, but the white interior adds a certain level of interest, so I`m open to suggestions on this one.......
Gormo

 

Not to worry Richard,
I have no doubt your Aluminium pipes would look much better than a paper straw.
Gormo

 

G`day Richard,
Actually your idea about asking for suggestions would make a good category on the forum......
So if somebody was looking to start a project and needed suggestions for suitable / cheap materials, anyone with ideas could put forward suggestions.
Or do we already have that facility..?????.......I`ll have to check the listings again.
Gormo

 

Now there`s an idea Andy........
Gormo

 

Thanks Andy,
Yes I considered the flares, which can be done by cutting a short section of straw and then splitting it open so that it may be slid over the end of the long straw.
On a plastic straw with thin walls, it works quite well and leaves a small gap in the collar which can be placed at the bottom. On the paper straws with thicker walls the resulting gap is a good deal wider, so I elected to not use collars in this case.
The pipes not being prototypical can be justified as a one off when writing your own railway history....
Gormo

 

There you go.........
Gormo

 

G`day Pete,
That seals it for me.......
The pipes will be painted inside........well as far as I can get inside anyway..??.......I tried it on a test straw and it was easy enough to do with a brush.
Richard`s solution was quite feasible as well, however I think as you have actually been there and seen the process, I will have to follow up on your suggestion.
Many thanks Pete....
Gormo

 

G`day Folks,
Based on Pete`s first hand observation of pipes being made at Staveley Iron Works, I have altered my pipe wagon load slightly to give a more prototypical look.
The alteration was a simple coat of Matt Black inside the pipes as per the pics below








And you know what folks??......I like them better this way.
Thanks for the info Pete....
Gormo

 

Thanks Andy....
Gormo