2 plank wagons

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 5:53 pm

I want to build a few of these, however, have a story of development behind them so to show an improvement cycle as the needs of the railway grew:

So first off a basic unsprung wagon:

I have justified this being unsprung as firstly the laser-cut wooden axle boxes broke (I have never liked these) and secondly this was the first wagon to be built for the RWLR and to save cost they went with plain bearing axleboxes (the story later for the other wagons is the RWLR found our these type of axleboxes were unreliable and high maintenance).

Well done Mr Swift for introducing the brass wagon strip packs!

WVLR · Post by **WVLR** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 6:29 pm

Nice, it looks right, good proportions, nice detail on the sole bars and I love the rustic plank ends of the bed showing below the sides.

METHSSNIFFER · Post by **METHSSNIFFER** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 6:47 pm

Yep and the grain runs the right way excellent!

jim@NAL · Post by **jim@NAL** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:40 pm

looks very good I like the load what is it made from

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 9:52 pm

The load is 3mm pea shingle (used in fish tanks).

Underneath it though is metal bars as I like running my train loads weighted so the engine has to work.

SapperAnt · Post by **SapperAnt** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:49 pm

Very nice. Will it have drop sides?

krusty · Post by **krusty** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:00 pm

Nice work Tom. Will it be left unpainted/treated? Might be nice left to pick up a grubby used look with time and running.
John

Gremlin · Post by **Gremlin** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:55 pm

nice build and detailing. Can I make a suggestion on the planks.
If you put a degree of chamfer on the side where the planks meet it will make them appear as separate planks, they are starting to become one. A ruler and craft knife could still be run down the finished wagon.

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:05 pm

Progress:

It went back together alright after it fell on the garage floor

Various swear words were heard!

I did not like the corner brackets as they looked too small so I am making some from metal angle that look the part.

Balsa wood at this size is a pain as it splits easily so I really need to look into Plastikard!

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:56 pm

Got away with using plastic angle for the brackets:

Soar Valley Light · Post by **Soar Valley Light** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 9:20 pm

That's a cracking job! Whose axleboxes have you used?

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 4:35 pm

The axles boxes are the Accucraft L&B type. Unfortunately, they do not sell the plastic suspension they use with axle boxes on their L&B rolling stock so hopefully my wagon looks to others as being unsprung (and getting away with it visually)

Riveted out today!

Nearly got a finished and painted train together:

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 10:34 am

That's a fine-looking train you're assembling, properly narrow-gauge looking... Looking forward to photos of the finished 2 plank wagon...

Cheers,

Andrew.

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 11:13 am

Thanks Andrew.

I keep thinking of how to make the axle boxes look sprung though as it just does not look right to me without some kind of suspension?

Post by **philipy** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 2:46 pm

Tom, I'd suggest making a set of 4 springs, with hangers at the ends, out of plasticard. Then make a silicone mould and cast them using resin. Then simply glue them to the wagon.
You could just make one spring I suppose, but then you'd need to make 4 individual castings per wagon, not just 1 set of 4.

Philip

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:34 pm

Thanks Phil for your advice on Plastikard today! I have some on order now to see if I can make the axle boxes fitted out with suspension.

Help me, I am becoming a rivet counter:

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 12:04 am

24.....................

GTB · Post by **GTB** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:15 am

philipy:107551 wrote:You could just make one spring I suppose, but then you'd need to make 4 individual castings per wagon, not just 1 set of 4.

In the distant past (pre laser cutters and 3D printers) when I made my own resin and whitemetal castings, I always made one pattern and multiple moulds. That way all the castings come out identical, without needing the skills to make identical patterns.

For really large quantities of parts, you can always cast several copies of the pattern and mount them for making multiple moulds with multiple parts. You need a double shrinkage allowance on the pattern though, if you intend to go down that road.....

Graeme

GTB · Post by **GTB** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:09 am

tom_tom_go:107546 wrote: I keep thinking of how to make the axle boxes look sprung though as it just does not look right to me without some kind of suspension?

The Glyn Valley got by without springs on their goods stock, as quarry products don't complain about the ride.......

Coil springs weren't unknown on narrow gauge stock and are easy enough to make. Wind soft copper wire around a rod, slide off and run some solder in a line to make the 'spring' rigid. Cut into lengths, file the ends flat, then glue in position over the axle box.

Graeme

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:50 am

GTB:107580 wrote: Coil springs weren't unknown on narrow gauge stock and are easy enough to make. Wind soft copper wire around a rod, slide off and run some solder in a line to make the 'spring' rigid. Cut into lengths, file the ends flat, then glue in position over the axle box.
Graeme

I did think about this but the axle boxes I have used don't really look like 'hudson' style of axle box as can be see from L&B stock below:

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2 plank wagons

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