Painting Society Cattle Vans

[andy1878]

What painting sequence / scheme would members recommend?

I have painted the floor natural wood as Paul Titmuss suggested in oo9 news july 2012 and intend to use matt grey on the exterior after assembly but am unsure about the interior. Should I paint the visible (ie not the chamfer were the ends/sides meet) before assembly and what colour should they be.

What would have been the prototype practice, I am fairly sure the builders would what to finish the wagon inside so as to protect the wood, but wear and tear would give this a real battering

Andy1878

[JulienW]

With the couple I have done (Society cattle vans and others) I have built the wagon without the roof - essentially making a very high sided open (and some early cattle wagons were opens!), then painted the wagon inside and out before fitting the roof.

As to colours I generally stick with 'natural wood' on the inside because AFAIK the real things were unpainted on the inside.  Yes, there would be wear & tear, but I'm sure that a painted surface with bits knocked off it would look much worse than an unpainted surface similarly distressed, and don't forget that there is a possibility that any animals might chew / lick the inside of the wagon, and whilst a few splinters in the mouth might be inconvenient for the beast having it drop dead from ingesting (the often lead based) paint is a bit costly for the railway company.

As an aside, I don't generally use the natural wood colour strait from the tin but combine it with light aircraft grey. The trick is to wet mix the 2 colours on the surface being painted (I alternate the brush between the two tins) so as to end up with a streaky result with the streaks representing the grain of the wood and the grey colour looks much like unpainted weathered wood. The greyer ones are older, but you could pick out the od plank (or part of a plank) to make it browner to show a repaired section (possibly where the Squier's prize bull lost his rag!).

[Hugh Norwood]

(possibly where the Squire's prize bull lost his rag!).

That would be a red rag of course?
;D

[JulienW]

Absolutely! ;D

[tedp]

If I'm correct, prototype cattle vans were disinfected with lime. I'm not sure if that applies to narrow gauge ones, but you could add a thin wash of white to the bottom, and a spill over to the outside. Here is what I mean (scratchbuilt card stock).

[Brian Mosby]

If I'm correct, prototype cattle vans were disinfected with lime. I'm not sure if that applies to narrow gauge ones, but you could add a thin wash of white to the bottom, and a spill over to the outside. Here is what I mean (scratchbuilt card stock).

In the UK It was prohibited to use limewash under the Animals (transit and General) Order of 1927
So wagons would have the white at the bottem Only Before 1927

[JulienW]

Just to expand on Mozzer's comment, the reason that the use of lime was banned is that it tends to rot the feet of cattle.

I assume that after 1927 a mix of brown and pale yellow liquid staining would be more appropriate...if somewhat malodourous! :o

[tedp]

Ooomph - the smell alone!

Thanks, Brian, for the info on livestock transport - that would put a date on my layout before 1927 then! Never knew about that. Over here I think lime wasn't used at all.

[andy1878]

Thanks for all this.

So far I have an open topped cattle van with its interior painted natural wood with grey mixed in. I'm a bit disappointed with my painting of the floors, paint seems to be a bit thick. When doing the interior sides Wood and Grey, I mixed a little water in (acrylic paint) it seems little better and I need to be more accurate applying the brush - one or two bits of  the exterior got some!
Next job seems to be fitting the wire rails, so whilst I procure some of the correct diameter, I'll proceed and assemble the other 5 bodies. Saving the exterior painting for later.

I have decided that my rake of vans will be post 1927 and that the effects of lime wash will be well banished and also that the Squire must have a very well behaved Bull - none of the vans will have 'new' planking simulated or otherwise, well at least until my painting technique improves. The railway operational rule book has been duly amended to forbid the waving of Red flags whilst the Bull is in transit!

Presumably said Bull must have travelled on a single occupancy ticket (in the interests of keeping the wheels on the rails) so did they have some sort of cattle crush arrangement to fit in to hold him steady? might make an unusual interior.

Andy

PS I wont be fitting a sound decoder with any sort of mooing or even contemplating an aroma decoder :( so don't go suggesting it!

[Brian Mosby]

limewash was no longer used after 1927 but wagons still had to be washed out with disinfectant as part of the 1927 act

[JulienW]

<snipped>

Presumably said Bull must have travelled on a single occupancy ticket (in the interests of keeping the wheels on the rails) so did they have some sort of cattle crush arrangement to fit in to hold him steady? might make an unusual interior.

Andy

PS I wont be fitting a sound decoder with any sort of mooing or even contemplating an aroma decoder :( so don't go suggesting it!

From what I recall of seeing some of the arrangements for loading standard gauge vans they did pack them in tight (8 to 10 beasts), especially if the cattle were de-horned.  Some sort of crush system using stout planks or boards is likely for part-loads though the other option might be to use ropes (through nose rings and around horns?).  I believe the general idea was to have it so that the cattle remained on their feet but couldn't move about much to avoid injuries - hence packing them in.  Sheep and pigs are (I think) a bit more stable so less prone to injuries but horses are another matter.

I'm sure that the info is out there on the web somewhere, but finding it is another matter.

I hadn't thought of a sound chip... could be fun! (more so than an aroma chip!) :D