Neil's workbench thread - wagon building

[NeilMac]

I thought that it was about time I added a workbench thread. As this is the first post it will basically be a test that I can add images and links, as all forums are different.

I am planning to building 2 layouts - which I will add to the layouts topic when there is something to show - but for a brief description.
First is a small through station (borad around 30" x 24") for 0-4-0 locos and 4 wheel coaches and wagons. Maximium train length 3 wagons/coaches + loco. Passing loop and single siding at front, fiddle ard at rear.
For the other, I have been planning a shunting layout for some time so decided to build one in 009. Currently I have 3 possible track plans! It is for this layout that I am currently building rolling stock.

An interesting link, for anyone who still has an Internet Explorer browser
http://www.precisionlabels.com/shunt/jpage310.html
This is the instructions page. Click on the S&ARR or Riverside Yard links on the left panel to operate 2 layouts on screen.
Just to say again - this is an old site, coded in 2000 according to the comments, and will only work on Internet Explorer. I am currenty looking a thte code to see if it can run on something more up to date but that may take quite a while to do.

The final test for the first post is to show an image.
This, assuming it works, is a 21' 6 ton 8 axle van. Or at least it will be when I have attacked it with razor saw and modelling knife. Picked the van up recently at a shop in Kendal - I am always on the lookout for rolling stock of the correct body length that is ripe for conversion.

http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-000-001

In later post I will attempt to explain the rationale behind my choice of rolling stock, and show other wagons that I have build or am in the process of building now.

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

(It works for me in Chrome.)

[engerth399]

Works for me with Firefox.

[Graeme Dunbar]

I can view the pages in Chrome and Edge but all the track block tiles, segments or whatever they might be called are jumbled together at the left. I can drag one to the right but it springs back.

[NeilMac]

Yes, that is what happens - all track, stock etc end up in a heap instead of being positioned on a virtual layout.

Internet Explorer goes its own way with many things, while all other browsers work closer togther, but different to IE. This causes me endless grief in my dayjob as I need to support an application parts of which will only run on IE, and needs so much custom code and testing over what the other browsers need. Will be a happy day when IE is sunset and we no longer need to support it!

As for the conversion of this code away from IE dependancy. I had thought that this could be a tricky process, but just after making the post I did a test and it looks as though it may be quite easy.
Even if this is the case it will take me a while to get it working, as I no longer have update access to the domain it is currently running on, so would need to transfer it all to my own domain.

[NeilMac]

The next wagon I am showing is also one that it not actually on my workbench, rather one that has already passed over it twice - having been started as US HOn30 and then later recycled to 009!

Before that, a word about what I am building. I am getting together a number of wagons for my planned shunting layout. This will include 009 kits, conversion from OO bodies, conversions from N gauge bodies and scratchbuilds. Basically anthing so long as it looks right to me, but with two criteria that all wagons must meet.

Firstly, for a shunting layout things work best of all stock is about the same length. Also, at least for the track plans I have in mind, it is better if the stock is about the same length as the points. Hence rule 1 is that all stock will be around 3.5", or around 22' in 4mm scale.

The second rule is from the fact that for reliable operation you need good running gear and couplings. As some 009 bogies are better than others, and not all couplers are fully compatible with each other, this really means sticking with just one type that does work well. There were a few options here, but I chose to standardise on Peco bogies and couplers.

Ok, finally to the wagon mentioned initially. This was originally built for a US HOn30 layout, and is converted from a Bachmann N gauge 40' steel gondola (these models were everwhere at one time, but you rarely ever seen one now). I basically cut the wagon in two down the centre, removed all traces of the ends leaving the sides intact, and then removed any N scale details. I then cut a new floor from scribed plasticard and rejoined the two halves to a 25mm width. I also added another floor below the remains of the original floor for strength.

http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-001-001

For the ends I rebuild these using plasticard to represent a corregated end.

http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-001-002

I originally built the wagon with the original N gauge bogies - which I always throught looked too short in the wheelbase - and body mounted DG couplers. To use this for 009 I removed the bogies and couplers and replaced them with Peco items on raised bolsters of .060" strip with 4mm holes. This is the one part of the wagon I am not fully happy with, in that it rides higher than I would like. Had I been building this from the start for 009/Peco bogies I would have left out the lower floor allowing the bogies to sit higher under the chasis.

http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-001-003

[JulienW]

That's a nicely done conversion.

[NeilMac]

This is the first of the wagons that is actually on my workbench now.

However, before we get to that, I did say that I was going to fix my on screen shunting web pages to work with all browsers. I have basically just copied the relevant pages from the precision labels site to my own host, with the required code changes
There are 2 layouts on there, a Timesaver and an Inglenook Sidings. As these still have the names from where they were planned as US layouts they are named S&ARR and Riverside Yard respectively. There are instructions accesible from the m enu as well - I recommend a quick read first.

http://www.neisar.co.uk/shunt/jpage300.html



Now to the first wagon I am showing from those currently on my bench. I am always on the lookout for wagons bodies, in any scale, that are around 3.5" in length, or 22' OO scale. One that fits the bill is the Dapol Grampus. Fortunately this is available as a body only unpainted.


http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-005-001

For this conversion I firstly removed the ends, then cut where the floor meets the side from the inside of the wagon to separate one side. I then cut the floor to a width such that the overal wagon width, floor + sides - would be around 25mm. That done I rejoined the removed side to the now cut down floor. There is not much strength here at the moment, but should be OK when the ends are fixed in.

I am currently undecided about how to complete the ends. One options is to cut the end original ends that I removed. Another is to used corregated plastic sheet as per the steel open I showed earlier. A third posibility is to build the ends from plain sheet and then attach half round strip horizontally and spaced out, to create a different kind of corregated effect.

[Robin Webster]

Look forward to the finished model. On 3 pieces of paper write the ends you like, fold them up and place them in a small basket. Close your eyes and take out one folded paper, what ever it is, that will be the ends of your gondola.
Have fun, what ever you decided will be perfect.

[NeilMac]

No 'real world' updates at the moment because I did not have normal access to my work bench over the Christmas break. hopefully normal service will be resumed soon...

As an aside, to keep the thread updated, I did spend some time on my 'virtual bench', i.e. my computer. This is not OO9 - far from it - but it is definately narrow gauge. It is a Lynton & Barnstaple van in 1/200 scale to run on T gauge (3mm) track.


http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-000-002

Model is nearly complete. Once done I plan to get this, and a US 3 foot gauge East Tennesse & Western North Carolina wood hopper in 1/300 scale, printed by Shapeways to see if they really will work out when printed.

[Hugh Norwood]

No 'real world' updates at the moment because I did not have normal access to my work bench over the Christmas break. hopefully normal service will be resumed soon...

I know the feeling - my workbench is the kitchen table!
:)

[NeilMac]

On to another wagon currently on my bench. You will see from the photos I will be showing that I do not beleive in working on just one at a time, many more under construction still to show!

This one is based on the Hornby cattle wagon. This is another wagon that just happens to be with the correct length range for my layout, being 85mm, or 21' 3" scale. A plus is that it is already in SR livery - if I can build it without damaging the lettering too much.

The first image shows the start I have made on this wagon, alongside an original example which is ripe for a second conversion at another time

http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-004-001

The second image is the same from a different angle

http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-004-002
This shows how I have narrow the body down to 6' width by taking a slice from the centre of each end, plus the same slice out of the floor so that the 2 halves will fit back together.
In fact this is almost all of the body modification that are needed, the only remaining job being to file the tops of the ends back to a smooth radius in  readiness for adding a roof.

And from underneath

http://www.neisar.co.uk/view_wagon_image.html?b-004-003
This shows the start I have made on the underframe. Becuase this is a high body compared to some of the other I am working on I placed the bolsters directly against the floor, having first cut out enough clearance for the bogie mounting clip to pass through the bolster.
The heasdstocks are .080" square because that is the height that works best with the bolsters up agains the floor.
I have since cut the solebars to length and they are ready for fitting. I used .080" square for these as well. I could equaly have used .080" x .040" which I also had in stock, but the extra thickness is hidden from view, and helps ensure that they will stay straight when being fitted.

[MickT]

Nice description Neil, but I can't locate the photos that you refer to which aren't on the posting either "in person" or via a link.

Mick

[NeilMac]

Mick,
Can I ask how you are viewing the forum? I created the posts on my laptop, and all is well, however when I try it on my phone I am seeing the posts without images.

[MickT]

Hi Neil,

I'm viewing on a PC using Chrome. No problems with any other postings by others in seeing uploaded photos or photos I've uploaded myself.

This is what I can see from your posting made yesterday (7 Jan):
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Posted by: NeilMac
« on: January 07, 2022, 03:47:25 PM »Insert Quote
On to another wagon currently on my bench. You will see from the photos I will be showing that I do not beleive in working on just one at a time, many more under construction still to show!

This one is based on the Hornby cattle wagon. This is another wagon that just happens to be with the correct length range for my layout, being 85mm, or 21' 3" scale. A plus is that it is already in SR livery - if I can build it without damaging the lettering too much.

The first image shows the start I have made on this wagon, alongside an original example which is ripe for a second conversion at another time


The second image is the same from a different angle

This shows how I have narrow the body down to 6' width by taking a slice from the centre of each end, plus the same slice out of the floor so that the 2 halves will fit back together.
In fact this is almost all of the body modification that are needed, the only remaining job being to file the tops of the ends back to a smooth radius in  readiness for adding a roof.

And from underneath

This shows the start I have made on the underframe. Becuase this is a high body compared to some of the other I am working on I placed the bolsters directly against the floor, having first cut out enough clearance for the bogie mounting clip to pass through the bolster.
The heasdstocks are .080" square because that is the height that works best with the bolsters up agains the floor.
I have since cut the solebars to length and they are ready for fitting. I used .080" square for these as well. I could equaly have used .080" x .040" which I also had in stock, but the extra thickness is hidden from view, and helps ensure that they will stay straight when being fitted.

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Mick