Hi,
I have started a model of a ?Mud Wagon? which I class as a small stagecoach, that was used on the somewhat poor Colorado roads, they were and are much more lightly built than the heavier Stagecoaches, and especially in winter; with either muddy or snowbound roads could travel the (bad) roads, hence the name ?Mud wagon? as these vehicles could deal with the conditions.
I started the body first ? there is a side view available on the web of a ?San Diego to Yuma? Mud wagon and I used that making it wide enough for a couple of passengers; it is possible that they were 3 passengers wide but looking at my other horse drawn vehicles and finding that the track of them was said to be 5 foot 2 inches: using that I ended up with a 2 seat side by side version.
The body is all plasticard except the roof, and seat cushions etc., which are PVC solid foam board. The styrene is mainly 1mm with lots of strips to replicate the framework; the luggage rack frame is 1mm brass wire glued together with the center horizontal rods being 1mm diameter plastic rod, that is easier to cut exactly to length.
The curved front boards are a 4 layer concoction, the intention being that the two center layers of aluminum will ?hold? the shape; of two layers of .004 aluminum can material and then two layers of 1/2mm planked plasticard; the strapping is 1/mm thick black plasticard top & bottom: completing it are the two pieces at the bottom of the sides which also assist in holding of the shape when it has been glued in position.
The rear (luggage) deck is plain 1mm thick plasticard, hand scribed and the strapping added as the front. The ?chains to hold the deck up are pieces of wire with some lead foil wrapped round them to replicate the protective tube; this is from my dentist you if asked will give you plenty ? they are the small pieces of very thin lead that are used as backing pieces for dental X rays; they have also been used for making the three pieces of ?leather? for the front of the open area below the drivers seat and the sides of the curved footrest as well.
The chassis has been started ? the wheels a are a combination of the front wheels are from Northeast Narrow Gauge, using the rear ones from their ?commercial? set, and the rear wheels are from Hobby's, who make plastic wheels for their small range of Horse Drawn vehicles. I have added some hubs from bits of plastic tube so they have a common design.
The rest of the chassis is mainly PVC solid foam board ? from scrap, with some Plastruct ABS square tube for the axles. Again from the ?web I found some information and isometric plans for a Mud Wagon (1932) and a Stagecoach as well (1946 this time) . From these I worked out a chassis (my version is much smaller) and it is going well.
Here are some photos with a final one of the chassis
The body is quite small being 7.5 x 2.375 inches. I think it will havea 4 mule team (they have bettr stamina (& sense) than horses!
Enjoy
I have started a model of a ?Mud Wagon? which I class as a small stagecoach, that was used on the somewhat poor Colorado roads, they were and are much more lightly built than the heavier Stagecoaches, and especially in winter; with either muddy or snowbound roads could travel the (bad) roads, hence the name ?Mud wagon? as these vehicles could deal with the conditions.
I started the body first ? there is a side view available on the web of a ?San Diego to Yuma? Mud wagon and I used that making it wide enough for a couple of passengers; it is possible that they were 3 passengers wide but looking at my other horse drawn vehicles and finding that the track of them was said to be 5 foot 2 inches: using that I ended up with a 2 seat side by side version.
The body is all plasticard except the roof, and seat cushions etc., which are PVC solid foam board. The styrene is mainly 1mm with lots of strips to replicate the framework; the luggage rack frame is 1mm brass wire glued together with the center horizontal rods being 1mm diameter plastic rod, that is easier to cut exactly to length.
The curved front boards are a 4 layer concoction, the intention being that the two center layers of aluminum will ?hold? the shape; of two layers of .004 aluminum can material and then two layers of 1/2mm planked plasticard; the strapping is 1/mm thick black plasticard top & bottom: completing it are the two pieces at the bottom of the sides which also assist in holding of the shape when it has been glued in position.
The rear (luggage) deck is plain 1mm thick plasticard, hand scribed and the strapping added as the front. The ?chains to hold the deck up are pieces of wire with some lead foil wrapped round them to replicate the protective tube; this is from my dentist you if asked will give you plenty ? they are the small pieces of very thin lead that are used as backing pieces for dental X rays; they have also been used for making the three pieces of ?leather? for the front of the open area below the drivers seat and the sides of the curved footrest as well.
The chassis has been started ? the wheels a are a combination of the front wheels are from Northeast Narrow Gauge, using the rear ones from their ?commercial? set, and the rear wheels are from Hobby's, who make plastic wheels for their small range of Horse Drawn vehicles. I have added some hubs from bits of plastic tube so they have a common design.
The rest of the chassis is mainly PVC solid foam board ? from scrap, with some Plastruct ABS square tube for the axles. Again from the ?web I found some information and isometric plans for a Mud Wagon (1932) and a Stagecoach as well (1946 this time) . From these I worked out a chassis (my version is much smaller) and it is going well.
Here are some photos with a final one of the chassis
The body is quite small being 7.5 x 2.375 inches. I think it will havea 4 mule team (they have bettr stamina (& sense) than horses!
Enjoy