peterbunce
1880's Colorado Narrow gauge on 45mm track
Amongst other things I have been building a horsedrawn ore carrier; this is basically a variant of the large American Freight Wagon, (have a look on the Web for the Ketchum freight wagons, the ‘Images’ are best). My layout is supposedly set in Colorado in the 1880s, so one was needed) being slightly lower in height than those, and without the canvas top.
It is made from plasticard 2mm thick, with some 5mm thick PVC foam for the chassis: the size of the box is 7” long x 2.5” wide and 3” high. The wheels are from Hobby’s – really the front ones are too small but they are not made in any larger size. The ‘load’ is made from polystyrene packaging, with some garden grit for the ‘ore’ glued on with Aleene’s thick PVA glue; the ends of the block are stepped or cut at a slope to make it easier to load or remove.
The strapping is strips of thick writing paper coloured and then glued in position, and when dry varnished to keep it down; the outsides have some .8mm wire as stiffeners. The seat sits on 2mm wide 4 thou thick ‘lager can metal’ 3 leaf springs.
The chassis is somewhat ‘generic’ primarily die to the front wheels being too small, which needed some alterations to it but the general effect is there – the front bar for the horses is not yet made. Strapping is the same as box.
The colour is not yet complete it needs to be darker, and have some dust/dirt added. I think the same comment could be used as was said to be used for the newly completed ‘private owner’ wagons here in the UK – we finish them off to look good, and what do the owners/colliery/mine owners do – fill up it with dirty old coal! (but substitute ore for coal).
Here are some photos of the work so far
The body still needing some extra weathering - burnt umber and Games Workshop brown ink I think
The chassis - somewhat generic, no front pole shown - its cut and half painted though.
Well it must have a load - and it needs to be removable so it was out with some old polystyrene packing pieces, cut and glue a couple together (and clean up the mess!) and the paint the top and add the coarse garden grit with some thick PVA to hold it on, then add some darkish paint to add some more colour.
More to follow when complete.
Yours Peter.
It is made from plasticard 2mm thick, with some 5mm thick PVC foam for the chassis: the size of the box is 7” long x 2.5” wide and 3” high. The wheels are from Hobby’s – really the front ones are too small but they are not made in any larger size. The ‘load’ is made from polystyrene packaging, with some garden grit for the ‘ore’ glued on with Aleene’s thick PVA glue; the ends of the block are stepped or cut at a slope to make it easier to load or remove.
The strapping is strips of thick writing paper coloured and then glued in position, and when dry varnished to keep it down; the outsides have some .8mm wire as stiffeners. The seat sits on 2mm wide 4 thou thick ‘lager can metal’ 3 leaf springs.
The chassis is somewhat ‘generic’ primarily die to the front wheels being too small, which needed some alterations to it but the general effect is there – the front bar for the horses is not yet made. Strapping is the same as box.
The colour is not yet complete it needs to be darker, and have some dust/dirt added. I think the same comment could be used as was said to be used for the newly completed ‘private owner’ wagons here in the UK – we finish them off to look good, and what do the owners/colliery/mine owners do – fill up it with dirty old coal! (but substitute ore for coal).
Here are some photos of the work so far
The body still needing some extra weathering - burnt umber and Games Workshop brown ink I think
The chassis - somewhat generic, no front pole shown - its cut and half painted though.
Well it must have a load - and it needs to be removable so it was out with some old polystyrene packing pieces, cut and glue a couple together (and clean up the mess!) and the paint the top and add the coarse garden grit with some thick PVA to hold it on, then add some darkish paint to add some more colour.
More to follow when complete.
Yours Peter.
