Bodge it #3 - transporter wagon

[adeshers]

Hi all,

I've not admitted this to everybody but I would love to model the L&MVLR (that's the Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway to the un-initiated) with exact copies of the 2 locos, 4 coaches, 1 van wagon, 2 flat wagons for transporting milk churns and assorted sizes of transporter wagons for the transit of standard gauge wagons to destination (1 long and 4 short versions).

Disclaimer: - all the above is from addled memory so, please, don't sue me.

However (and it's a big 'However') I ain't got the money (the GRS kits of the rolling stock are very attractive) , so I've decided to go for the spirit and that's the inspiration for this 'Bodge it'.

I started with a Playmobil low sided wagon and two metal home made bogies bought off e-bay (if anybody on the forum recognises the bogies shout up).

Add couplings to the bogies so that it will negotiate R1 curves.

Take apart the Playmobil wagon and use the flatbed as the base. The grooves in the floor are approximately equal to gauge 3. This pic shows a mock-up with two wheelsets on board.

And this one with a chassis and wagon body added.

I added a balsa wood 'body'.

I cut the sides of the original Playmobil wagon and wondered if they would look good added upside down to the sides of the transporter wagon - what do you think?

The balsa 'body' is removable so I can get to the nuts holding the bogies to the flatbed. The 'body' is attached to the body using the original Playmobil wagon ends cut down.

This three quarter view gives a better idea of shape and construction.

 

[adeshers]

For some reason the first photo did not upload - so here it is.
I started with a Playmobil low sided wagon and two metal home made bogies bought off e-bay (if anybody on the forum recognises the bogies shout up)

This a three quarter view with the standard gauge 'wagon' on top

And this photo shows how it would look behind a Stainz

 

[adeshers]

The original transporter wagons on the L&MVLR were used to carry milk tankers so here is a mock up.

Got to make sure the tunnel mouths are high enough.

 

[C&S]

That's different! Nice start - now all you have to do is find more bogies. Those L&M coaches were very long, weren't they? No R1 curves I suspect. Good luck with the rest of the project.

 

[eye-kay]

What a good idea!

Where did you get the wagon body from for the 'standard' guage wagon being carried?

Ian

 

[adeshers]

What a good idea!

Where did you get the wagon body from for the 'standard' guage wagon being carried?

Ian

That came off e-bay (as a lot of my stuff does). It's a scribed plywood body with brass metal fittings. The wooden chassis that came with it is too long but I think I will cut it down to fit (unless I come up with another bright idea for it 8| ).

 

[yb281]

Excellent idea Ade. I'm thinking of adding a standard gauge siding to my railway - this has really got me planning .

 

[Gizzy]

Like it....

 

[Alec K]

Brilliant use of diverse parts - and the end result looks really convincing. Good luck with the wider ambition as the L and M, from the photos and the cine film I have seen, looks to have been one of those 'classic' lines. Like so many, if it had struggled on into the 1950s, it might have survived...

Alec K

 

[steven large]

the bogies is safe aside for u..so i have pm u....hope u will take it....cheers....wink..SPIDEY

 

[Rob]

I like it with the sides

 

[hornbeam]

Very nice. I built one of the GRS ones, not sure what curves you have but its a long wheelbase and wont do R1 curves and it would be a struggle to fit LGB couplings, and besides yours is cheaper and a one of. Id keep the lower frames off- looks better with the bogies showing. If you ever need a cheapish gauge 3 wagon to pose on the transporter the Bachmann Thomas range is a good start.

 

[adeshers]

Thanks for the replies. I've decided I prefer the look with the sides (valences??) fitted but have only lightly tacked them on with a few dabs of superglue behind them for testing purposes. I've added buffers and one handbrake wheel (I think that's what they were on the original), I'll need to get another from GRS. Short vacuum pipes go the other side of the buffer.

 

[adeshers]

Very nice. I built one of the GRS ones, not sure what curves you have but its a long wheelbase and wont do R1 curves and it would be a struggle to fit LGB couplings, and besides yours is cheaper and a one of. Id keep the lower frames off- looks better with the bogies showing. If you ever need a cheapish gauge 3 wagon to pose on the transporter the Bachmann Thomas range is a good start.

Thanks for the info re the GRS kits not going round R1 curves, I might have been tempted if some money came my way . Mine is shorter and designed with R1's in mind .

 

[adeshers]

A quick update with some piccies.

Rivet detail added.

Standard gauge wagon assembled complete with Playmo buffers (waste not want not ) and brake lever (spare from an Andel wagon kit)

Two pics of the one on top of t'other

First coat of paint (hiding the multitude of sins already seen above )

 

[jameshilton]

Looking great - what have you used for the rivet detail?

 

[Rob]

Looking really good!

 

[adeshers]

Looking great - what have you used for the rivet detail?

I had a box of brass nails used for picture hooks going spare. I cut the heads off using large pliers leaving 5mm of pin. The pin is 1.75mm in diameter. I used a 1.5mm diameter drill and the pins are then just a push fit (that's push with a light hammer ). They are a little oversize maybe but I like the effect.

 

[jameshilton]

I'd agree - a little oversize, but overall they look superb!

 

[Alec K]

Brilliant - I bet it'll look the part in a mixed goods train!

Alec K