Logging Car Bash - Ex-newquida!

[trammayo]

A few weeks ago I purchased a pair of trucks, from an eBay seller, at a bargain price ....



Having seen another eBay seller listing them as log cars, I thought I'd do the same and shorten the chain of supply!

The twin pack had been sitting on the shelf awaiting the Round Tu-it. Yesterday afternoon was the time. I prised the truck bodies off the flats and, apart from a paint makeover and some stakes, there were two 'ready to go' logging flats - or so I thought.

Further dismantling was required for the painting processes so it was a case of removing the two trucks off each flat. The first thing that I noticed, as I prepared to remove the wheelsets, were the two odd sized screws holding the frames to the bolster ....



The larger screw held that frame in secure and tight, whilst the smaller screw seemed to allow a lot of sloppy movement for that particular side frame. At first I thought "H'mm, some form of crude compensation?" but no. All the trucks were the same - but why?

An end on view soon revealed this curious anomaly .....





So, at first, I thought the screw wasn't tightened up properly - but no that was not the case. It came down to the spigot (for locating and securing the side frame) being too long!



The simple solution was to cut 2mm off the spigot to allow the side to fit down properly (x four of course).



Mr Razor Saw saw to that!

More to follow on my (intentionally) crude painting attempts!

 

[stockers]

Your first interpretation was correct. It IS a crude form of compensation. Several manufactures now do this - Trainline for example.
So, one arm should rock slightly.

 

[trammayo]

Your first interpretation was correct. It IS a crude form of compensation. Several manufactures now do this - Trainline for example.
So, one arm should rock slightly.

Yes I suppose it is - but the main problem was that one side of the truck was higher than the other. It just didn't look right to me. Now they are all sitting in the same plane. The only compensation - for me - is their very cheap price.

 

[trammayo]

I managed to almost finish the little project yesterday afternoon (just a little bit of detailing to add - like grab handles or handbrake wheels).

The logs are just cut from some branches but they had some weight in lieu of metal wheels. I used acrylic grey primer, then some red masonry paint to make the 'metalwork' look rusted - don't think that worked (looks more like red oxide). Then I blasted over with some matt black - the rattle can held a good distance away so it just laid pinhead sized dots to simulate dirt and neglect - then a very light coat of the grey again.

The stakes are some Bachmann ones from the spares box. I did crack some of the sockets inserting the stakes but nothing is loose. All is now ready for next Sunday.









If I decide to have straighter logs, I have some sallys I can coppice! The hook & loop couplings will stay - just need to make one of the Bachmann trucks into a match car (already have a bobber caboose fitted so).

 

[playmofire]

Neat work, Mick, well done, and the logs look great too, although maybe if the ones with the marks where branches have been were turned so the marks were hidden as they maybe a bit out of scale. (That must be the logging equivalent of rivet counting, I guess!)

 

[stockers]

I actually ike the branch cutting marks - and on big trees you get big branches!

 

[trammayo]

The logs have all come from a deciduous forest! Besides, the other side has signs of the goats gnawing them!

 

[PhilP]

I like them.. Less regular than the 'orrible plastic things!
Big is good too..

Any smaller, and it would only be a 'branch line'!