Open (LGB 4021) conversion for the DR fleet - another one

[dunnyrail]

My last Open was converted to have a High End, see below for that one.

LGB Open Wagon Modification 99-03-14

In my ever increasing quest for something a little more like what could be seen in East Germany on the Selktalbahn back in 1981 I came across this interesting variation with a raised end. Some time back I bought this open from Gizzy, it came as a Bogie Wagon but that was swopped over from a 4...

www.gscalecentral.net

I recently bough another open from Scook, this one was minus 1 door so I decided to make new flat steel doors for this one. I also want to preserve the original Wagon Information printing but loose the LGB, 4015 and odd 15 raised lettering.
Below pic as sent to me by Scook shows the Open as bought.

It has been in service for a bit of battery powered testing.
Interesting, on removing the wheels a lot of fluff and some ally swarf was present. Not a complaint but shown to see what can be present in wagons bearings and well worth a check when you do that annual oil up. You do of course do that don’t you?

The old doors were removed by pulling out the pins and stored safely in a box as were all the screws plus end wires and steps whilst the work is ongoing. The raised lettering was removed with a flat bladed scalpel knife and some coarse emery, printed lettering not required removed with a fibre brush as ever. Doors cut and put in place, it was at this stage that I realised looking at my previous thread that I needed to add some detail to the door! Next job.

 

[dunnyrail]

Things change and my quest for a different open found this one.
Cant make a perfect job of it but a lot more like than it was before. 10 thou plasticard cut to ever lay the planks, glued in place with Plastic Magic. Tops 4mm wide from 30 thou cut into strips. End raised section 50 thou with overlay used to strengthen the joint. A few triangles cut from 11mm square 10 thou.

Bout ready for spray now. But bit cold just now so will wait for warmer weather.

 

[dunnyrail]

I was going to wait for better weather before spraying this but instead dragged out my trusty cardboard box spray booth. Initail spray of Halfords Rattle can red undercoat.
Though I rarely go underneath with detail on LGB conversions this one being fitted with those metal things that fit beneath the wheels on sundry LGB wagons and coaches needed to be removed. However this left a big gap so one that had some slight damage was cut in half with some brass tube between the two to act as a Brake Hanger V. These were screwed into the existing holes with a bit of plasticard holding them in place. You can just make out that arrangement. A bit of round plastic from some sort of paper roll was cut to represent the Air Cylinder. This after a paint in black rounded off the below floor detail. I could have put in place the lever that goes to the brakes but this would have effected the feee movement of the bogies so was left off.
Below you can see the start of the weathering process, this is the contents of 1 of my “dirty water” paint brush bottles as used with Acrylics. First one is clean water, next slightly dirty then the final dirty. I find this with a small drop of washing up liquid works quite well for general “lived in look” type of weathering. It does pay to give a wipe to loose the bubbles as they can spoil the finish. There has also been some brown dirt/rust weathering to springs, brake blocks, axle guards and brake cylinder.

Here you can see the final effect after drying and the application of numbers and data sheet, plus of course the all important Wagon Card that takes the Waybills that will move the wagon around my line on Operating Days.

Here it can be seen out on the line.

Yet another different open to the fleet that now numbers around 20 of this type.

 

[MaybachMD]

Jon

Thanks. a great project that, as you said, adds variety to the wagon fleet. These opens come up quite often at reasonable prices second hand. Will be tempted to try the same conversion myself if I see one.

Regards

Simon

 

[scook]

Looks great that Jon!

I picked that wagon up in Manhattan a few years ago!

Sam