Ratch's 2016 WIP

[Ratch]

Thanks very much gents, I appreciate your feedback

[Dazzled]

It's well deserved Ratch, that fire engine is magnificent

[Ratch]

And thank-you Daz

[skypirate]

That fire engine nearly snuck past me.
Nicely enhanced and finished!

cheers,

David

[Ratch]

Cheers David

[Softscience]

I like how you made it look like an early 20th century miniature. It looks like enameled tin. Very cool. I have the Airfix bus and want to give it a similar finish. Any suggestions?

[Ratch]

For the red I airbrushed three Vallejo Model Airs - 71003 Scarlet Red, 71084 Fire Red and 71085 Italian Red then sprayed with Klear, and I used Alclad2 ACL-107 Chrome for the bonnet
Thanks for your interest and hope that helps

[Ratch]

I've decided to build this Brake Van...

but the sharp-eyed amongst you will have noticed that there are no wheels and one end of the compartment is missing. I had to get some replacement wheels from the railway section of the Model Shop and scratch-build the panel.





Attempting to copy the end panel in 40 thou Plastikard


The missing vacuum cylinder replaced with shaped runner

The replacement Hornby wheels run sweetly

I've decided to scratch a (very basic) interior


Vallejo Model Color 1 70951 White

[Marek]

pretty cool subject!

[Dazzled]

Nice bit of scratchbuilding Ratch but don't forget the stove.

It is December after all

[Ratch]

It's all lined up Daz
I remember working the nuclear flask from Warrington Bank Quay to Rugby one night in one of those. I had the stove so stoked up it was glowing red with sparks flying out of the chimney. I had a nice sleep and woke as dawn broke, taking in the fresh air on the veranda at 45mph

[celt]

You have a wide range of model builds Ratch,I always enjoy your work.

[ShaunW]

This is another interesting build Ratch. I can recall seeing freight trains going past the end of my parents' garden with these vans at the back. Why was a separate brake van required back in the day?

[Ratch]

Why was a separate brake van required back in the day?

In the olden days wagons weren't fitted with brakes, they were just linked to the locomotive by their couplings, so the locomotive did all the work in slowing the train. The brake van assisted the loco on these unfitted trains in two ways; by assisting the braking of the train and by keeping the couplings taut. If the couplings were slack as the loco accelerated there was a risk of a coupling breaking as the train snatched away - it was quite a skilled job to drive an unfitted train. I never got the chance - unfitted freight was banished from the railway as I joined. But the brake van continued in a couple of roles; the guard rode in the brake van on the nuclear flask to provide protection behind the train in the event of an accident (the driver would protect in front of the train), and on Engineering work, some brake vans were converted to 'Sharks' with ploughs fitted to level freshly laid ballast. HTH

[ShaunW]

Cheers Ratch, you have ably filled a gap in my knowledge there!