Wagon

I got me some wheels. I bought a wagon kit before I even began construction on the railway, because I wanted some track to play around with whilst planning. As it happens, Track Shack (who I’d recommend for their extremely prompt service – order before 3pm and it comes in next day’s post) give free P&P if you buy enough. Some kind of vehicle is essential for testing purposes, anyway, right?

The wagon I chose was from the excruciatingly named “Ezee” range produced by IP Engineering. The Ezee Range Parcel Wagon is laser cut from thin plywood, which is a rather nice change from the whitemetal and plastic I’m used to from the smaller scales. There’s something reassuring about using wood glue and sandpaper on actual rolling stock. Actually, very little sanding was needed. The handful of pieces went together very easily, and though it is a simple kit, it’s good quality. Wheels are metal – and, in this scale, they certainly weigh a bit!

Assembly didn’t take long, although actual construction was interspersed by glue drying periods, usually overnight (the photos are taken on 28 February and 1 March).

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7o0p95yrNrg/VVoAR1StS0I/AAAAAAAEW_I/a1h7CAaKEes/s144-c-o/IMG_8779.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/105041492449804846682/Wagon#6150228547491154754″ caption=”Ends glued to the base, ready to measure and fix the solebars.” type=”image” alt=”IMG_8779″ pe2_single_image_size=”w500″ pe2_caption=”1″ pe2_img_align=”none” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/–7xAlf1HeSM/VVoARz3Vq8I/AAAAAAAEW3c/jzhJyDNfMak/s144-c-o/P1150133.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/105041492449804846682/Wagon#6150228547107924930″ caption=”But first, primer.” type=”image” alt=”P1150133″ pe2_single_image_size=”w500″ pe2_caption=”1″ pe2_img_align=”none” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aInKVrqXMbU/VVoAR5E2_hI/AAAAAAAEW3c/n-I1hlx_Scg/s144-c-o/P1150139.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/105041492449804846682/Wagon#6150228548506811922″ caption=”Solebars, axle-boxes and wheels in place.” type=”image” alt=”P1150139″ pe2_single_image_size=”w500″ pe2_caption=”1″ pe2_img_align=”none” ]

I gave it a few coats of some Plasticote grey primer I had lying around. I tried out using aerosol paints while building stock for Dufftown, and I was delighted with the results – up until one carriage was ruined by what I can only describe as ‘creases’ in the paint – and since then, I have been far more aware of my inexperience (and incompetence) in this field. Still, I ploughed on – and only later discovered that spraying in wet weather is not advisable! The finish was rather rough – still, at least rubbing it down is far more feasible with this larger scaleand the more robust materials.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XSF6RWIMGcM/VVoAR-qMPGI/AAAAAAAEW3c/HrTOw7TrVkE/s144-c-o/P1150143.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/105041492449804846682/Wagon#6150228550005570658″ caption=”The finished article (except for couplings and painting)” type=”image” alt=”P1150143″ pe2_single_image_size=”w500″ pe2_caption=”1″ pe2_img_align=”none” ]

My enthusiasm for painting having deflated, somewhat, I haven’t got round to finishing. Details and under-frames need to be picked out in black. Possibly the whole thing needs a protective coat of matt varnish. Tasks to save for a rainy day? Second thoughts, better save them for a sunny one.

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Simon Wood

Lecturer in medical education, lapsed mathematician, Doctor Who fan and garden railway builder. See simonwood.info for more...

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