Rea Valley Light Railway
16 - Construction of 4 Plank Wagons from a Locolines' card kit
7th December 2006

RVLR 4 Plank wagons. These have been built from the LOCOLINES‘ Card Wagon Kits which have been modified to suit the needs of the RVLR. The main material used in their construction is card with the chassis made up from wood with I P ENGINEERING‘s white metal Hudson style axle boxes fitted. These have brass bearings in which run I P Engineering’s 24mm steel wheel sets. Brake details are from the CAMBRIAN MODELS range of 16mm:ft products.

Please note that I have no connection with Locolines, I P Engineering or Cambrian Models apart from being a very satisfied customer.

(All links correct at 10 May 2008.)


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All the sheets of printed card have been given three good coats of varnish before starting construction - The Wagon sides as supplied by Locolines have had extra detailing added to them - The one has had a small central door added and the other has had a full length door - Both of the non working doors are
All the sheets of printed card have been given three good coats of varnish before starting construction - The Wagon sides as supplied by Locolines have had extra detailing added to them - The one has had a small central door added and the other has had a full length door - Both of the non working doors are "hinged" at the bottom - 7 December 2006
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The ends have been left almost the same as supplied - they have been fitted the other way up and the lower strip of wood has been removed - 7 December 2006
The ends have been left almost the same as supplied - they have been fitted the other way up and the lower strip of wood has been removed - 7 December 2006
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Here can be seen the side with the full length drop side - hinge and catch details have been fabricated from card - 7 December 2006
Here can be seen the side with the full length drop side - hinge and catch details have been fabricated from card - 7 December 2006
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View showing side and end - pins have been fitted to represent the bolts - 7 December 2006
View showing side and end - pins have been fitted to represent the bolts - 7 December 2006
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View from underneath shows the
View from underneath shows the "hinges" - another floor has been made to back onto the one supplied - this means that the planking detail is visible inside and underneath - it also doubles up the thickness of the floor giving added strength - 7 December 2006
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A closer look at the
A closer look at the "hinges & catches" - 7 December 2006
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A final coat of matt black paint was added to cover the pin heads followed by a good coat of matt polyurethane varnish - the bottom was not varnished at this stage - 7 December 2006
A final coat of matt black paint was added to cover the pin heads followed by a good coat of matt polyurethane varnish - the bottom was not varnished at this stage - 7 December 2006
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The frames were cut to the length of the wagon less twice the thickness of the buffer beams and another 4mm - this allows the buffer beams to be inset by 2mm - the axle boxes were then glued in place using an all purpose adhesive - 8 December 2006
The frames were cut to the length of the wagon less twice the thickness of the buffer beams and another 4mm - this allows the buffer beams to be inset by 2mm - the axle boxes were then glued in place using an all purpose adhesive - 8 December 2006
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When dry the frames were drilled through the axle box's fixing holes with 3mm diameter drill - Then two 3mm bolts were passed through each axle box and were secured with a washer and nut - 13 December 2006
When dry the frames were drilled through the axle box's fixing holes with 3mm diameter drill - Then two 3mm bolts were passed through each axle box and were secured with a washer and nut - 13 December 2006
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One of the frames was glued in place - when dry the wheel sets were fitted using a washer to space them from the axle boxes - then the other frame was glued in place - an extra piece was added to each end to help support the buffer beams which have now been added - 13 December 2006
One of the frames was glued in place - when dry the wheel sets were fitted using a washer to space them from the axle boxes - then the other frame was glued in place - an extra piece was added to each end to help support the buffer beams which have now been added - 13 December 2006
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The frame and axle boxes were given a coat of matt black paint - When all the paintwork was dry all of the wagon was given a generous coat of hard wearing matt finish varnish - 29 April 2008
The frame and axle boxes were given a coat of matt black paint - When all the paintwork was dry all of the wagon was given a generous coat of hard wearing matt finish varnish - 29 April 2008
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Extra detail has been added with the imitation bolt heads holding the planks together - 4 May 2008
Extra detail has been added with the imitation bolt heads holding the planks together - 4 May 2008
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Finally brake detail has been added using parts from CAMBRIAN MODELS and black styrene sheet - 6 May 2008
Finally brake detail has been added using parts from CAMBRIAN MODELS and black styrene sheet - 6 May 2008
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The finished 4 plank dropside wagon on the RVLR - 6 May 2008
The finished 4 plank dropside wagon on the RVLR - 6 May 2008
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