Rea Valley Light Railway
17 - Construction of 3 plank dropside wagon for the RVLR from an AnDel Models kit
3rd May 2008

3 plank dropside wagons for the RVLR constructed from the AnDel Wide Bodied Open Wagon Kit. All of the models can be bought directly from the AnDel Models eBay shop.

These AnDel resin kits come complete with everything you need to make up this dropside wagon except for paint and glue. The castings are very good and the kit is well presented in a plastic box with a set of comprehensive instructions. The price also fits nicely into the lower end of the other kit suppliers with a model that would look well on anyone's garden railway against the best.

Construction is very straight forward and can be completed in just a few hours. I chose to use Cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) to build the model. The thin grade is excellent when using capillary action to draw the glue into the joints. The joint bonds very quickly and can then be strengthened by one or two more applications of glue.

Please note that I have no connection with AnDel Models apart from being a very satisfied customer.

(All links correct at 10 May 2008.)


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Here the parts have been made ready to build the body - The panels are made up of two pieces so that the planking detail is shown on both sides - 26 April 2008
Here the parts have been made ready to build the body - The panels are made up of two pieces so that the planking detail is shown on both sides - 26 April 2008
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 The end boards have both been fitted into place making sure that they are square to the wagon bed - 26 April 2008
The end boards have both been fitted into place making sure that they are square to the wagon bed - 26 April 2008
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 The supporting iron work was then added - 26 April 2008
The supporting iron work was then added - 26 April 2008
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 The side boards were reduced in length so that they were just a loose fit between the ends - 26 April 2008
The side boards were reduced in length so that they were just a loose fit between the ends - 26 April 2008
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The end supports for the sides are moulded with the catch to hold the side closed - The position of the catch was not as I would have expected and so this was changed as shown in the next two pictures - 26 April 2008
The end supports for the sides are moulded with the catch to hold the side closed - The position of the catch was not as I would have expected and so this was changed as shown in the next two pictures - 26 April 2008
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 The sides were fixed in place with the hinges and end supports - When these had set the detail was removed from the tops of the end supports - 26 April 2008
The sides were fixed in place with the hinges and end supports - When these had set the detail was removed from the tops of the end supports - 26 April 2008
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 The detail has been replaced the opposite way round to the original using pin heads to represent the rivets and a short strip of plastic for the catch - 26 April 2008
The detail has been replaced the opposite way round to the original using pin heads to represent the rivets and a short strip of plastic for the catch - 26 April 2008
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 Once everything was in place for the body attention was turned to the chassis - The wheels supplied are turned plastic mounted on steel axles - These are well made and gauged correctly for running on most track systems - There is no reason why these wheels should give good service - For comparison with another AnDel kit I have fitted with the original plastic wheels I decided to change this set for a set of I P Engineering all steel wheel sets - 26 April 2008
Once everything was in place for the body attention was turned to the chassis - The wheels supplied are turned plastic mounted on steel axles - These are well made and gauged correctly for running on most track systems - There is no reason why these wheels should give good service - For comparison with another AnDel kit I have fitted with the original plastic wheels I decided to change this set for a set of I P Engineering all steel wheel sets - 26 April 2008
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The comprehensive non working brake gear is very straightforward to fit and adding this kind of detail really turns a good model into much more - 26 April 2008
The comprehensive non working brake gear is very straightforward to fit and adding this kind of detail really turns a good model into much more - 26 April 2008
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 Once completed the whole wagon was given a coat of grey primer followed by three coats of colour - Once this had all dried the ironwork and chassis were picked out in black - 30 April 2008
Once completed the whole wagon was given a coat of grey primer followed by three coats of colour - Once this had all dried the ironwork and chassis were picked out in black - 30 April 2008
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 Sign writing was then added followed by a coat of matt varnish - 30 April 2008
Sign writing was then added followed by a coat of matt varnish - 30 April 2008
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 To complete the wagon for the RVLR suitable couplings were added and then a final all over coat of matt varnish - 7 May 2008
To complete the wagon for the RVLR suitable couplings were added and then a final all over coat of matt varnish - 7 May 2008
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