Morning,

Following a conversation regarding STVA car carriers the Arbel type is something that I remember seeing at Washwood Heath yard so would like a set to potentially sit in a siding.

Paul very helpfully put a link to the etched pixels kit, which looks extremely reasonably priced but was wondering if anyone has built these and got some pictures and or pointers to convince me that they are worthy of attempting to build.

There are no bogies or wheel sets included so recommended places to get these are also extremely helpful.

Sorry I seem to be asking all questions but hopefully I can give something in return soon! 

Etched Pixels used to sell them with wheels, they used 28" Fox Valley Models sets. FVM parts are hard to come by these days, and the kit is probably 10 years old now, so not sure if EP still has stock. They did include bogies though I'm sure. They used a really neat articulation method. @EtchedPixels is a member here, he may be able to advise; I've a recollection he was scaling back on the models.

They were printed by Shapeways in their "WSF" material, which had a very grainy surface, so they do need a bit of sanding to get a good finish. I've got several unbuilt kits still somewhere!

There are bogies included but you'll need to find suitably small wheels (Arbels run on really tiddy wheels).

Yes I do have a few sets left.

Ah brilliant, do you have any pictures of the complete??? Just be nice to see what a good modeller can achieve with them, something for me to aim at 

I've found the Fox Valley wheelsets, just need to find someone with stock!

The original project from the beginning is here - and includes photos of some people have built and also the bits and how it goes together.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/70178-arbels/

Thanks for that Alan, I'll enjoy reading that and researching them, but sure a sets coming my way!!

Quote from: RyanHussey on July 10, 2022, 02:31:56 PM
Ah brilliant, do you have any pictures of the complete??? Just be nice to see what a good modeller can achieve with them, something for me to aim at 

I've found the Fox Valley wheelsets, just need to find someone with stock!

Stock is a challenge - Fox Valley temporarily ceased production a couple of years ago and never resumed I believe.

Fox Valley has been bought by ScaleTrains and they will re-release FVM's first N engine, the GE ES44 next year.
https://www.scaletrains.com/fox-valley-models

However, I doubt that FVM will offer bits and bobs like axles again under the new owners.

In the meantime, Spanish Firm MF Train did various versions of the 'STVA' car carrier from which the British ones are derived in RTR, but they were limited edition so probably now impossible to get hold of

https://mftrain.com/en/vagones-portacoches-s4

They're entirely different wagons, and absolutely nothing like the WIAs, which are a pretty unique design made by Arbel-Fauvet in the 90s. I believe for cross Channel use, although I'm not sure they've seen much action through the tunnel.

Those are more akin to the IPA-V double deck wagon, but the UK ones aren't articulated, instead being single axle pairs, or more commonly quad sets.

This is the Arbel WIA:

WIA No.85 70 4971 025-7 by Hugh Llewelyn, on Flickr

They're articulated (five"wagons" running on six bogies), double deck car transporters. The cover raises up to allow access to both decks. They were built 1995.

The three axle ones from MF Train aren't too dissimilar to the PQA Autic built in the late '70s and used by Renault: https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/rlsautic

Steven B.

EtchedPixels, are these still on your site?

Interested in a few of these.

Cheers, Timmo

Quote from: pape_timmo on July 14, 2022, 12:43:07 PM
EtchedPixels, are these still on your site?

Interested in a few of these.

Cheers, Timmo

Hi

https://www.ultima-models.co.uk/catalogue/br-wagons.html

Cheers

Paul