small grainflow wagons

[mickster04]

Hey team,
What is the difference between the grainflow 4 wheel hopper and the other grain hoppers

I'm thinking

vs


This might be a simple relivery from what I can tell? will peco do it?

[koyli55002]

Although you COULD get away with a repaint, in real life the Grainflow "minibulks" were a rebuild IIRC. They had only five ribs per side and the slope of the hopper was greater. Take a look at Paul Bartlett's pictures here .....
https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brtgraincovhop

[koyli55002]

Oh, and the suspension was also different ! 

[Western Exile]

I recently noticed that Railtec produce transfers in N gauge for the green PAA wagon in the top picture. I thought that they might be suitable for a "close enough for government work" conversion of the Peco wagon also shown above but I see the letter spacing of the "Grainflow" logo transfer fits the 5 rib spacing of the real wagon rather than the 8 rib spacing of the Peco wagon. Does that mean that someone has produced a more accurate kit or 3D print of this wagon of which I'm unaware?

[ScottishModeller]

I recently noticed that Railtec produce transfers in N gauge for the green PAA wagon in the top picture. I thought that they might be suitable for a "close enough for government work" conversion of the Peco wagon also shown above but I see the letter spacing of the "Grainflow" logo transfer fits the 5 rib spacing of the real wagon rather than the 8 rib spacing of the Peco wagon. Does that mean that someone has produced a more accurate kit or 3D print of this wagon of which I'm unaware?

Hi Al,

Correct - the Railtec decals are set out for the rebuilt wagons with 5 rib body type.

I am partway through a conversion project to make the Peco wagons into a more representative model of the rebuilds. It's a slow process for each wagon!

1 - remove all ribs from the body

2 - replace the removed ribs with the correct 5 ribs

3 - remove the existing w irons, springs and brake components

4 - replace the removed w irons with the correct pedestal suspension

5 - repaint and decal, then give coat of matt finish

6 - weather and recoat with flat finish

I'll be doing some of the work at Falkirk Exhibition 18th and 19th November

Thanks
Phil H

[Western Exile]

I recently noticed that Railtec produce transfers in N gauge for the green PAA wagon in the top picture. I thought that they might be suitable for a "close enough for government work" conversion of the Peco wagon also shown above but I see the letter spacing of the "Grainflow" logo transfer fits the 5 rib spacing of the real wagon rather than the 8 rib spacing of the Peco wagon. Does that mean that someone has produced a more accurate kit or 3D print of this wagon of which I'm unaware?

Hi Al,

Correct - the Railtec decals are set out for the rebuilt wagons with 5 rib body type.

I am partway through a conversion project to make the Peco wagons into a more representative model of the rebuilds. It's a slow process for each wagon!

1 - remove all ribs from the body

2 - replace the removed ribs with the correct 5 ribs

3 - remove the existing w irons, springs and brake components

4 - replace the removed w irons with the correct pedestal suspension

5 - repaint and decal, then give coat of matt finish

6 - weather and recoat with flat finish

I'll be doing some of the work at Falkirk Exhibition 18th and 19th November

Thanks
Phil H

Thanks Phil, that sounds like an interesting project...
Is it your intention to re-use some of the removed ribs or are you using something else for the five correct ribs? Also, have Railtec produced these transfers specially for your project? Otherwise, I'm curious to know why they produce them with nothing really on the market to put them on.

Al.

[ScottishModeller]

Thanks Phil, that sounds like an interesting project...
Is it your intention to re-use some of the removed ribs or are you using something else for the five correct ribs? Also, have Railtec produced these transfers specially for your project? Otherwise, I'm curious to know why they produce them with nothing really on the market to put them on.

Al.

Hi Al,

Scrap the existing ribs - wrong profile! Then it does not matter if you are rough removing them.

Use microstrip to replace as correct width and depth is available (will have to get more) from Evergreen

Decals - I don't think he did them specifically for me - but I did ask!

They have been available in both 7mm and 4mm for some time - not listed for N though.

Pedestal Suspension Units - I am using the ones from 2FS - slightly small but it's less than 0.5mm difference.

Still playing with wheel diameter to match buffer heights.

Couplings - current thoughts are Dapol magnimatics in pockets.

I hope to get photos on the NGS Forth & Clyde stand at Falkirk and will post progress then.

How far have I got?

So far, 1 'Proof of Concept' completed modifications, needing painted.
Plus 9 carved and stripped bodies waiting to have new ribs added
Plus 9 Peco chassis carved, ready to add suspension pedestals and coupler pockets.

Be aware, this is not an exact reproduction! I have not gone as far as to make the slight change in the angle of the hopper base.....

Thanks
Phil H

[Western Exile]

Very interesting! Unfortunately, I'm unable to make the Falkirk exhibition but I'd be very interested to see any pictures you take. I've ordered some of the Peco kits and will get some Railtec transfers with the intention of making an N version of the wagon in the original post. It's not accurate, I know, but if it looks sort of ok, that'll do for me.

[Western Exile]

I thought I would share a recent related discovery that I made on eBay. There's a 3D printed kit to use in conjunction with the Peco grain wagon kit to make the PAF wagon as used on the Blyth to Fort William alumina flow. It's made by Coventry Railworks. They're £14.95 for a pack of three but that reduces if you buy more. Worth it alone for getting three chassis with pedestal suspension.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126588995449

[ScottishModeller]

I thought I would share a recent related discovery that I made on eBay. There's a 3D printed kit to use in conjunction with the Peco grain wagon kit to make the PAF wagon as used on the Blyth to Fort William alumina flow. It's made by Coventry Railworks. They're £14.95 for a pack of three but that reduces if you buy more. Worth it alone for getting three chassis with pedestal suspension.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126588995449

Hi there,

I will be showing my progress at Falkirk in November.

That includes using the 3D prints from Coventry Railworks for the Alumina version.

I'm still on with the Grainflow type conversions but Coventry Railworks will be producing the correct bodies eventually. Will has so much on that some of the rail stuff is a bit delayed.

Phil H

[PaulCheffus]

I thought I would share a recent related discovery that I made on eBay. There's a 3D printed kit to use in conjunction with the Peco grain wagon kit to make the PAF wagon as used on the Blyth to Fort William alumina flow. It's made by Coventry Railworks. They're £14.95 for a pack of three but that reduces if you buy more. Worth it alone for getting three chassis with pedestal suspension.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126588995449

Hi there,

I will be showing my progress at Falkirk in November.

That includes using the 3D prints from Coventry Railworks for the Alumina version.

I'm still on with the Grainflow type conversions but Coventry Railworks will be producing the correct bodies eventually. Will has so much on that some of the rail stuff is a bit delayed.

Phil H

Hi

Seems like we all are doing this conversion at the moment. I have eight of the grain wagons underway using the Coventry Railworks chassis and a further four of the alumina wagons using the complete conversion.

Interesting about the Grainflow version and I look forward to them appearing in the future.

Cheers

Paul

[Will_J]

Will has so much on that some of the rail stuff is a bit delayed.

Phil H

Thanks Phil, that's definitely the truth haha!! I've got so much that's 95% done but I've been working on getting things bob on, for example working on the couplings in the kits so that they don't droop, improving the pinpoint bearings for better free rolling, experimenting with resin blends to make them as tough and detailed as possible. But now that this is all pretty much done, I can apply it to all the new kits I have that just need to be finished off including:

- Wooden 17T alumina hopper
- Procor lime/alumina hopper
- Timber P
- North British six wheel pre-grouping and rebuilt fish and fruit vans
- Snow plough and tender cover for Farish 4F

Still on a West Highland theme as you can see. There are others in earlier stages of design but all the above have been 3D printed and are in the process of being tested and verified.

Will.

EDIT: Oh and due to popular demand the 15' pedestal chassis will shortly be available as a pack of three. All the peco compatible chassis have had an upgrade recently and will now come printed in much better resin, with the supports pre-removed.

[Jim Martin]

Oh and due to popular demand the 15' pedestal chassis will shortly be available as a pack of three.

This is excellent news! You are literally the only saved seller I've ever had on eBay, and it's because I've been waiting for these.

Jim

[Will_J]

Oh and due to popular demand the 15' pedestal chassis will shortly be available as a pack of three.

This is excellent news! You are literally the only saved seller I've ever had on eBay, and it's because I've been waiting for these.

Jim

That's great!! You'll be happy to know that those are now available, along with all the other chassis which have been drastically improved with better resin, supports pre-removed and new packaging .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126514603268

Will.

[Bob G]

Any chance we could have a Coventry Railworks catalogue listing and contact details for those of us not on Facebook? There are only 3 items on EBay at the moment.

Bob