Chivers RC960 Tube Wagon

[Bob G]

I've just spent a pleasant afternoon building two of these lovely kits.

So now I have two correct length tube wagons...but what would I do with them on a Southern based layout in the 1960s/70s? No steel round here!

There are also two vertical pieces of plastic that look like they could be handles of some sort but no instructions to say where they go. I'm used to figuring these things out but no idea with this one.

And does anyone make Tube wagon transfers/decals?

Best
Bob

PS Photos when it is daylight.

[twinklekev]

Afternoon Bob,

Are they the really big BR built tube wagons as opposed to the LMS tube wagons? Check out Cambridge Custom Transfers sheet BL122 for the BR built ones or sheet BL123 for the LMS built ones.

Hope this is of help.

Regards,

Kevin.

[Bob G]

Afternoon Bob,

Are they the really big BR built tube wagons as opposed to the LMS tube wagons? Check out Cambridge Custom Transfers sheet BL122 for the BR built ones or sheet BL123 for the LMS built ones.

That's the ones. Diagram 1/448. 32' body (35' over buffers) and 18'6 wheelbase.
Photos below. Good job they come with spare sets of brake shoes!
About to go in the ultrasonic bath and then a dusting of primer.

Bob

[Neil of Teesside]

The use you put them to is dependent on what sort of industry are you having on your layout? Paul Bartlett's website of wagons has photos of a couple of wagons with their loads covered by tarps. Or you can fill them with crates. Alternatively you can transferred them to the engineer's department (TOPS Code ZDV).

[Bob G]

The use you put them to is dependent on what sort of industry are you having on your layout? Paul Bartlett's website of wagons has photos of a couple of wagons with their loads covered by tarps. Or you can fill them with crates. Alternatively you can transferred them to the engineer's department (TOPS Code ZDV).

On the Zoom call we had last night, one suggestion was a Dockyard trip freight. A tarp would be ideal for this, and they could be accompanied by my Sonic VEAs (although a purist saying you cant mix vacuum and air braked wagons, and long wheelbase wagons wouldn't have gone all the way into the Dockyard, but there was a nice platform for stores deliveries to Portsmouth dockyard at Unicorn Road accessed from Portsmouth and Southsea High Level platforms).

Departmental use is a little past my preferred era.

They are starting to look really good. They have had their coat of bauxite and I am halfway through painting the chassis. I will source decals before weathering.
I think they are rather good little wagons.

Bob

[martyn]

Hi Bob;

Not sure of your era, but you can mix fitted and unfitted; it just runs as a partly fitted train, and would need a brake van at the back.

Happened to my brother in law one night, when he was second man; guard told him that the front half was air, rear half was vacuum, so they could run at fully fitted speed.

Driver's reply wasn't very polite, seemingly.

Martyn

[turbotubbs]

Just about to start some Chivers wagons. I noted on the instructions it said to put the wheels in during the building, which I am not keen on, and I see you haven't done. I take it you have no problem getting them in in the usual way?

[Bob G]

Just about to start some Chivers wagons. I noted on the instructions it said to put the wheels in during the building, which I am not keen on, and I see you haven't done. I take it you have no problem getting them in in the usual way?

Hi

My kit didn't come with wheels or couplings, so I plundered my box of spares for Farish low profile wagon wheels, and Peco Elsie couplings.
I put the wheels in for a dry run to make sure the indicated chassis locations were OK for the axle length. everything was nicely lined up.

I used liquid poly for fitting the brake blocks and small items, but I did use ordinary poly cement sparingly for the body and chassis parts, as the instructions did suggest that the liquid poly would be drawn up all the plank detail.

Once the kit was built and the glue had dried and cured for 24 hours (important), I put the axles back in, as you said, in the usual way. The chassis was strong enough to flex to allow the pinpoint axles to drop in. One wagon was free running, one not quite so free running, but it improved after reaming out with a small hand drill. 

I took the axles out for painting too. I should have masked the bearings but I didn't. More reaming required. I will learn that lesson next time .

I used Halfords primer and Railmatch bauxite both from rattle cans, followed by Humbrol matt black.
I havn't added any decals yet as I thought I had some but it turns out I didn't!

I'm very pleased with my two wagons. Miles better than the Peco ones on the 15' undersized chassis.

HTH
Bob

[RBTKraisee]

...there was a nice platform for stores deliveries to Portsmouth dockyard at Unicorn Road accessed from Portsmouth and Southsea High Level platforms

Do you have any pictures of that?   I spent many an hour waiting on those platforms in the 90's and don't recall seeing any lingering signs of such a beastie.   Curious what I missed

The dual level arrangement, together with the sidings, was always interesting at P&S station, so it is one I've been considering modelling one day.   It would also serve a great purpose as 'on display' storage yard for trains.

Ross.