Some advice needed please

[Markie]

I have just uploaded four more pictures to the wagons section of the gallery. These I thought were the worst of the massive ebay bundle I scored in. They had been painted so many times it looked like they were covered in Play-doh. I was actually going to job them back out on ebay - but after seeing them now I am glad I didn't!

As it turned out a colleague of mine runs a wood stripping business and offered to get them back to natural wood.

Now, during the stripping process he went through five layers of re-paints, some with hand-painted letters. So caustic is his process however he did not have time to photograph the stripping process - but he has done a great job. He also tells me that the wagon floors are made out of aircraft ply - which loosely dates them circa late 1920's to early 1930's.

My original plan was to re-paint them all and do them as PO wagons (I have already bought the relevant decals from GRS to achieve this)

I have two questions for the forum:

1. Has anyone got any history on these - they were clearly scratch-built by an enthusiast if not model engineer.
2. What should I do with them now? It seems a pity to re-paint them again, should I leave them as they are or what?

Any advice or opinions greatly sought.

Thanks

Mark

[John Candy]

I would say they are 'in the style of' certain types, rather than models of specific wagons.
The one with vertical planking on the side-hinged doors has the style of a Scottish wagon. Some North British wagons had 'cupboard doors' but the end door is not typical NBR. Glasgow & South Western also had wagons with cupboard doors and end doors more like that on your wagon but the side door hinges were a different shape.
The tall wagon is in the style of a North Eastern coal hopper but without the tapering sides and the solebars are inset (on the NER wagons the sides taper in to become flush with solebars).
The remaining wagon is a 'common-place' coal wagon.

They have certain 'period charm' and with addition of brakes and detailing could be improved...they might be best used as colliery 'internal user' wagons where their pedigree would not be an issue.

Regards,
John.

[John Candy]

A bit of additional info on the 'cupboard' door + end door wagon.
Scottish wagon builders, 'Ince Waggon & Ironworks Co.', produced wagons of this type for colliery companies and a couple of photos appear in the HMRS publication with that title on pages 122/123.

The 'Moore' wagon on p123 would look particularly attractive in the stated livery of dark red, black ironwork, white lettering shaded black.

[IanT]

On balance, I think I'd 'PO' them Mark.

They look good solid stock, so I'd paint 'em, logo them and then just enjoy running them. Knowing they they have a bit of 'age' behind them is a bonus. I suspect that if they are the vintage you think they are, that you may find that they are to 1/2" scale. Most 2 1/2" gauge stock was prior to WW2. I'm also curious about the wheels - are they cast iron or more recent changes?

Anyway, it's nice to have custody of these small treasures and to be able to enjoy them as intended.

Regards,


IanT

[Markie]

Firstly thanks to all who have proferred some very valuable advice. I think in the long term I will stick with my original plan to repaint them as PO wagons, but taking Ralph's suggestion to honour the original builder and do so with sympathy, and using painting techniques of the time.

However I think these wagons have both presence and now some provenance. I have fitted all three with removable coal loads (with bases made out of Plasticard and coal glued into these with dilluted PVA glue) and I have oiled the wood to protect it as it probably has not been exposed for eighty or so years! That's it for a bit and I will enjoy them in their present form au naturale for now, then in six months when the weather is better for painting, they will get the PO makeover.

Again, many thanks to all for helping me to crystalise my thoughts on these lovely old ladies.

Regards

Mark