RT Models Generic Slate Rubbish Wagon.

Slate rubbish wagons were used for removing waste slate from the workings to a tipping point. Most were built with steel bodies on either a steel or wooden chassis. This kit is not based on any particular prototype but is typical of the type.

This is the simplest wagon kit that I've ever built! The body is a single whitemetal casting which just needs two 1.6mm diameter holes drilling in it for the axles and couplings fitted. Here it is sitting on a penny;

 

Paint is acrylic, a couple of coats of automotive primer (red then black) followed by drybrushing with Phoenix Precision dark rust, light rust and finally Revell stone grey.

This diminutive wagon shows up two of the problems with OO9 modelling. The first is couplings. Even though I've used the smallest Bemo type that I know of,  RT Models etched items (RT sell the body and loops seperately, the loops come in two sizes, here I've used the smaller) the couplings still overpower the wagon and add excessive length. The second problem concerns wheels and gauge. This type of wagon would have been used on track that was around 1'10" to 1'11' gauge, our 9mm gauge track scales up as 2'3" which means that the wheels stick out too far. The inside bearings make a feature of the wheels, which look overwide with rather deep flanges (I'll ignore the fact that a lot of quarry wagons used double flanged wheelsets!).

I should point out that none of this detracts from the fact that I've enjoyed this little project and am pleased with the result (it looks good being pulled behind my Saltford Models Peckett).

I suppose that the ultimate answer would be to adopt 2FS (2mm finescale) standards, make my own track to 8mm gauge and adopt a finer coupling system, but at the moment I don't have the time, the skill or the inclination.

Paul.