Rollingstock |
||
| The
Cawoods PFA low floor container wagon is a prototype for modellers interested in the
current scene and offers a small compact prototype in a world of large bogie tanks, boxes
and hoppers. It is a dropped floor design fitted with small wheels to enable it to carry
8'6" containers within the BR loading gauge. The low floor and small diameter wheels
made this wagon a challenge for the modeller and kit manufacturer alike. Former Cawoods PFA in
BFL livery.
Appleby Model Engineering (AME) rose to the challenge in late 1997 with a superb kit for the Cawoods PFA in 4mm scale including container and an accurate representation of the low floor wagon itself. They have supported their product with all of the waterslide transfers and paint colours for Cawoods and British Fuels Ltd (BFL). Assembly is simple with either Araldite type glues or white metal soldering techniques. The kit represents one of the first 100 or so wagons constructed with semi exposed draw gear detail. The final 54 are fitted with plates at headstocks level to protect the draw gear from spilled coal. Cawoods PFA kit and transfers from Appleby Model Engineering
Cawoods used them primarily for export coal traffic from Ellington Colliery, South Wales and their export terminal at Ellesmere Port. Containerisation ensures that the coal is not handled more than once ensuring that it arrives in peak condition. A total of 160 2 axle PFA wagons were constructed for Cawoods in 1986/87 by Standard Wagon. They have changed ownership in recent years with a number owned and operated by BFL and also British Gypsum. The once familiar yellow open topped containers are now painted in BFL red. They may be seen in small numbers through out the Enterprise network in the north and used in block trains over the Settle and Carlisle route. Some have appeared in Cornwall from time to time with yellow containers and the Cawoods name painted over with black. The PFA is an ideal wagon for modellers because they turn up in singles or small numbers almost anywhere in Scotland and Northern England. The model itself is compact, taking up little space and is easy to assemble and paint. Suitable wheels of 10mm diameter may be obtained from all of the major wheel manufacturers and the model will accept OO, EM and P4 gauge wheels. Assembly Notes. Remove the feed pips from the underside of the container with a sharp scalpel and smooth with fine abrasive paper. Gently smooth the top edge with grade 800 wet and dry paper. Wash the container in warm water with a tooth brush and detergent to remove the greasy casting impurities which will otherwise prevent paint from bonding to the model.
|
The safety guidelines noted in the kit's instructions regarding cast resin parts must be followed, the fine dust from filing or finishing resin in the dry is harmful to health. The wagon itself consists of white metal castings which must be cleaned of casting flash and burnished with a fibreglass pencil before assembly. Drill out the axleboxes with 2mm diameter twist drills to form blind holes and glue in 2mm diameter top hat bearings. Solder the axleguard/solebar assemblies to the floor of the wagon, noting that they fit onto the sides rather than underneath. The floor pan has locating points to ensure a good fit, but remember to include the wheels and assemble using a flat or plane surface. Fitting bearings to the axleguards...
Care is needed to keep the model square and true during this assembly process. The wheels become captive, so protect them from solder flux and direct heat from the soldering iron. Use a file and fibreglass pencil to clean up the joint between floor and solebars before soldering the headstocks into place. Follow up with buffers, container guides, data panel plates and brake levers. Suddenly you realise how quickly it goes together. It is not unreasonable to expect to build a collection of four or five PFA models on a good afternoon. Once complete, burnish away excess solder (or glue) with a fibre glass pencil before washing and thoroughly drying the model. Prime and paint black. What it looks like unpainted...
The container benefits from an undercoat of primer before application of the livery colours. AME waterslide transfers apply beautifully to gloss finishes, so spray both underframe and container with gloss varnish before applying transfers. Seal them in with matt varnish before weathering and any rough handling. A beautifully detailed and authentic model results with a minimum of effort. the photographs show the stages of construction and the finished result. Ten out of ten to AME for this one; modellers of the post 1987 period must have at least a pair in their wagon fleets. They are incestuous: one completed successfully breeds another. The kit fully assembled and painted on the left, a scratchbuilt model on the right.
Appleby Model
Engineering Note: Since this piece was first written, AME supplies seem to have dried up, recent correspondence has not been answered. SAEs at your own risk. About this
site | Contact us
| Links & Contacts News | Image gallery Copyright
� N. C. Burkin. All rights reserved. |
|
