Build a BR mineral wagon
The latest kit from Just Like the Real Thing represents a key freight vehicle in the BR fleet: the vacuum-braked 21t mineral wagon. GEORGE DENT puts it to the test.
George Dent puts Just Like the Real Thing’s vacuum-braked, 21t freight vehicle kit to the test.
Just Like the Real Thing’s range of 7mm scale wagon kits continues to expand, with the latest release portraying another of BR’S classic freight designs. The 21t steel-bodied mineral wagon may not be a glamorous subject, but it was a vital cog in the coal transportation system during the latter half of the 20th century. Based on one of nearly 5,000 wagons built to BR diagrams 1/119 and 1/120, between 1961-62 at Shildon and Derby Works, the vehicles featured two discharge doors per side (with opening top flaps), plus a hinged door at one end for tipping. Roller bearing axleboxes were fitted as standard, along with heavy duty springs and hydraulic buffers. All were equipped with vacuum brakes and were used intensively on coal flows from collieries to power stations, steel works and other industrial installations. Although the contraction of the UK coal industry in the 1980s meant a marked downturn in traffic, many of these wagons lasted into the 1990s, especially on flows from surviving collieries in South Wales. Coded ‘MDV’ under the TOPS scheme, some also received through air pipes in later years, adopting the MDW code accordingly. THE KIT Virtually everything required to complete the kit can be found in the box. Only wheels, bearings, paint and transfers must be sourced separately. For such a utilitarian style of vehicle, the kit actually includes a large number of components, mostly in the form of detail fittings for the underframe. The bodyshell is presented as a single resin casting, with a handful of small parts supplied to add finesse to the exterior, such as lamp brackets and handrails. Most of the assembly work is focused on the chassis, with a resin frame boasting positive location slots for the myriad cast metal components to be mounted securely.
Full, illustrated instructions are provided, including Cad-rendered drawings that highlight where everything ought to sit. All of the necessary underfloor plumbing is catered for, with a choice of either cast whitemetal parts or thick brass wire that can be bent to the desired shapes. All of the parts are exquisitely rendered, with the brake shoes and brackets being particularly impressive. The Oleo buffers are also miniature works of art, cast in brass using the ‘lost wax’ method. As with all of the individual components, only minimal cleaning up of casting residue is required. Assembly proved to be straightforward, although some care was needed when setting the axleboxes into the ‘W’ irons. The guideways require fettling to achieve a snug fit, and it’s vital that both axles are installed concentrically in relation to the chassis frames. Once the axles have been checked for alignment and free rotation, the axleboxes can be secured with a drop of cyano glue, preferably applied with a precision tip or cocktail stick. No form of working compensation is provided (although a simple system could be improvised if desired) and the use of whitemetal and brass castings adds plenty of ballast to the wagon. Even when running empty, my sample tipped the scales at 180g, so there should be no worries regarding running performance. APPRAISAL This is another excellent offering from JLTRT, proving a joy to assemble and finish. Everything fits where it should and the standard of workmanship in the various castings is universally high. The parts and assembly sequence have clearly been designed with ease of construction in mind, making for a relatively stress-free undertaking. As the images show, the finished model certainly looks like the prototype, with all manner of small details combining to produce incredibly lifelike results.