Rb series bogie highside wagons
The later Rb-5 and Rb-6 look like bogie wagon versions of
the Lc-2 and Lc-3 open wagons respectively.
Like the Lc-2, the Rb-5 has plain ends, while the Rb-6 has
corrugated ends just like the Lc-3.
The Rb-6 appears to have had Lc-type three-part doors, while
the Rb-5 had the La-8 type with the plain top part.
Sides
The sides are built up using plastic sheet and strip following
a scale drawing.
However, being lazy I cut the doors from some of my cast Lc
sides. . .
. . . and fitted between measured sheet styrene with ribs
and a top lip added as per scale drawing.
All the parts were all lined up on a sheet of glass and spot
superglued.
Once set, joints were fully superglued on the inside seams.
Ends
Rb-5 Plain ends were made from sheet and strip styrene and
the large Tichy rivets to represent tie-down domes, just like
the side domes on the Lc-3 and Rb-6.
Rb-6 corrugated ends look the same as Lc-3 ends, so I just
used castings from my Lc-3 mould. Or you could build ends as
in the Lc-3 project.
Chassis
Both use the same 37ft 6ins chassis, with 6 inch rather than
9 inch side sills. But note the 6 inch to 9 inch transition sections
at each end.
Two chassises were built using the great "Ozzie"
method.
Assembly
Ends were cleaned up and along with an assembled-and-cleaned-up
side, superglued to the chassis.
Rb-6 assembly begins
Should have marked, drilled, and fitted the Tichy rivet domes
to the side before assembly but no problem.
After domes were fitted to both sides as per reference material,
the second side was glued in place.
Lower "extensions" to the side ribs were made from
same-width but thicker strip plastic and glued on and filled
and sanded for the desired bulge shape as per reference photos.
Note for the Rb-5, there are domes only on the ends, and the
side and end rib "extensions" are straight and plain,
and in hindsight the ribs could have been added at this stage
rather than earlier.
Assembly completion
Once all set and dry, bogie centre positions were marked,
and pre-drilled and tapped pads were added as per Ozzie
chassis build.
Rb-5 (front) and Rb-6
(rear) bodies so far, almost ready for their truss work.
The Rb-6 has bogies and couplers fitted for testing.
Note that the Rb-5 model has the two-part top doors - after
research this is wrong, it should be the plain La wagon type.
Normally I don't do too much detail you can't see anyway,
but the underfloor trussing is quite visible and adds to the
look of these wagons. Was built up using 1mm x 1mm Plastruct
angle strip using my
photos and scale drawings for reference.
(Above and below)
Adding underfloor trusses
Rb-5 right way up. Doors
need a cleanup and some added pivot detail.
AND the top doors need replacing with a plain sheet as per La
wagons.
Like this - Rb-5 now
has plain top doors fitted along with Frateschi "olde"
bogies.
Rb-5 (above) and
Rb-6 (below) having added door pivot and door stop detail.
Rb-5 (above) and
Rb-6 (below) base coated with Wattyl Red Oxide.
More to come. . .
References
Home |
