Dyfrdwy Tramway: gunpowder...

Every self respecting quarry is in need of something destructive! The Dyfrdwry Quarry Company is no different, and they required a means of transporting the dangerous gunpowder from the wharf to the storage shed at the quarry...

The solution, as at Penmaenmawr (see below - uncredited photo, if it belongs to you please let me know and I will acknowledge or remove accordingly) was to re-work an older wagon with an enclosed body on top.

I started with a Model-earth budget flat wagon, modifying the axle boxes so it sat a lot lower and matched the other rolling stock, without fitting smaller wheels. I then modified it to allow me to fit a slate wagon body (seen top left), but with cut down strapping and no lifting eyes. The upper body was then added, secured with L angle at each end to a bolted plate on the chassis, hinge and locking bars made from styrene too...

The wood grain was created starting with a razor saw and then working this with a knife and scalpel. The bolt and rivet heads painstakingly added from MENG and Cambrian, and the roof is a piece of toilet paper soaked in dilute PVA.

Here given a coat of primer you'd never guess this wasn't all one material, and the roof worked particularly well, sinking down over the planked detail. Then a quandary, what colour to paint it...

Well, after canvassing opinion I decided upon a faded red. I started with an undercoat of Humbrol 100, then wine Humbrol 73. Bare wood was touched in with 72, and I dry brushed a bit of wine 73 mixed with white 34 to show more pink areas. Once dry, and after a No.10 was added with a Posca pen, a liberal dose of undiluted track colour 173 was painted on, and rubbed off! Finally metal work picked out in a mix of black 33, gunmetal 53, chocolate 98 and Metalcote gunmetal 27004. The line now has a decrepit but serviceable gunpowder van, and operating sessions take on another level of interest... More soon...