The Big Wagon Project

[@bennettj99]

Another Excellent update/How to, Richard. Some really great ideas, love the couplings. I will have to watch this one a few times to take it all in. Brilliant, like most of your past How to's. So glad you are on this community, be lost without you. Kind regards. John.

[@nobbyse16]

Another brilliant video Richard, incredible transformation from the basic wagons to the finished article. Great idea with the couplings as well. This is the sort of video that inspires new modellers like myself (and probably a lot of experienced ones as well) to be more creative and not worry about making major alterations to new rolling stock.

[@EverardJunction]

Crystal Palace High Level Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. This sort of thing can be a bit scary on new items but it's worth doing.

[@theupweyengineer4143]

Thanks for putting in the time to do these videos (...and it does take time!). I'm not in a position to do my own modelling at present and your videos are a very good substitute. Keep it up!

[@komatsu65]

Must say Richard, another interesting and detailed video doctoring the coal hoppers. Brings them all to life. Well done.

[@StaxRail]

Great wagons there! My great grandfather was one of the chief engineers for OLEO, he designed quite a lot of different buffers, and even helped with the APT suspension!

[@dimidomo7946]

Another outstanding video Everard. Authentic for sure. Always impressed with your research and improvisational skills, attention to detail and stick-to-it-tive-ness. Your hobby has turned into a red-hot passion. Keep it up and pleasure all your subscribers with more videos. You go Everard!!

[@aigen56]

BR blue class 56 loco was a very popular worker with these hoppers in the 1980s. Mr Everard your layout is awe inspiring every time i watch your tutorials.

[@therealandrewstrains]

Richard - another great video. A man after my own heart taking the basic wagons and making them really nice. Well done.

[@danielluebke]

Nothing really to add to the previous comments: Again a very good video with very good ideas and very comprehensibly explained. I really enjoy your weathering work. The waggons now look not only "convincing" but they look like real, used waggons! Keep up the good work!

[@Geoffmay33]

A really super 'how to' video. Most impressive result. Like the inclusion of the cost of the project as so many others fail to mention cost. I was worried about the paper clip couplers but end result is definitely a fantastic improvement. Thanks for sharing.

[@EverardJunction]

Geoff May Thanks, I had my doubts but so far the paperclips are working very well.

[@FlanMangler]

Great stuff. Nicely implemented. Takes me back to being a kid - 20's, 56's and 58's on rakes of these were my trainspotting bread and butter... That and the steel trains usually behind double headed 37's. The MGR's look fantastic.

[@nicolaiitchenko7610]

Congratulations...one of the best videos on the subject of rail wagons and sets on the web... I stuck a small piece of tin under the plastic loads tin my collection of (only 7) coal loaded wagons so that I could remove them with a magnet at a later date if needed. The other seven wagons I have are empty and I have a shuttle system on the layout where the full wagons come out of the enclosed loading house and travel clockwise around the layout to the enclosed coal facility at the coke works. The loco then uncouples from the last of the wagons, backs up, reconnects to the now empty wagons INSIDE the loading house (and hidden) from view. Then the train travels anticlockwise around the layout and returns the empties to the loading house - again out of sight. The loading house and the unloading house are on opposite sides of a dividing wall between the small sceniked section just inside my workshop area and the country mining area behind the agricultural scenes on the main room layout. The buildings are actually hiding two points and tracks where the wagons are changed by the loco inside where folk cannot see the event so full comes out at the mine entry and empty comes out at the loading area. Many have asked how I empty the wagons... Weathering on the empties was a major undertaking as an awful lot had to be altered to make then #1 look like the real thing on the inside and #2 make them heavy enough to travel around the layout in a suitable manner...Little bits of coal and a few sticks (all made from lead) were the solution.

[@CharliesShed]

A mighty fine addition and such an improvement with some effort. Great work on the couplings to give a closer running rake, really adds to the overall appearance. Cheers, Charlie.

[@vwgolfer1873]

WOW Richards awesome job. alot of work and patience. But it paid off. Thanks for sharing this.

[@minsterley2002]

Quality video, as ever Richard. The buffers, with the silver shanks and darkened heads, are a great touch. Very realistic merry-go round rake you have there. Top stuff. Dave

[@MrRuud109]

I have watched a lot of your videos, and you sir are my hero! One day i hope to have the space for a nice layout too!

[@gwrcvlr5926]

Nice job Richard, I like the fact that you're not afraid to 'attack' new models in order to improve them or make them fit the theme and era of your layout. A lot of people wouldn't dare! lol. Howard.

[@EverardJunction]

GWR CVLR Fear is something you get over once you done stuff like this a few times. Trick is to go for it, you'll never develop the skills if you don't try this sort of stuff.

[@greatwesternsteam4040]

Great video. Those wagons look great. The couplings are a very clever idea.

[@kinkong1961]

As i always say a Blind man would like to see that you have done a brilliant job on those hoppers .

[@nesr8786]

brilliant job ,they look so lifelike.looking forward to more of your projects.

[@cyprusgrump]

Amazing work - completely admire your patience and attention to detail!

[@paulwhite8620]

Excellent video a lot of hard work that has payed off in the end. The couplings are a really great idea that would work on coaches as well, Paul

[@IILagavulinII]

They look first class. Fabulous project and really nice detailing. The re-buffering of the hoppers was definitely worth your efforts. I'd of had to watch the video to convince me if you'd told me those were RailRoad models after the event. I remember seeing such trains (though not sure if they were merry-go-rounds) as a boy at Westoe and trains bound to and from Monkwearmouth colliery, normally at East Boldon with a 56 on motive power.

[@EverardJunction]

IILagavulinII These wagons were almost always on MGR duties. Domestic coal was shipped in HEA hoppers rather than these. I'm working on my HEAs at the moment and once finished will do a running session with both rakes and various locos hauling them. Thanks

[@tjfSIM]

absolutely superb job, and just shows what you can achieve with a bit of time and effort. Premium wagons are horrendously expensive nowadays, almost as much as coaches, so this is a great way to put together a decent and realistic looking rake and save a lot of money!

[@EverardJunction]

tjf4375 Thanks, certainly worth doing. I think I've saved about £180 at least.

[@paddycoleman1472]

Another excellent, useful and inspirational video. Great work and thank you. Paddy

[@TheSanibel]

Excellent. Very professional and most enjoyable to watch. Thank you. RICK

[@bdwong2053]

They really do look fabulous well done!

[@jacksmodelrailways2829]

Fantastic video Richard. Very informative indeed! I have a single HAA hopper lying around so I might practice weathering on that and attempt to get it to your standard

[@rongoodwin4053]

Just discovered this. The paper clip close coupling is a great idea, thank you.

[@TheWelshMarches]

Thanks for the inspiration, tempted to try this with a lot of the railroad wagons.

[@jacobporrett]

They certainly look the part. Fantastic work well done.

[@eckto3]

Great job, the weathering is very realistic and the coal load effect I would try myself. A lot of effort improving the buffers, but no mention of the coupling hook.

[@TilefordOO]

I'm running out of superlatives - I just hope you had a well deserved beer whilst watching the fruits of your labours on the layout!

[@EverardJunction]

***** I certainly had a good sit back when I set them off running. One of the most rewarding projects I've ever done. Well worth doing if you have the time.

[@DeanPark]

Good job! Amazing what weathering powder has done to tone down the silver! I will weather my rake of 23 HFA coal hoppers at some point. Train tech flashing tail lamp is the one I fitted to mine. Its very good. Nice to see the 58 hauling them!

[@EverardJunction]

DaveClass47 Thanks Dave. Nice to have the 58 with it's intended train now. Never really looks right if it's not hauling hoppers.

[@DeanPark]

What brand and shade of weathering powders did you use for the black coal dust? I will have to weather my hoppers at some point and wanted a grimy wash. I have the full fat version with sprung buffers...rake of 23 cost me about £250! They have the 'aerodynamic hoods' on them and classed as HFA hoppers.

[@EverardJunction]

DaveClass47 I use mig weathering powders and the colour I used is called black smoke. They go on really nicely. Make sure you varnish over the top or it will just rub off. Good job you bought your HFAs before the price rises. 23 of those now will cost you at least £506!!!

[@DeanPark]

EverardJunction Hi, yeah I hunted them down on several online shops and ebay. Yeah I always seal my weathering powders with a spray of Humbrol matt acrylic varnish or Railmatch enamel.

[@ListerDavid]

That real coal really dose set them off a treat.

[@paddy66111]

great work done on the hoppers very good video thanks for the explanatIon of how to paint and weathering wishes from dublin ireland

[@Cheadleridgelanetmd]

Fantastic Richard and the coal will add the weight to keep them very very stable all round fantastic job! You should go into business

[@kevintregunna]

Good project Richard made a great rake of wagons like the couplings as well a real good cheap alternative cheers Kevin

[@666jockie]

Fantastic work there, job very well done. I have to admit that as a novice , that would be beyond me, but your video might, one day, be able to help me do something similar. As I say, brilliant video.

[@Marcus.D.P]

brilliantly done as ever...given me as usual some great ideas....thanks for posting

[@philukxp]

I think you have done a great job with these wagons give yourself a pat on the back... great video as well

[@JPMiller14]

This is a superb look into a wagon upgrade. The one thing I can think of to possibly make the wagon load even more realistic is to have the coal poured in 2 or 3 mounds instead of an even layered top

[@QRoutback]

Great work on those hoppers , look fantastic

[@motormouser]

A great "How to" video...makes me want to get out to the workshop and crack-on with my layout!

[@AndyHudson-ModelRailwayBuilds]

Great how to video Richard, amazing what you do with the railroad trucks with a bit of effort, I did my coal loads by using ballast loads by model railways direct and painting, worked out slightly dearer than yours but look ok. Just ordered railroad class 31 and network rail 37 with tts, hopefully after weathering and bit of work they will look better and less toy like Andy

[@stuulynn1644]

Great tutorial, I have two rakes (75ish wagons) of the newer type HAA/HFA variants and am giving this a go, the newer ones are much more difficult to remove the COAL tubs with so much under frame detail, I've left the buffers and just gone for repainting the frames. I have purchased 10 commandment loads but never thought of covering them with real coal, I have real coal in a very fine size to emulate the powerstation coal. I tried using pipe lagging cut to represent real loads but couldn't get the glue to hold the coal effectively! So took the easier route and went with the 10 commandments loads. One thing you could maybe do is add the brake disc detail which were fitted at opposite corners they are available from Colincraig which work out at roughly £0.15 per disc and make a big difference

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

They do look amazing indeed~

[@paulm3965]

Excellent project, impressive rake, good video, first class layout a pleasure to watch. Most importantly a lesson on how to. I am not sure how you intend to fit a flashing red light to the last hopper. There are many options. I fitted a flashing red back light by using a cheap Hornby DCC chip from Hereford Models and pick ups from SWD. Now I can switch the flashing rear light on or off from a Lenz controller. I look forward to your next video I am just building a layout and I am just getting started, many thanks.

[@Barberboy86]

Brilliant video as always! Have really enjoyed all your videos, amazing layout, and skills! 👍

[@ralphdadge302]

nice work on the wagons, looks just right behind the Class 58.

[@9501599]

This was a big project but you managed it very well I must admit. I like the change of buffers and the coupling was rather clever. Your layout looks quite good too. I appreciate the finer detail modellers put into their creations and there are always good ideas to borrow. anyway keep up the good work this was a great watch. guy

[@bossgodfrey4841]

Absolutly amazing work you did there!

[@graememorrison5456]

Fantastic idea Richard especially when prices are so high Great job Cheers Graeme

[@SkippersOfSWE]

Amazing! Nice to see such a transformartion for a beginner like me. Great job!

[@bloodmarine77]

A brilliant job on those HHA wagons Richard. Im off to get some myself now. Terry

[@EverardJunction]

Glebe Road Junction Thanks Terry, certainly a rewarding project. A rake of these behind your 58 and 66s will look excellent on glebe road.

[@bloodmarine77]

i have just received my nine HHA's today so i will make a start on them over the weekend hopefully.

[@klbird]

Very effective detailing makes it a realistic string of cars.

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

These coal wagons came out excellent! I'll have to experiment with coal loads on my GWR mini layout

[@alanbroadbent8624]

They would look superb behind my two class 20s 👌

[@PhotosOfBuildings]

If you decide to make similar couplings for yourself again in the future, you could try using a small size split pin for the female part....I haven't done this myself, but I think it could work and look more pleasing when painted black.....Just and idea. Another superb video Richard!

[@matthewsnowdenshunterguy3352]

Mega project with a fantastic result!!!

[@Birchy]

Awesome job! Transformation is huge. They look really convincing :)

[@edrobinson5438]

Excellent video Richard, thinking of doing this myself! Amazing what you can do with those railroad wagons..........Edward

[@martinbateman2467]

Will do the same at some point, thanks for the inspiration

[@simonkwilliams]

I only have half that many HAA wagons atm but not having a permanent layout is my main problem but they look really good

[@Bruno.Trains]

Wonderful video. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@aplinewalker]

Another brilliant production, informative and innovative, along with reasoning behind every step, that adds to the factual content' . Always admire your attention to detail which is a lesson in itself and always gives an outstanding level of realism. Many thanks the thought planning and time in putting such a video together is also acknowledged,,, Cheers ,,,,,, Alan

[@EverardJunction]

***** Thanks Alan. Glad you enjoyed it. I'm really happy with the result, a very rewarding project to do.

[@lu4472ke]

when you come to look for a dummy coupling for the end of the train, smiths do a 3 link coupling.you also get the coupling hook.

[@redseptember7451]

Wow I'm going to do that to all my couplings now. great idea n paper clips cheap too. Great vid thx

[@percomotion]

Excellent job Richard they look the part mate,as for the couplers I was thinking paper clips then you did it,I use paper clips on my Esso tankers by Airfix and Dapol kits. I would of liked to of seen pulling the rake of hoppers two class 20s that's how I remember seeing these trains. Kev

[@EverardJunction]

percomotion Thanks Kev. You'll see the 20s soon enough (probably next video). I'm working on my HEAs now so should have two complete coal trains in a week or so. Wish I'd done this earlier, the real coal looks fantastic.

[@largesatsuma]

Great commitment.

[@GrahamFoulston]

That seemed such a repetitive and daunting job that I wonder if I would have the patience to do that but you as always just take it in your stride and get on and do it. What a result though, fantastic. No wonder you are pleased with the end result, I would be too. Well done Richard, a great video to watch as well. ............Graham

[@EverardJunction]

Graham Foulston Thanks Graham. It certainly was a long job, I thought it was never going to end! Saved me over £180 though.

[@GrahamFoulston]

EverardJunction That's got to be worth it then Richard, that's a free loco!

[@rlm98253]

Brilliant all the way around.

[@JamesSimpsonn]

Good lord Richard they look amazing, certainly have more patience than i do

[@EverardJunction]

***** Thanks James. Cutting off all the plastic was a right pain but the rest was very enjoyable. Nice to do something a bit different from working on locos or the layout itself.

[@drlodge]

Another inspirational video, brilliant job!

[@AVFCAM]

Brilliant. They look better than if you'd bought the premium ones!

[@EverardJunction]

AVFCAM That was the plan. I think I've saved about £180 over the cost of 20 premium ones.

[@shanelloyd3002]

Nice job - you ought to scatter some of the realistic coal on the platforms. My local station was on an MGR run and you could have shoveled the stuff up some days, lol.

[@ursborner72]

Fantastic project and video. Just fun to watch. Greetings Urs

[@anthony566]

Fantastic job well done ...

[@sandosgarage3180]

Great job, Im thinking of doing similar to my Australian coal hoppers

[@pebblecups]

When I was young, I always saw rakes of 24 of these were behind a Class 37. I used to count them. I believe when the 66s appeared they had 36 wagons.

[@Night_Ferry]

Just waiting for the Everard Junction DVD now...

[@motormouser]

fnp90rd I'd buy DVD's if Richard made them :)

[@lord_scrubington]

I imagine it would be something like trains of yesteryear

[@lukesjunction2508]

Ha ha

[@TheAudiostud]

Congratulations on another excellent video Great Work, Well Done!

[@marktooty72]

love the hand action @ 6 mins, you will have to teach our lass how to do that

[@user2C47]

at 24:40 that actually sounds similar to an actual train (to scale, besides the screeching metal) .

[@westerleighwerek1493]

Excellent stuff, you seem to keep starting projects which a couple of weeks ago I have been researching, I have 20 or so HAA's and have been pondering over the couplings. One thing that wasn't shown is how you fix the paper clip coupling to the wagon, I understand you drilled a hole but can't see where and how it was fixed! Thanks again

[@EverardJunction]

Mangotsfield Mike Thanks. For fixing the coupling I just glued them once they where in the hole.

[@rob14oct]

you really are top notch.Rob

[@banksroadmodernimage7358]

Nice work on those mgr wagons.

[@decidedly_retro]

A couple of comments. Re: frame colour. In the early 80s the frames were actually dark red/brown, very similar to the original colour they had. With the weathering, the sides of the wagons should have marks along the sides generated by the wheels which moved the wagons through the power station.

[@mattylovin1]

Great project, really enjoyed it

[@oxolotleman7226]

Great video, wish I could do this to some of my o scale cars but I haven't done any weathering yet and I'm afraid of overdoing it.

[@anthony566]

Looking good.... picking mine up next week :)

[@martinbateman2467]

Just acquired a load of HAAs to do exactly the same project

[@ozmick126]

brilliant job .

[@barkingmouse8152]

Coupler looks like a funky brake pipe. ;)

[@James47298]

wow, you made that look easy!

[@jitinjain012]

cool job.....a work well done...m ur fan by now......god bless ....love from INDIA...

[@EverardJunction]

Jitin Jain Thanks

[@Hilux5972]

Have you heard the news from Cavalex today? They are releasing a totally new HAA wagon in 4mm.

[@WoodyWoodblossomtrees]

They look very real and I think this marks an end to my channel as my Dapol hopper wagons look pants

[@johnbrown9092]

Excellent job done

[@ralphlees6438]

Nicely done I like your couplings just needs a flashing tail light to finish off Look forward to your next video Kind regards Ralph

[@EverardJunction]

Ralph Lees Thanks, I'm working on adding loads to my HEAs now and will be fitting tail lights to both rakes.