Odsock Wagons - The Black Dogs

Modellers setting out in O9 today may not appreciate the influence that the Black Dog Mining and Avalon Line ranges had on the scale over 20 years ago (double-checks calendar...). Of these last two wagons from the 'odsock Corner batch, the mine tub actually incorporates one of the first Black Dog chassis I bought and the 6ft 2-plank is to the same design as another of my other early purchases. 

The mine tub was originally completed 9 years ago (checks calendar again...) and whilst the body was new the chassis had been around the block a few times and the openings I had previously cut for MicroTrains couplers were filled back in. This view from 2017 shows it with Black Dog coupler blocks fitted to add further character. They have now been removed as part of the most recent rebuild. Always a bit of an outsider in the fleet, it was designated a "display" vehicle and even had it's own little diorama for a time.

The 6ft 2-plank is intended to run with the passenger coach and was intended as a luggage trolley similar to that pulled by my railcar. However, wanting to be different this time the load is just accumulated "stuff" at this stage and at present is only placed loosely. The bucket is a West Hill Wagon Works example and the bag of rubbish is a carefully sculpted Milliput artwork...

Both wagons are pretty similar underneath, lead window strip is used for weight with clearance for 7mm metal wheels in place of the Peco originals. As I have pointed out before these really lift the look of the Black Dog chassis. They also make it really easy to fit Greenwich couplers as they only require a small slot in the buffer beam level with the inner frame.

For the first time I now feel that I have a coherent fleet of non-miniature railway rolling stock in O9. For now they are assigned to 'odscock Corner but who knows where they may end up in the future?

Colin

Odsock Wagons - 422 Modelmaking Drop-Side

Next on the conveyor of wagons is the 422 Modelmaking 2-plank drop-side. As with the 1-plank wagon this had a little refinement during painting as I realised that if the axleboxes were retained by some sort of W-iron behind the wooden frames, there should be a representation of a method of securing them in place. After a few trials I found that square sections looked best, applied at a 45 degree angle.

For the load I created something I had been wanting to try for a while, a load of round fencing poles and wire. The poles are cocktail sticks and I soon discovered that my cunning plan to just cut them in half was doomed as the point of a cocktail stick is far, er, pointier, than that of a fencing pole. Cue some whittling down and sanding! The bottom layer were superglued to a thin cardboard base and the other layers added on top. a wash of black-grey toned down the colour a little. Thin wire was coiled to add another element and the tool box is a Black Dog Mining casting that I painted some time ago.

Underneath the extent of my narrowing of the 422 chassis casting can be seen. In fact I probably went a little too narrow as I had to remove the top flange of the Peco chassis solebar to get everything to fit. The extent of the chassis shortening can also be seen, removing a section equivalent to that marked 'Mk2' to bring the wheelbase down to 24mm. Incidentally this figure was arrived at after I stood the body on a Black Dog Mining 16.5mm gauge chassis with that dimension and it just "looked right". As with the coach, clearance has been created for Mathieson 7mm wheelsets, I don't begrudge replacing the wheels on Peco chassis acquired cheaply as an eBay haul.

And finally... this wagon could have turned out very differently. Initially I scratchbuilt a steel-channel chassis frame and then modified it when I realised it resembled this wagon at Lightwater Valley theme park. It didn't quite look right due to a few compromises I made, but I do have another body casting so who knows, I may have another go one day...

Coming soon, the final part of this saga will look at the two Black Dog Mining wagons.

Colin

Odsock Wagons - Unit Models 1-Plank Open

Perhaps the most distinctive of the new wagons is the Unit Models 1-plank painted in green and lettered for the 'Estates Dept'. Green might not be the most obvious wagon colour but I think this works well and is a good contrast to the similar grey wagon in the 'Shifting Sands' fleet. The estates department obviously have had issues in the past with their wagon being "borrowed" for other uses so have neatly lettered it up. In reality this uses Modelmaster decals, the word 'ESTATES' being made up largely from letter groups in the words 'WEST' and 'EASTERN', the 'Dept.' is a pre-made word on the sheet.

The load is based around an whitemetal kit for a lawnmower that I picked up from an exhibition junk box, I think it was of US-origin. There is a little irony here as the last model of a lawn mower that I owned was a 4mm scale one from... Unit Models! The tools are S&D castings and the oil can Duncan Models. All were carefully painted an weathered before fixing in place. I really need to add some more muck and odd bits of grass cuttings next time the scenic materials are out.

Underneath the modified Peco 10ft N gauge chassis can be seen, all brake gear is removed and the axlebox and spring detail pared back. The axleboxes are overlaid with Black Dog -style ones fixed to the Peco chassis, these had previously been fixed to the resin chassis frame but were refined during painting as I was not happy with their original appearance. Bachmann spoked wheelsets are fitted, which were a little tight at first but after a little fettling now roll smoothly. Greenwich couplers are again fitted with two tiny screws.

That's all for this one, the next wagon will be along soon!

Colin

Odsock Wagons - The Junkbox Coach

After a short delay I have managed to get all the planned 'odsock Corner rolling stock equipped with wheels, couplings and final weathering. The time delay means that we really do have them all, as the mine tub has now been brought up to the same specification as the newer builds.

In order to show off each model I plan to post a number of posts illustrating each model in turn. We'll start with the one that isn't actually a wagon, the simple 4-wheeled coach. It does have wagon DNA in that the floor and seats were originally intended for a wagon projects... I chose to use Vallejo Grey-Blue as the colour as this has a very nice neutral tone and is almost self-fading.

Underneath the Peco chassis still shows traces of primer and even bare plastic where it was blu-tac'ed to the spray stand. Clearances have been increased to fit Mathieson 7mm diameter wheels and Greenwich couplers are mounted on blocks behinds the bufferbeams with tiny screws bought on eBay. Two might be overkill but do stop the couplers swinging about...

That's all for this one, work is underway to provide it with an occupant and the next wagon will be along shortly!

Colin

The Colours of 2026

Just a quick post to welcome readers of O9 Modeller into 2026. Sorry for the lack of updates recently, there has been progress in the paintshop and my usual policy is no updates between primer and varnish...

Good job then that I took advantage of a dry (but cold) New Years Eve afternoon and gave this little lot  a coat of varnish!

The new year will see these weathered, couplings added and wheeled up. More soon...

Colin

Odsock's Odd Wagons

I have previously made reference to a plan to have a handful of 'wider' O9 stock to run on Odsock Corner with the FK3D 'Druid' and Avalon Line locomotives. The recent 4w coach was the first of these and I can now reveal the next three builds. I say builds, "assemblies" would be more too the point as they all have commercial kit origins...

First up is a Unit Models 1-plank wagon on a Peco 10ft chassis. The primer coat has highlighted a few blow-outs in the casting but these have been filled prior to further painting. As I have a "thing" about not seeing N gauge axleboxes on O9 wagons I have created a set of Black Dog look-alikes to hide them. The Peco N gauge buffer heads form the round section in the centre - sticking them in blu-tac whilst cutting the buffers off saves losing them to the carpet monster!

Next is a 2-plank drop side wagon built from 422 Modelmaking components. You may recall I built one of these before and then sold it on - this new example incorporates learning from that model, largely involving changes to the underframe. I had picked up an alternate underframe casting with no axleboxes and not restricted to using the Peco 10ft chassis (20mm wheelbase), The first action was to narrow it by 3mm in width to move the solebars further in. I then squeezed a 15ft chassis cut down to give a 24mm wheelbase, and I find that the extra 4mm actually makes a big difference to the visual balance of the wagon. Chivers 4mm scale roller bearing axleboxes have been added to hide the Peco originals and Grandt Line nut-bolt-washer mouldings add some extra detail to the bufferbeams.

The two wagons above will run with a Black Dog Mining mine tub as an estate maintenance train, I have a lawnmower kit that I must make up to go in the 1-plank wagon...  A second train will be formed from the open coach with a wagon for luggage (or daring riders). This is a Black Dog style 6 foot 2-plank with added handles on the ends to make it a 'Tops' wagon.

These three wagons are now making progress in the paint shop alongside the coach. It is a while since I've actually painted anything so I am taking it steady to get the best finish. I've also been making up a batch of Greenwich couplers for this micro-fleet which has actually been a lot easier than expected thanks to the new bending/assembly jig available from Light Railway Stores.

Colin

Junkbox Jury - Primed

I have been rather remise in not keeping you up to date with the progress of various models, but progress has been rather slow as priorities change and new whims took charge. The dismantled diesel has at least had a coat of primer, which as ever brings together the various materials to an even finish. As there will no doubt be red on the bufferbeams somewhere, and possibly the need for red primer to appear underneath where the coupler would be, I also masked off and sprayed red oxide primer onto those areas.

From the cab end the various bolt holes show up rather well as does the gap where the gearbox should be. This work was completed in October but I then got distracted and it has now possibly missed it's place in the paintshop queue until the new year. That does however give me the chance to refine a few painting techniques elsewhere as I'm a little out of practice!

Also now primed is the passenger carriage for 'Odsock Corner', which has been waiting for a dry(ish) day to head to the workshop for primer. It is now a lot easier to photograph, although I refrained from fitting all the seats back in place for the photo. You can now see the boltheads on the solebar which supposedly hold the axleguards in place.

Livery for this will be light blue, the jury's still out on whether to go for the Lincolnshire Coast style blue to match my FK3D Motor Rail or something more subtle...

More soon, including the distraction(s)!

Colin