04 April 2012

NEW ITEM - Victorian Railways IT Scantling Timber Wagon

New Product Coming Soon - Victorian Railways IT 1-251, 253-273 Scantling Wagon In the early sixties just over 270 fifteen foot wheelbase I/IA wagons were modified to provide a special vehicle for scantling timber traffic. They were introduced due to a rise in housing development and the increased amount of timber traffic out of the Orbost region of East Gippsland Victoria . After a trail with one wagon the class IT was adopted.

The IT were loaded with scantling timber packed by sawmills in packs. Each pack consisted of various sawn timber which was stacked with all the ends together at one end. This results in load distribution problems. To deal with this problem the 273 IT's that had three distinct features:
  • Bulkhead at one end only (to support the stacked timber) 
  • Heavy springs, 10"x 5" journals and 3'2" diameter wheelset at the bulkhead end 
  • Standard springs and journals, wheelset diameters of 3'0" at the opposite (light) end
Even though they had a the appearance of uneven load, derailments were rare, with you more likely to have seen them in the shunting yard 'rearing up like horses' when hit roughly from the bulkhead (heavy) end during shunting.

IT 91 - Photo by Rob O'Regan from www.pjv101.net

23 February 2012

Order Form now available for the Pintsch Gas Tank Wagon

Our Victorian Railways Pintsch Gas Tank Wagon is set to be released this Easter at the Hobson Bay Railway Expo. We will be asking customers to submit a pre order form BEFORE April 3rd 2012, to reserve there kit for payment and collection at Hobson Bay. Those who are not attending the expo are still invited to submit a pre order and we will organise payment and post them out after Easter when the post office opens back up again. This will also give us a guide on how many to cast plus a few extras so you all don't miss out. We are happy to take orders for this kit at the Expo but cannot guarantee how many extras we will have. In the case of 'sold out items' at the expo we can post them out after Easter free of charge. The kits includes the four base parts in cast polyurethane resin (Roof, Cab Walls, Tank with Dome and Underframe with Cradle and Feet) plus for brass detail parts including Shunter Step, Pedestal type Ratchet Handbrake Lever with Safety Rails, Wagon Stirrups and Cast brass Air Hoses. We are still looking into decals. Price TBA. Form can be found on out website - http://www.vrcasts.com/

21 February 2012

Brass Etchings for Pintsch Gas Tank Wagon have now been ordered

We have just place an order for the following:
  • Shunter Step
  • Pedestal type ratchet handbrake lever with safety rails
  • Wagon Stirrups
  • and Cast brass air hoses
We will post photos once order arrives and the brass detail parts are added to the wagon

Stay tuned..

17 February 2012

VC 04 Tank Wagon Q 26 and 30

Victorian Railways Pintsch Gas Tank Wagon Q 26 and Q 30

Below is the first complete casts. It won't be long till its available

27 January 2012

Whats the go for 2012?

This year our aim is to finish off some promised projects this includes:


  • Tank Wagons (these to be done first)
    • OT 77 (Tank master done, Etching and U/frame to source)
    • OT 78, 79, 80 (Tank master done, Etching and Unframe to source)
    • Q 26 & 3 (Dome on tank to be redone as it's off centre, Underframe close to complete as to the cab)
  • Weedex
    • HZ 1 (ex F) (Master Done)
    • WA 1 to 9 (Tank master done, working on underframe)
    • HW 1 & 2 (In planning phase)
  • Workman's Car
    • WM 1 (ex F) (In planning phase)
  • Decals for all wagons
We are also looking at the possibilites of the following if enough interest:
  • Departmental Van
    • HD Sand wagons (Hopper Master done)
    • HD 144 to 148 (ex F)
    • HD 61 & 62 (ex F)
    • OH 6 (ex F)
  • Goods Wagons
    • IT (Bulk Head Master done)
    • IS
If interested any of the above wagons your welcome to email us and let us know. We have receive numerous emails about the OT's, Q's and Weedex wagons.

I'll be hovering around Corio Expo this weekend on Sunday afternoon feel free to stop me and introduce ya self, say hello and ask any questions.

12 January 2012

HO, N, and O - step into the model train world

Link to ABC Radio interview and acticle with Warrnambool Model Railway Club

NEW HD 150 to 218 to be release this weekend!

 As we all know the HD class was one of the biggest and fascinating group of vechicles on the Victorian Railways. For this reason we have decided to do another HD type. This type has close to 70 wagons built to it from hand-me-down I/IA wagons during the late 50's to early 60's. They covered the surplus stock with raised metal side and a roof and two full height doors each side. A large number of these were used specifically used for construction and were stenciled 'NES' (North East Standardisation). This new item will be a three part Kit. Main body and roof as one peice and the doors for the sides make up the other two peices with a cost of $20 each. Limited numbers will be available of the weekend but will be happy to orders and post them out or you can purchase them from our online store. No decals will be supplied with this wagon but if you contact Bill's Billboards who specialise in custom decals, I'm sure Sean and Bill will be able to help you out .

We're back and accepting orders

Our first appearence in the new year will be at the Warrnambool Model Railway Exhibition on the 14 and 15 of January 2012 (This weekend) we're we will be releasing a new Departmental Van. This Van is HD 150 to 218 There will be limited stock at the expo so first in first served but we will cast more up saturday night for those coming on Sunday.