20 May 2011 - 'WA Weedex Tank'

Work has commenced on the master for the 'WA/WX Weedex Tank'

Background Information:
Between 1955 and 1959, twenty five tank wagons were place in service. Nine of these wagons were bogie tanks with E underframes. The remainders had a cylindrical tank mounted on a fixed wheel underframe. The WX tanks were numbered 1 to 15. They were used in a weed spray train with a weed spray van HZ/WZ. In 1963, the WX class was re-lettered to WA. This was because the code conflicted with the introduction of letter 'X' indicating bogie exchange and so the class was re-lettered to WA.

Numbers 10 - 19 were scrapped prior to the WA re-classification leaving numbers 1 to 9 and 20 to 25. The fleet of tanks in active service was reduced to WA 1 to 9 and the remaining were scrapped or stored. Four (1, 3, 7 and 9) of the WA's in the group 1 to 9 were fitted with replacement underframes in the the late 1970's. This work was done at the Bendigo Workshops with an ELX design underframe being used.

In 1988 the WA tank wagons, number 1 to5, 7 and 9 were re-lettered to VZVA.

For more information and picture's head over to Peter J Vincent's website.

Have you seen our new website?

Go to http://www.vrcasts.com/ and check it out?

The website has a whole new look and layout (keeping in mind it is still a work in progress). There is an updated online store with all the new specials currently available. In the description of each product in the store it will tell you if you need any other additional items to complete the model. With the new changes came some sacrifices this includes the loss of the members side and page. We have transferred all members to our VIP emailing list. An email will be sent out to all those people.

Work has been progressing on the Pintsch Gas Q26 and 30 nicely left is a picture of the master for the tank. This product at this stage will be a four piece kit. The parts include tank, body of the cabin, roof on the cabin and the underframe. We are currently sourcing decals as well.

The follow is some back ground information on the wagons:

In 1878 two Q bogie flat wagons number 26 and 30 were built by Tozer in Melbourne. By 1903 Q 30 was modified at the Newport Workshops where it gained a Pintsch Gas tank with an engine as too did Q 26 in April 1910. These two wagons had the remains of very old passenger carriages installed over the engines and the front of the tanks to protect them from the weather. In the early 1970's both wagon came off register and are currently been preserved in non-operational condition by the ARHS at Newport. In 1982 they had their number swapped so Q 26 became Q30 (2nd) and Q 30 became Q 26 (2nd). The Pintsch Gas was used for the lighting of passenger cars and country stations.

Special Offers Now available

We currently have 3 Special Offers running at the moment these included:

Special Offer 1 - Bulk Flat Wagon Buy
4x VC 09 I/IK/K for $35 - save $5

Special Offer 4 - Bulk Open Wagon Buy
2x VC 06a I/IB (wooden)
2x VC 06b I/IG/IX (falling doors)
All 4 for $40 - save $4

Special Offer 3 - Combo Pack
1x VC 05a HD 27
1x VC 05b HD 33
1x VC 06a I/IB
1x VC 09 I/IK/K
All 4 for $40 - save $5

To receive these special offers head over to our online store: http://www.vrcasts.com/

NEW IK Flat Wagon

To Be Release MAY 2011

IK Flat Wagon - Type 1

These wagons were believe to be modified 10 ton I wagons with at least 88 in the class. There numbers were various between 112 and 6989. With the sides, doors and ends removed from the wagon they retained their I wagon number and coded IK.

They were initially used to assist with line construction. Then later on, tanks were mounted to the floor for water transport. Soon after these wagons were modified for weed spraying use along with other various uses.

From 1920 it was intended that the wagon were to be rebuilt back into standard I/IB wagons but this didn't seem to eventuate. By 1930 most of the wagons were recoded into the K Flat wagon group whilst others were scrapped.

The following are some sample pictures

Kit will be produced as one piece with the body and underframe joined. All that is needed to complete this model is a 10' 6" SEM underframe kit minus the floor and handbrake kit some couplers and decals.

Kit will cost $10 ea or 4 for $35 plus postage

Please email us with your expression of interest and/or question or comment

vrcasts@gmail.com

Cheers Dave and Rach

Feb 2011 - Delays in Orders and New Decals

Quick Update

February has also been a full on month for us so far and having said that we have a few updates and some news to share.

First things first..

We are currently out of resin (the material we use to manufacture our products) resulting in any orders taken/ made from Saturday 19th Feb 2011 to Friday 25th Feb 2011 will be unable to be processed til Saturday 26th Feb 2011. We have ordered more resin today and the expected to be here in 3 business days.

Second thing..

For those who are interested we will have some new decals available soon.

• 13mm sq BP Decals - $2.00 a pair
• OT 77 (low dome) with apair of BP decals - $3.50
• OT 78, 79, 80 (high dome) with a pair of BP decals - $3.50

These will be available from Monday 21st Feb 2011 unless they hit the online store before hand. HD decals for no. 27 and 33 are still available for $2.00 and the F Horse Box Decals also, these to will be added to the online store.

Cheers Rach and Dave

VC 03 Guard Van/ Horse Box Kit (DFdf) is currently SOLD OUT

Quick Update Well January has been an busy month for us, having said that We have sold our last DFdf in stock moments ago, the VR Casts: VC 03 - Guard Van/ Horse Box Kit (DFDF) is now currently SOLD OUT! BUT good news... A re-run should happen by MAY 2011, if decals arrive in time and the new mould is completed. The new mould will have the roof seperate to the body and the kit will include basic instructions and decals included this time. For those lucky ones that already have a DFdf decals will also be available seperatly for purchase. Estimated cost for kit $28 and decals $3.00. Still in Stock include the following: VC 02 b* - Horse Box Kit (FF/ F) current price $20 VC 05 a* - Departmental Van (HD 27) current price $10 VC 05 b* - Departmental Van (HD 33) current price $10 VC 06 a - Open Wagon (I/ IB) current price $10 VC 06 b - Open Wagon (I/ IG/ IX) current price $12 * indicates kits that are now supplied with decals. Extra decals for the HD's can be purchased for $2.00. Please note additional parts will be needed to complete these wagons such as brass detail part, couplers and underframes. Cheers Rach and Dave

Hello and Welcome

Hello and Welcome to

VR Casts Blog Page

For those who haven't heard of us yet we specialise in manufacturing Victorian Railways HO scale kits and accessories from Late 1880's to 1960's. We aim to bring you 'the best of the rest', wagons that are yet to be produced by other model railway manufactures and that would otherwise need to be scratch built or kit bashed.

We started back in May 2010, since then we have released the following items:

• Victorian Railways HD 27* built 1955
• Victorian Railways HD 33* built 1956
• Victorian Railways I/IB Wooden built from 1888 to 1903
• Victorian Railways I/IG/IX 'Falling/drop Doors' built 1904
• Victorian Railways FF 53 to 64/ F 25 to 36* built 1905

By May 2011 we should have released the following additional items:

• Victorian Railways C 4 to 9/ J 1 to 6 built 1902/03
• Victorian Railways F 11* built 1893
• Victorian Railways DFDF 1 built 1901
• Victorian Railways HZ 1/ WZ 1 built 1954
• Victorian Railways OT 77* low dome built 1927
• Victorian Railways OT 78 to 80* high dome built 1927

* indicates the products that are currently supplied with decals

All VR Casts products are casts from orgainals made and owned by David himself. All the above wagons are made from or will be made from polyurethane resin casts. Extra parts are needed to complete theses products such as brass detailing parts, underframes, bogies or couplers.

As we are part time business these products are only currently available direct from us via phone order, email order, via our website, at exhibition trade stands or special visits to clubs.

The forms of payment we except are the following:

• Cheque - made out to David Shalders
• Money Order
• Paypal
• Bank Deposit
• Cash - only at expo stands and club visits

We are happy to accept any of above that is most easiest for you.

For more information contact David and Rachel
vrcasts@gmail.com or ph: 03 5565 7832 or 0422164747 ah
or PO Box 99 Koroit 3282

Rachel and David Shalders
VR Casts