Manvers Main Wagon

Some time ago I mentioned the sad fact that the extremely useful Manvers Main wagon had vanished from the Slater's range.

I am glad to note that Manvers Main transfers and/or pre-lettered kits and RTR kits are now available from Powsides. This is excellent news. The reference is ID0956.

There are of course many other wagons that are suitable for the GCR (or parts of it) available from Powsides. Although for the present the South Yorkshire coalfield is lamentably under-represented, while there are hosts of wagons for obscure railways serving the south and west of England. This probably reflects customer demand, as it certainly doesn't reflect the proportions of prototype wagons.

If you are modelling pre-group, avoid anything intended for 1923 standard wagons. This ought to be obvious, but observation at exhibitions suggests it isn't. If you look at the Powsides online catalogue, the pictures of the various transferred can be 'zoomed'. This does not always, unfortunately, enable the subsidiary lettering to be read. Again (obviously) for pre 1923 any reference to LMS or LNER (or indeed SR) should be avoided. If in doubt, ask Powsides. The converse is not necessarily true, as pre-group designations on wagons remained, in some cases, until BR days!

As ever, I recommend the excellent books by Keith Turton and Bill Hudson on this subject. One thing is certain - if you are modelling the GC at any time up until the 1960s you will need some PO wagons, and if you are modelling pre 1939 you will need (relatively) a lot. After 1939, they did get grubbier, and some were eventually repainted plain grey. Again, do check the published works for details.

HMRS Wagon Bodies

HMRS wagon bodies are now available for the Harrison and Camm 7 plank open to the 1887 RCH specification. As are builders plates for individual years.

Wagons of this type were used by many owners served by the Great Central, Sherwood (Mansfield) and Elsecar (Earl Fitzwilliam's Colliery) being but two of the more obvious. I have no doubt at at all that a little research through Mr.Turton's books or inspection of the MS&L/GC PO Registers at NRM York will reveal many more.

Suitable components to finish the wagons are available from: ABS, Ambis, Exactoscale, Hobby Holidays, Slater’s and other makers.  Depending on how fussy you are, these extras could well add up to more than the cost of the resin body. The Hobby Holidays detailing parts are particularly complete - and complex.

Manvers Main PO Wagons

I have asked Slaters about the current unavailability of these kits. It appears they will come back, but in a slightly revised format, although we might have to wait a little while.

Unless you're absolutely desperate it's probably worth hanging on instead of trying to find second-hand examples.

A right useful new product from MMP

MMP (who generally focus on diesels and other modern stuff) have introduced internal detailing kits for the various Slater's PO wagon kits. They are also going to produce brake gear in due course. Apart from being useful for detailing the legions of PO wagons that GC modellers need, readers of this blog will be aware that the Slater's kits can also be used to make GC hired coal wagons.

Being etched brass these kits should also add a bit of useful extra weight!

(Edit - although they are made of etched brass, the amount of weight added is marginal as the etches are (correctly) extremely thin. This should have been obvious to me, but wasn't.)

Slater's Printed PO Wagons

I notice from the Slater's Site that several of the pre-printed PO wagons are 'currently unavailable' including the iconic Manvers Main.

Aaagh! Could it be back to hand lettering PO wagons? Ah well at least the Round Green wagon is still available and it's ideal for the GCR up to around World War I. Better buy some while they're to be had...


POSTSCRIPT (October 2015) You can now get Manvers Main from Powsides. The bad news is you can no longer get Round Green from Slaters!