After converting the Hornby 0-4-0 loco, you will need some wagons to go behind it.~Now Sidelines make some very nice short wheelbase industrial type wagons but with a little time and by raiding the “spares” box (which every modeller should have), you can make your own basic flat wagon with a variety of tops for little or no cost.

As the underframe comes from an OO wagon, the wheelbase works out at about 3′ 6″ or so in Gn15 and may not be suitable for very sharp radius curves as found on industrial lines. For these, the Sideline wagons are ideal. I see this wagon as running on an “Estate” type layout, where the curves are easier.

In my spares box I had a part-sheet of 2mm Plasticard and an old OO Mainline wagon chassis with broken brake gear. I cut the buffers and brake gear off the chassis and filed the ends flat.

Then I cut the plasticard to fit around the wagon chassis by using two pieces 72mm x 9mm, two pieces 39mm x 9mm and one piece 76mm x 39mm and fitted them together with plastic glue (Illustration 1). The reason 9mm was chosen is that the plastic frame rests on the OO wagon’s axle guards and improves the appearance of the finished wagon. The OO chassis then fitted neatly inside the framework. I added dressmakers’ pins as bolt heads at both ends and two Sidelines rubbing plates and the basic wagon was complete (Illustration 2).

This conversion now lends itself to a variety of “tops”. As it stands, it can be used as it is or as a bolster wagon by adding a length of wood about 5mm square with brass rods as stanchions and a large track pin or dressmaker’s pin as a centre pivot bolt. (Illustration 3).

A high sided wagon with sides 10mm or 10mm x 2 high can also be made.

Ironwork on the ends is L angle Plastruct with dressmakers’ pins again as boltheads (Illustration 4).

It can also have a basic coach body (Illustration 5) or a brake van (Illustration 6). In both these cases, use Plastruct or brass square section for the uprights and the usual 2mm plasticard for the sides with the planking scored on. Grab rails are brass rod (diameter to suit) and the roof ends cut from 2mm plasticard. You can use a saucer to get a suitable arc but a peaked roof would also be OK. The roof itself can made from thin plasticard, fixed with plastic glue. The brake column can be made from a piece of plastic or brass tube or even the outer part of a Biro while the brake handwheel could be made from an old model car steering wheel or large press stud fastener.

I have only given the above as examples but I’m sure you can think of more. A Tank wagon perhaps or even a van body? To get the wood grain effect on the sides, use a piece of coarse sandpaper and rub over the plasticard once along the length with even pressure. I found the best results by trial and error. \r\nGiven the basic measurements of the frame, other makes of HO/OO wagons may be used. A word of caution though, this conversion works well because the materials were to hand, but if you need to cut up good OO wagons it may not be cost effective! Find cheap secondhand wagons that can be butchered without worrying about the cost, raid the wife’s dressmaking box for the pins and you’re in business.