Westrail WQL flat wagon 

Adding to my collection of S scale flat wagons is this model of a WQL flat wagon.

Westrail had a fleet of 62 WQN class wagons capable of carrying 2 x 20’ containers, the builder Goninan also proposed a lengthened version to fit 3 x 20’ boxes.

This S scale model is based on that proposal and the WQL designation is made up.

Construction is mostly from styrene strip and shapes with American Models Barber roller bearing bogies and MTH wheels. The couplers are Kadee HO #118’s with the glad hand removed and set at the correct height for S scale. Archer 3D decals were used for the weld lines and floor plate patterns.  The combined air reservoir and valve were 3D printed while the air hoses, brake wheel and gearbox came from DPH. The brake pipe unions are from Precision Scale Company.

The model was finished with Vallejo Chrome Yellow and decals printed at home, apart from the Westrail logos which were kindly printed for me by John Miller.

AQNY (formerly WQN) flats with the WQL

Westrail WQN with Sulfur Containers

Following on from my post back in March 2016 regarding the WQN flat wagon, have almost completed the first pair of sulfur containers, they are now just waiting on tarpaulins.

They were 3D printed from a CAD model I created based on photos of the prototype and knowing the.length and width of a standard 20’ container.

As shown in the last photo, free standing details were added using styrene strip and brass wire, before painting, decaling and weathering.

Westrail/ARG WQN/AQNY

Westrail introduced the 61 strong class WQN standard gauge flat wagons in 1998 and they were manufactured by United Goninan at Bassendean.
Each wagon carries 2 - 6.1m containers for use on the Sulphur train between Kwinana and Malcolm siding.

Loaded AQNY 32208Y at Kwinana.

Empty AQNY 32209A at Kwinana.

The model is depicted post 2012 after reclassification to class AQNY under ARG ownership. 

It is primally constructed of sheet styrene; 0.5mm for the side webs which then narrow down to form the centre sill over the bogies. The top & bottom flanges are 0.4mm & 0.25mm thick styrene respectively. Sections of sheet brass were added in the end platforms for strength and after the styrene angle braces were added the body felt much stronger.

American models roller bearing bogies, NWSL wheels and Kadee HO No. 118 couplers were used.  The air brake reservoir was 3D Printed by i.Materialise and the brake piping was added with 0.04 & 0.05 phosphor bronze wire from Tichy. The brake wheel & gearbox were from Detail Associates (now discontinued) and attached to a stand made from styrene angle.

A construction photo

primer coat - in the spray booth 

Prior to weathering

second attempt at weathering the deck - this time with rust coloured pigments

The model was airbrushed using Vallejo Desert Sand acrylic primer as a base and Polly Scale Railbox yellow, followed by a light coat of Polly Scale CN Yellow No. 12 on the sides, all thinned with their respective thinners. The CN Yellow is quite a good match for the Golden Yellow used by WAGR and later Westrail. As the Polly Scale line of paints have now been discontinued the CN Yellow was rationed and the final weathering will cover most of the Railbox Yellow colour.

I created by own artwork for the decals and had them printed through Westland Models, using  Microscale Decal Set to settle them down to the paint. Details were pickd out with Lifecolor paint, using black, white orange & rust dark shadow.

Finally a coat of Model Master clear flat was applied to seal & protect the decals and hide the decal 

film, weathering was done with a selection of Lifecolor acrylic brown paint and pigment powders.

Next project are the containers...

GS