Bought and reviewed by Martin Wicks

These days model making is more of a challenge for me, so I look for ways to get things done more efficiently, hopefully without compromising on detail or quality. This allows me time to focus on other specific activities and tasks.

I wanted pipe loads for a pair of Parkside Dundas LNER/BR 12T Pipe Wagons (PS17). I’d purchased some basic wagon loads and packing crates all nicely moulded in resin (and mostly painted, with some items left for me to paint as a therapeutic endeavour) from Stoopot321(eBay). I noted that Stuart (Stu) there made very nice pipe loads for the shorter, Hornby tinplate, wagons. So I reached out to him and asked if he could supply a revised version for the PSD/Parkside Pipe Wagon (PS17). After a few basic details and an exchange of messages Stu got to work. He sent me an initial sample and I critiqued it and asked him to tweak some of the dimensions for a better fit.

Along with an order for some additional wagon load items, I ordered the revised pipe load (Stu had also tweaked the end-on details with better separation of the pipes). As can be seen from the photos, it comes very nicely moulded in a terracotta hue with some false shading. I’d asked Stu to make the load platform a tad smaller than the load bed of the Parkside Pipe Wagon (so as to allow some room for manoeuvre etc, in case of tolerance differences in the kit and build methods). All arrived safe and sound in a timely manner, well packaged.

After a very light clean up with an emery board (and being washed in warm soapy water), I was ready to add trompe-l’œil paint effects to the pipe load. The castings are very good, artisan made, perhaps not up to the standards of, for example, a JLTRT/MM1 stereolithographically-printed 3DP loco body; but then they don’t need to be (that’s not a criticism on my part, they’re a very nice representation of a pipe load).

I decided to add a couple of end battens to the load bed for a slightly more snug fit and some green felt baize was added to the base (as part of an operational ruse, my pipe load is removable). The pipe load can be used as is; however I elected to add some dry brushing to the pipes using Railmatch Acrylic “Light Brick” (2423), a wonderful paint, I added some false shading to the open pipe ends and augmented the false shading elsewhere using Turner’s “Lamp Black” acrylic Gouache. I painted the wooden retaining battens using Vellajo acrylic Buff (70.976) another wonderful little product and the base I painted using Lifecolor (sic) “Wood Warm Dark Shade” (UA713) which was dry brushed with a white filter (to represent a removable base/pallet made from a Keruing-type hardwood; one could also paint such to represent the wagon loadbed, however I thought my approach was more plausible).

Now I have, what to my mind, is a prototypical pipe load, well moulded, for the reasonable sum of £9.00. It also adds much needed weight to the wagon itself.

I’m still looking for photographic evidence of the use of additional packing material, for pipe loads secured in wooden palletised frameworks. If they are required, I’ll add using either plumbers’ hemp or cut up coir matting at a later date (no such evidence has cropped up to date - and the load looks right and very realistic as is). I’m really pleased with the results and I thoroughly recommend this product.