Wrightscale Péchot 5-tonne bogie kit

We have been spending a bit of time making up a kit. It was rather larger than a Wrightscale kit; it was a flat-pack garden shed. The experience was an interesting exercise in empathy. 'Why empathy?' you ask. Read on.

16mm scale Péchot system flat wagon, made by Malcolm Wright. The author has just been making up a full size kit for a garden shed.  It was a interesting experience, being a customer rather than a manufacturer.

We started the process of building a garden shed by carefully comparing products. We made our choice, paid and awaited delivery. The components arrived in a huge box which was dumped in front of our gate.This spurred us on to preparing the site. Firstly, it had to be levelled. The soil was replaced with a layer of ballast and then sand. The process ended with a final levelling. Paving slabs to form the under-floor had to be sourced. Suppliers of new slabs offer a choice. Either paving is bought in bulk and I mean bulk, or it must be collected. As we are a few miles from the nearest supplier, we scoured the online market-place for a local vendor offering twelve or so slabs. The only one we found had conditions: a/ buyer collects at a convenient time b/ buyer dismantles the path where they had originally been laid. Last Monday, we grubbed up seventeen concrete slabs with plenty of patina and loaded them into an old van. By the time we were home, the van was older still. Having seventeen half-metre square slabs loaded over the front off-side had damaged a spring. After another day of work, we had laid the best-looking twelve slabs to form a shed base and were ready to begin.

As Malcolm says with his Péchot 5-tonne bogie kit: it pays to study the instructions and identify parts and orientations carefully. The instructions for the flat-pack shed were buried under a mound of parts which we laid our carefully on timber baulks in piles of grey and white, plastic and metal. The instructions turned up eventually and were carefully studied.  Each part was indeed named though usually in white on white or grey on grey. Never be without your specs, especially if you are a senior citizen!

As it turned out, the plastic was colour-coded. Walls were corrugated plastic in grey, edges were white, floor and roof black. There were all-important distinctions between 25mm, 12mm and 6mm screws. More than once during the build, we had to removeone kind from a joint and substitute another.

Before beginning, study instructions carefully, whether building a 16mm scale Péchot 5 tonne bogie or a full-size garden shed. Drawing copyright MD Wright

The floor went down in satisfactory fashion. Putting up the walls was more difficult because a box with only two walls tends to flap around.

Assembling the Péchot bogie presents a similar problem. Identifying long sides A1 and A2 and ends B1 and B2 is the easy part. The instruction: ‘on a flat surface assemble the sides to the end frames up-side-down’ is easier to write than to achieve.

Sides and ends must be assembled on a flat surface, whether a model Wrightscale Péchot system bogie or a full-size plastci garden shed. Model Péchot bogie pictured here

To successfully build a Péchot bogie, it is important to understand a bit of its history. When Prosper Péchot was designing it, he had various issues in mind. The bogie had to benefit form compensated springing so that it could take uneven, hastily laid track evenly. If one wheel was forced up, the platform stayed level and the drag on the drawbar stayed consistent. At the same time, he did not want to over-engineer his bogie. Thus at one end, the springing was a marvel of leaf, coil and shock absorbing coupling. The other was simpler and therefore lighter. He called the buffer at that end the tampon sec (dry). The crafter has to be aware of this history when making up the kit.

With both the small-scale and large scale activities, it is important to take regular breaks. It can be beneficial so that your brain can have a rest, settle and come back to issues with a new perspective; with both the large and the small creations. As Sarah Corbett says, clinicians and neuroscientists show that doing craft-work with the hands can help us cope with feelings of being overwhelmed, disempowered, angry or depressed. (How to be a Craftivist p 61)   

Meanwhile, we were getting on with the garden shed. As we built up the sides of the rectangle, we were watched with interest by a passer-by. ‘Well’ she asked, ‘have you divorced yet?’  We admitted that this had already almost happened. Early in our marriage we tried fairly unsuccessfully to assemble a flat-pack wardrobe. In fury, Malcolm had attempted to hurl it at the wall. As it was heavy, it simply rebounded on him and bruised his foot. The subject of his sore toe caused much mirth for several weeks. ‘A tender subject’ said one wit.

This could be described as how not to do craftwork.

Attaching a top to a scale model of a bogie is easier than dropping a roof on to a full-size shed. Drawing by kind permission of KETER

More difficult yet was the shed roof. We laid out a sheet of corrugated plastic - it seemed light enough. By the time it had edgings and a large roof-ridge, it was clearly heavy and had to be held at an angle (see drawing). How on earth were we going to lift it into place? Our choice of a shed that was over two metres in height began to look less sensible.

Top plate of a Wrightscale Péchot 5-tonne bogie kit, before cleaning-up

The bogie kit has its own problems. Before the bogie top-plate can be fitted, the brake pot must be fitted and all checked before the top-plate can be lowered on to the frames.. This is fine, but means that the sides and ends do not lie flat.

In the end, the shed wasn’t such a problem. We didn’t have to drop the roof over the walls. It was possible to stand at the back and slide it upwards, over, then down into place.

For the Péchot bogie kit, instructions merely say: ‘Fit the top (L) to the side and end assembly.’ A thoughtful craftivist will probably use a small box or jig to support the sides as the top goes on.

The shed doors were a challenge. They didn’t hang correctly. With wood and metal, there is some scope for adjustment. With plastic there is none. To bend the door into shape, we made judicious use of a crow-bar. The bolt shot home. We had a secure shed.

 With the Péchot bogie kit, adjustment must be made from time to time. For example, once the axle hangers (to take the wheels) are fitted, the brake parts must go in. ‘Bend the shoes gently away from the wheel flanges if this is found necessary:’ is the Wrightscale instruction.

The last instructions in the bogie kit are about colour. This was not an issue with the shed kit as it is made from low maintenance plastic. This was a selling point; restoring and painting woodwork is not a favourite pastime for the Wrights.

Door of the completed shed will not require painting. A KETER product

For the railway enthusiast with a model layout in mind, choosing a livery is part of the fun. Research around the subject is a vital part of the project, whether it is reading, asking around, exploring or joining in a discussion. As Sarah Corbett says: ‘Turn the information into a sort of wisdom soup.’ With knowledge and understanding come wisdom.

If the bogie is to run on a model of a military railway pre First World War, then French Horizon Blue would be the colour. One or two very rare tinted postcards show such railways. Our thanks are due to Raymond Duton for letting us show this one.  Colours developed over the long history (1888 to present) of the Péchot system. During the war years, a bloom of rust covered many bogies in the field. Nowadays, on preserved railways, almost any livery might be possible.

A rare hand tinted postcard of the early 20th century shows a Péchot bogie used on military exercises. Copyright courtesy Raymond Duton 

‘What about empathy?’ you ask. At the beginning of this blog, I promised that by making up a kit, you could increase your EQ.

We learned something by making up a shed kit; we were able to experience what you, our valued customers, undergo when making up a Wrightscale kit. It is humbling and potentially ennobling. It is what empathy is all about. Yes, tempers have been lost during construction projects but at least we can laugh about it now.

For all of us, during the time when the hands are constructively occupied, the mind can be in a comforting and safe space. Contemplation and reflection are possible. It is no coincidence that our increasing engagement with social media – fiddling with a smartphone is the very opposite of creating a real-world object - has been accompanied by a decline in empathy. The average Internet Troll, though quite able to laugh at the misfortunes of others, is unable to laugh at himself/herself.

You don’t need to take my word for it. Many experts agree. A Silicon Valley wizard who has created many profitable games and social media start-ups explained the process. ‘Nastiness, outrage and extreme views  are the most effective way to increase engagement – Valley-speak for time spent’ (on social media). ‘It’s quicker to alienate somebody than it is to build love and trust’ thus ‘advertisers advertisers chase after negative streams without intending to.’ Jaron Lanier

16mm layout by Henry Holdsworth shows the colours of the First World War. Wagons of the British War Department railways are clearly inspired by the Péchot system. Photo Jim Hawkesworth

In short, put down your smart-phone and get going on that truly creative project that is sitting in the corner. You won’t regret it.

Field Railways on the Western Front May 1918

One hundred years ago, the Germans had a chance of turning the Allied flank and forcing an armistice in France. They would then have achieved victory in the west as well as the east. April 6^th proved to be a watershed, and gradually the tide began to turn.

By March 31^st, the Germans had advanced 52 kilometres across the well-defended territory of the Somme. There was a pause and then on April 4^th, they continued their advance. They reached Villers-Bretonneux, 16 km from Amiens. Around there and Hangard, also within reach of Amiens, there was fierce fighting, but they could not quite make it to Amiens and cut the Allied communications in Northern France.

Behind the Western Front ran locomotives such as this Baldwin 4-6-0T (British WD) and behind it a French 0-6-0. These preserved examples were pictured at Apedale, Staffs.

The ‘break-through’ doctrine had not worked. When the Allies were forced out of one position, they reformed further back. Worse still, fresh troops appeared to counter-attack, threatening the flanks of the German advance. The troops who were thrown back were British, fresh troops were French. The British 5^th Army was in retreat. The French should be given credit for bringing in reinforcements. Pétain, quick to grasp the situation, had sent in the First and Third French Armies.

By this stage in the War, there were thousands of kilometres of 60cm trench railways serving the French, British and Germans.  These railways were vital for communication. During the retreat, as many wagons and locomotives as possible were salvaged; track was lifted. Within days, they could be put back into business.

In practice this did not work for the British 5^th Army. Apart from an escape line running to the French sector, the network was unfinished. There were almost no tracks leading to safety. Locomotives in their hundreds and wagons in their thousands were destroyed to stop them falling into German hands. As both railways systems ran on 60cm gauge, the material would have been useful to the enemy.

In patched up and poor condition, this German Brigadewagen was pictured in the 1960s. Like the British and French examples above, it is 60cm gauge. Though not robust enough to stand the rough handling, it was a fine piece of design. The generous front platform made for safe(ish) operation. The bogie is placed far forward. The couplings were very well sprung. Photo courtesy of Eric Fresné

 

 

As it was, the Allied trench railways were quickly realigned. As early as 27^th March 1918, 2404 reinforcements were brought thirty miles by light railway. By April 9^th, a new Front had been constructed to stop the enemy advance. The Germans contented themselves with a heavy bombardment of Amiens and on April 9^th they started a new attack fifty miles further north.

Yet the Germans loosed fresh waves of assaults on the Western Front. Up until April 1918, they had outmatched the Allies in many ways. Their material on the whole was superior and their generals on the whole showed more common sense. After April 6^th, a watershed was past. Further offensives were quite literally a bloody waste of time.

The magnificent French 155mm gun dwarfs its operators. It suffered from certain disadvantages. Photo from Illustration Magazine coourtesy MD Wright

Our memories of World War 1 are clouded with hindsight. The Allies won, so their generalship and equipment must have been better. Right? Well, er, not always.

The very smallest calibre of Minenwerfer could be transported by four Pioniere. Photo from Illustration Magazine courtesy of MD Wright

In May and June 1918, the Allies captured increasing amounts  of German equipment. This was gleefully portrayed in the French, British and US media.

French light tank 1918. THere was no slogging through the mud for these soldiers. Photo from Illustration magazine courtesy MD Wright

The official message was ‘Look how small and primitive compared with ours!’ The French newspapers contrasted their char d’assaut/light tank with German machine-guns and the minenwerfer. These were depicted being hauled by soldiers while the tank, petrol- powered, ambles along a French country lane. French artillery are shown, the 75mm and the 155mmm guns, magnificent beasts which dwarf their operators.

The lesson which should be learned is perhaps different. Bad things can come in small packages.

The German Minenwerfer/howitzer may look like a humble machine. It could be transported without effort by the gunners. The French and British soldiers who had experience of its fire-power had learned a grudging respect. General Alan Beith, writing as Ian Hay, described her with whimsical military humour as ‘Minnie’, and the trench from which she was operated as ‘Unter den Linden’. Yet the military humour could not disguise the fear. Of all the sounds in the trenches, hers was the most dreaded.

Small calibre Minenwerferready to be fired. It was not designed for long range but it was effective. Photo from Illustration magazine Courtesy MD Wright

The Minenwerfer had a short range and was operated, not by the Artillery but by Pioniere working in the German trenches, taking advantage of local knowledge. Worse was the fact that it was fired upwards in a trajectory that brought the shell down on to the heads of the enemy sheltering in their trenches. Worst of all was the explosive charge. The 105mm version delivered 1kg of explosive, the 150 6kg. These were in common use. The one pictured here is smaller, but the same applies. There were others with even more punch.

John Buchan also had experience of the Front and described waiting for a powerful bombardment.

‘A man’s thoughts at a time like that seem to be double powered and the memory seems sharp and clear. I don’t know what was in the others’ minds, but I knew what was in my own. I watched every detail of the landscape as little by little it appeared in  the  revealing daybreak’

Then came the first shot.

‘The earth seemed to split beside me and I was pitched forward.’

This was just range-finding.

‘The charge must have been short. The next was better and crashed on the parapet, carving a great hole. This time my arm hung limp, but I felt no pain’ (Greenmantle, first published 1916)

The French 75mm in contrast was a huge gun. It was developed for long and accurate range. The angle of fire was restricted, making it all but impossible to drop explosives into enemy trenches. In spite of its impressive size, the actual weight of explosive delivered was two thirds of a kilogram, less than the standard Minenwerfer. The long barrel, so useful for accurate firing over a range of a couple of kilometres, tended to get hot, so the rate of fire had to be restricted.

The 75mm French gun was developed in response to the defeat of 1870-1. Photo from Illustration magazine courtesy of MD Wright

The same comments apply to the 155mm gun, except that it was even bigger.

Because of their great size, and the unwieldy gun barrels, they were difficult to move into position on a battlefield. This was why Prosper Péchot invented elaborate gun conveyances for his ground-breaking portable railway system. The largest of his beautifully engineered bogies could take weights of up to twelve tonnes and could be combined to carry a gun barrel up to 48 tonnes in weight. If each axle could support 3.5 tonnes, then a four-wheel bogie could safely carry five tonnes, a six-wheeler could be rated at nine tonnes and eight wheels at twelve tonnes.  Ten tonnes could be carried by two five tonne bogies, and ingeniously engineered combinations could be employed for progressively greater weights.

His system was a marvel. It was adopted by the French Army in 1888, was copied by the Prussians soon after. The rest of the German States copied the Prussians. I describe the process in ‘Colonel Péchot: Tracks To The Trenches’

The Germans imitated the 60cm gauge, engine design and the ten tonne bogie wagons. They did not   imitate the massive bogies designed to carry guns. They did not need to. Their artillery staples could be manoeuvred in the field by a few men.

Plenty of Péchot designed bogie wagons survive to this day. Thousands of examples of the German Brigadewagen were built. Most succumbed to wear and tear.  So few have survived that it has been hard for me to source a photo (see above).

One hundred years old Péchot wagon, fairly complete except for one brake wheel. Photo S. Wright

Yet the two contrasting designs show that the German bogie wagon was not worse than the French one. It did what was required. If it turned out to suffer from built-in obsolescence, that was not all bad. The needs of the military keep changing.

In the same way, the German howitzer proved that, for the War that was being fought, small was, if not exactly beautiful, beautifully effective. 

Impressions of the Garden Railway AGM

Thank you everyone who came and talked to us at the 16mm AGM. It’s always nice to put faces to names and to catch up with news from friends. Speaking personally, I didn’t get as much time as I’d have liked to walk round and chat, but here are a few impressions I gained at the Show.

Quarry Hunslet Velinheli 16mm model by Wrightscale. It is good to see this well-loved prototype featuring in a series of books aimed at the coming generation. Photo by MD Wright

Our stand was next to Saddletank books. Their aim, through story and illustration, is to make Quarry Hunslets accessible to the younger generation. As well as half a dozen books, they are moving into the toy market so parents and grandparents take note!

A 16mm Wrightscale Baldwin Gas Mechanical appears with a Wrightscale Pechot system flatwagon. These worked French military railways. Part of a War Department (British wagon can juts be seen to the left. Photo J. Hawkesworth

Newcomers to the Show were the 16mmMilitaryngm who can be found on Facebook- groups. They specialise in WD and other 60cm military prototypes. The models run under war conditions. We admire this departure. As you know, Wrightscale models are based on military prototypes but we ourselves and most of our customers run them on layouts based on post-war scenes. Our own garden railway evokes a rural line which benefited from war-surplus sales of locomotives and rolling stock.

If you want the trench experience, join them at the 16mm Military Day on 2^nd June 2018 at Woodseaves Miniature Railway, Sydnall Lane, near Marke Drayton TF9 2AS – prototypical running preferred!

PDF models are producing WD wagons from 3D printing, and also some locomotives. They should give Wrightscale a run for its money.

Wrightscale Pechot system 16mm rail-mounted crane for moving shells. Unlike a 3D printed kit, this is made from a number of different materials. Photo MD Wright

For the 100% scale experience don’t miss ‘Tracks To The Trenches – 2018’ at the Apedale Light Railway ST5 7LB (Loomer Road on your satnav).

And then there was the model spot – models of the year. This is quite a large section now, handily placed between the entrance and a café. It is very encouraging to see how Model Of The Year has expanded over the years. As this is an Annual General Meeting, it is very appropriate that the public are given a chance to vote. I also like the way that new categories are being added all the time. For example, once our Association covered 45mm gauge as well as 32mm, locomotives and rolling stock in the broader gauge could be entered.

A new category has allowed professional model-makers to compete among themselves. This is a good idea. When I was at school, having my essays criticised, I always wondered what sort of essays teachers themselves could turn out. Well, it is fun for the students, in this case the average enthusiast, to be able to mark the teachers, in this case the model-making professionals.

Malcolm made a model of a carriage which had always fascinated him. In the early 20^th century the Maharajah of Gwalior developed an extensive 2’ gauge network in his State, and even had a silver railway modelled by Asprey to carry condiments about his dining table.

16mm Model by MD Wright A fish-eye view of the Maharajah's coach which ran on the Gwalior Light Railway. The awning is just one of the passive climate control that it featured.

Malcolm’s entry in the All-comers’ category was a model of the Maharajah’s private state carriage featuring adaptations for the hot climate, and for local customs. The servants could enter from one end, he and his family had their private quarters at the other. Staff and maharajah met in the central dining area; custom and privacy could be duly observed but with all comfort. The carriage itself was adapted to screen out the heat. The roof had a double shell, the windows fixed blinds to keep out the sun but not the breeze. Windows were carefully arranged to allow cool air in one side, disperse hot air through the other.  The public were clearly impressed by a bit of ‘living archaeology’ and Malcolm received an award.

We were delighted to offer our well-loved white-metal rolling stock kits. We were all sorry when Adrian Swain had to give up. He had always supplied us with castings of high quality. Fortunately, we have a new supplier, Sarum Castings who are able to match Adrian for quality, as you can see from the illustration.

Wrightscale WD bogie 16mm scale

Thank you, everyone who enquired about the Wrightscale Baldwin Gas Mechanical Locotractor. Sarum Castings will be able to provide many parts. We hope to have a supplier for the laser cut chassis parts, and another for the gearbox. When we have all in place, the BGM will be running again.

Malcolm is working on a batch of Wrens. Thank you everyone who came up and reminded us of their email addresses. Many of us are obliged to change – why can’t providers allow us to keep an address for life? (!)

It was an excellent day. Living in a remote area, we particularly appreciate being able to see our friends and catch up with news and gossip.