The Manor Farm Light Railway speedometer wagon is now available for 45 mm gauge as well as 32 mm gauge.
The opportunity has been taken while altering the chassis to switch to a bolt-on centre buffer coupler. This allows the customer to easily change the supplied coupler to one of their choosing. In addition to a central hole in the buffer beam, a second pair of holes have been included so that an Accucraft chopper coupling can easily be bolted on.
The Manor Farm Light Railway speed wagon is joint venture between Tom Burton (an electronics engineer by profession) and Bole Laser Craft.
Speed Measurement
The speed wagon contains an on-board computer that constantly monitors the
wagon’s speed via an infra-red detector and wheel mounted encoder. The scale speed is then displayed on a large LED display in the wagon’s roof (this can be selected as either MPH or KPH). The screens brightness can be altered by an underfloor knob.
The computer is powered by 6 AA alkaline (included) or rechargeable batteries. To enable the use of rechargeable batteries a charging socket (compatible with Roundhouse charges and others) is installed together with a “charging” position on the underfloor power switch.
The Wagon
The wagon is an adapted Bole Laser Craft PW department tool wagon (Scheduled for release this autum). The body is laser cut poplar plywood with engraved planks and corner rivet plates. The roofs are hinged so that the operator can get to the batteries when required.
The chassis is constructed from black acrylic with 3D printed sintered nylon axle boxes and leaf springs. 24 mm diameter nylon wheels are fitted on silver steel axles.
Please note that this wagon is only supplied complete and tested, not as a kit.
Currently only available in 32mm gauge (but watch this space )
Bole Laser Craft are delighted to announce that purchasers may now pay via Worldpay. This well-known and trusted system allows customers to pay for their goods using their Visa (both credit and debit), Mastercard , Maestro and JCB cards.
Introducing a range of medium sized SM32 wagon kits based on mining, quarrying and industrial prototypes. The wagons have been scaled to retain their characteristic small size but large enough so their couplings match the 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers Association’s guideline height used by the live steam locomotive model manufactures (e.g. Roundhouse and Accucraft).
The kits utilise a number of different materials such as poplar plywood, MDF board, brass bearings, steel axles and nylon wheels. The parts have been designed with many “tabs and sockets” so that they are positively located in the correct position whilst the glue sets.
The wagons are modestly priced (£15-£20) so that a descent sized train of wagon should not break the bank. The price has been kept low by excluding some of the more expensive detail parts (e.g. no white metal castings for instance) but not by compromising on running gear or material quality.
Photo by Dave Billmore
