GWR Aero Wagon (Propeller Wagon) - 1:76 OO scale

In the 1930s, the problem of transporting large 3-bladed airscrews (aircraft propellers) was originally solved by GWR with the development of a wagon with a special cradle to support the three-legged airscrew crate. The opening in the deck was off-centre to miss the brake gear.

By 1941, GWR had built over 170 wagons. Other Aero wagons were built by the other "Big Four" companies, but being a wartime design, were less sophisticated than the GWR design - often just a converted open wagon with a timber cradle.

During the war, the wagons were pooled and by May 1944 the fleet had grown to over 700 wagons.

My representation consists of separate pieces for the chassis, deck/cradle and crates. I've also included a one-piece chassis/deck/cradle file for the adventurous. The brake levers are fitted separately. The NEM sockets are also provided separately - I use a 1.7mm flathead screw to attach them, with a 1mm styrene rod attached to the rear of the socket to act as a self-centring "spring".

Standard Hornby 12mm pinpoint wheelsets fit into the chassis - the bearing holes may need a bit of honing with a microdrill to get free running.

A example of the conversion of a standard open wagon can also be created by simply sanding the edges of the deck print until it can drop into an RTR open wagon model. Holes will need to be cut into the donor wagon floor, which may require disassembly of the wagon and altering the weight sandwiched between the chassis and body.