We Need Advice

Our objective is to build a replica of a GWR 5700 Panier Tank Engine for our local community.

It is being constructed from wood which will be overcoated with some form of coloured resin/fibreglass so it closely matches a smaller version of the real engine and remains rot proof for many years.

But we need help to determine what sort of resin, fibreglass, filler or other materials we need, the quantities, costs and how best to use them.

The images below show what we are trying to achieve and the various elements that need to be overcoated.

Cab and coal hopper

Tank A

Structure

There are 5 separate main components. All constructed with treated regularised 95 x 45mm pine with the exception of the cab.

  • Tank A, is a solid block of timber 1250 x 225 x 570 wide made up from 95 x 45mm pine lengths . It will be finished in GWR green with embedded graphics.

  • Framework B, to be attached to Tank A 1250 x 95 x 460 finished in black

  • Framework C, to be attached to Framework B 1900 x 95 x 570 finished in black

  • Framework D, supports all of the above 1900 x 95 x 460 finished in black

  • Cab - Made in 18mm marinised plywood 450 x 500 x 570 with coal hopper attached 200 x 400 x 570 both finished in GWR green.

Other components are:

  • Dome and Chimneys - Made from treated fence post material. To be finished in GWR green.

  • Wheels - 300mm diameter turned hardwood. Finished in silver but overlaid with a transparent laser printed image of wheel spokes. Will need to be overcoated with a final resin coat to ensure they stay on.

  • Buffers - Still working on those, but will also be in wood finished in red.

See images below for visuals.

Framework B

Framework D

Framework C

Dome and chimney

Wheel with transparent adhesive overlay

Questions

Will a thin coat of resin properly seal and waterproof the timber?

Would we need to use fibreglass matting on all surfaces, or just those that are likely to flex or are joints?

Do we need special colouring materials ot could we use ordinary gloss paint under the resin?

Will the adhesive transparencies, like for the wheels, stick to resin and accept an overcoat of resin?

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