Garden Railway SM32 Mamod 16mm Live Steam Old Style 17 Gallon Milk Churns

We wanted to create a really nice rendition of this, so the model contains the weld line of the main body, the lid detail with makers plate, an owner plate on the front and detailed handles. Figure available seperately, shown only for scale.

Six Milk Churns, based on the 17 Gallon churns which in real life were 36" high by 20" diameter so these work out at around 48mm high by 26mm diameter

FAQ – Product FAQs

What exactly is included in this milk churn set?

You receive six 16mm scale resin milk churns, based on 17 gallon churns. In real life these were about 36" high by 20" diameter, so the models are approximately 48mm high by 26mm diameter. The listing is for six grey resin printed pieces only; any figures shown in photos are for scale and are not included.

What scale are these milk churns suitable for?

These churns are designed for 16mm scale (1:19) and are ideal for Live Steam and Mamod style garden railways. They work well as wagon loads, platform details and general lineside clutter on layouts and dioramas in that scale.

Do the churns have surface and detail features?

Yes, we have modelled in a weld line on the main body, lid detail with a makers plate, an owner plate on the front and detailed handles. These details are designed to pop nicely once you have primed, painted and weathered the churns.

What colour do the churns arrive in?

The churns are supplied in grey resin, unprimed and unpainted. Any painted examples shown are just to demonstrate how they can look once finished.

Are the churns ready to use straight out of the box?

They are fully printed, cleaned, cured and have all supports removed, so you can place them straight on the layout if you wish. For best results, we recommend a light sand where needed, followed by primer and paint to bring out the detail.

Is any additional figure or scenery included?

No, the listing is only for the six resin milk churns. Any figures or extra scenery you may see in photos are shown purely for scale and inspiration and are available separately.

My churn arrived with a small mark or line on the surface. Is that normal?

Some very fine marks can remain where the printing supports were attached. We do our very best to remove support marks during finishing, but a little light sanding with fine abrasive paper may still be required before priming to get a perfectly smooth surface.

One of the churns arrived broken in the post. What should I do?

If your churns arrive damaged from shipping, please take clear photos of the damage and the packaging as soon as possible and contact us. Resin is delicate, but if the breakage happened in transit we will look at what we can do to help once we have the images.

My churn broke after I dropped it. Can you replace it?

Resin can be quite delicate, so drops and knocks can cause breakages. We cannot be held responsible for damage that occurs after safe delivery, but you are very welcome to get in touch for advice on repairing the piece or ordering a replacement.

The churns do not stand quite flat on my baseboard. How can I fix this?

If a churn rocks slightly, gently sand the base on a flat surface using fine sandpaper until it sits level. Check frequently so you do not remove too much material. Once painted and glued in place, the churn should sit firmly and look natural on your layout.

The detail looks a bit soft before painting. Will it show up once painted?

Fine resin details often look more subtle in bare grey. Once you apply a good primer coat and a slightly contrasting top coat, the weld line, plates and handles will stand out much more clearly. A light wash or dry-brush after painting will further sharpen the detail.

Do the churns come in separate parts that need assembly?

The churns are supplied as complete resin pieces. The listing notes that items are unassembled "if needed", but for this particular product there are no separate parts to glue together. You simply clean up, prime and paint them.

How should I prepare the churns before painting?

They are already cleaned and cured, but it is still good practice to:

• Inspect for any remaining support marks and lightly sand them.
• Wipe the churns with a soft cloth to remove dust.
• Allow them to dry fully before applying primer.

What type of primer and paint works well on these resin churns?

The painted examples shown were finished with a car primer followed by a silver acrylic spray. Any good quality automotive or hobby primer suitable for plastic or resin will work, followed by acrylic paints. Always apply several light coats rather than one heavy coat to preserve the fine detail.

Do I need to sand the churns all over before priming?

No, you only need to sand where you can see or feel slight support marks or a rough patch. Use fine-grit sandpaper and a light touch. Over-sanding can soften the crisp detail on the plates and handles, so focus just on the areas that need it.

Any tips for making the details stand out once painted?

After priming and applying your main colour, you can:

• Use a thin dark wash to flow into the weld line and around the plates and handles.
• Gently dry-brush a lighter shade over raised areas to highlight them.
• Add a little weathering to suggest age and use, which looks very effective on platform and yard scenes.