Despite using the NBR 4 plank to “show off” the packing case that I built from coffee stirrers it was never it’s intended load.

While browsing the NBR section of LNER wagons volume 3 (as I was detailing the 4 plank and making up the body for the drop side version) I noted that when carrying barrels the NBR had made use of what I can only liken to the  plaited rope fenders that ships and barges etc. use to protect the sides of the vessel whilst docking.

Using an idea given to me by Bob Alderman,  I used short strands of sisal string for the straw and Chris kindly plaited some longer lengths of string that had been separated into individual strands and I then coiled them up and glued them into a flat cushion. After colouring them with dilute paint and trying them in the wagon with the barrels I found that two together created a better effect.