[Brossard]

I've had the subject model forever, well, at least 20years. I recently compared to the data in Essery's LMS Wagons Vol. 1 (essential for the LMS modeller but somewhat hard to find)
and must conclude that it is actually a quite good and accurate model. I even don't mind the moulded handrails. The underframe, while being generally accurate is a bit clunky with
overly thick steps, brakes moulded to the W irons and no brake gear detail.

Quite some while ago, I got myself a Bill Bedford replacement underframe kit from Eileen's ( http://preview.tinyurl.com/czpbpou )

Since I've been in the mood lately to work on my wagon backlog, I thought I'd have a go.

First, the starting point:



The u/f kit is typical of Bill's products, superbly well designed and intended for sprung suspension. My only beef is that instructions are not included.
However, I'm experienced enough to know where most of the bits go and I have built Bill's kits in the past. There were a few things that could have been pointed out and
there are one or two pieces that I don't recognise.

I could give chapter and verse on the build, but I'll simply cut to the chase:



This shows the completed build in grey primer. It's a bit easier to see some of the details. Note the brake gear. The axlebox/springs were recovered by chopping up the Hornby u/f. Safety loops are a detail I added.
Buffers are from Lanarkshire Models ( http://www.lanarkshiremodels.com/index.html ).

The body of the van was left untouched and was glued onto the new u/f. The whole assembly was weathered and here it is:





Lamps are for unfitted goods.

John

 

[Pennine MC]

I've always liked this van, as you show here John it responds very well to some simple upgrades (I didnt risk thinning the footboard hangers on mine). One thing you might want to consider are those rainstrips - they really jar with me. I've never seen any convincing evidence of them being fitted at such a sharp radius and indeed, I'm doubtful that it would be possible to get a strip of timber into that shape without a lot of effort.

 

[Brossard]

Thanks for the input Ian. I must mull over whether to do those. If I do, I'll probably do the handrails as well. Right now I've got lots going on.

John

BTW, I've been monitoring MU, will join at some point.

 

[34C]

Oh dear, it's pictures like this that tell me that I really ought to upgrade mine too. Strange aspect of the Airfix/GMR wagon toolings, bodies usually very sound as a model, underframe nowhere near the same standard. The only one that escapes this is the Lowmac, because the beautifully tooled 'body' is also the visible underframe...

 

[Brossard]

Thinking about it, I can't recall whether this particular model has been re-issued by Hornby in the last 20 years - I'm probably wrong. It seems to me that this useful vehicle
could do with a makeover. Perhaps Bachmann will step in now that they've done that excellent ex MR van.

Agree about earlier models, excellent above the solebar, "meh!" beneath.

It's very satisfying to upgrade these older models but the effort and cost can be excessive.

John

 

[34C]

Hornby have produced this brake van, 20T tanker, Lowmac, three 20/21T coal wagons, a five plank general merchandise open of generic railway company design and an SR general merchandise van, all I believe originally Airfix/GMR tooled. The five plank open is the only such thing available RTR, the single current biggest gap in steam era RTR provision, so of course Hornby very rarely offer it, and then only in SR/ BR(S) fittted livery, of which even the largest home layout would only need a couple at most...

 

[Pennine MC]

QUOTE (34C @ 10 Jun 2014, 17:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hornby have produced ... a five plank general merchandise open of generic railway company design ... I believe originally Airfix/GMR tooled. The five plank open is the only such thing available RTR, the single current biggest gap in steam era RTR provision, ...

[pedant mode] It's not really a generic, Paul - it's an accurate rendition of a long run of LMS wagons initiated by D1892. That said, it only differs in very minor details from thousands of similar wagons built by and/or for the LNER, SR, Ministry of Supply and BR through 'til around 1950.

John, there have been some recent-ish Hornby reissues of the Stanier brake; I couldnt put a date to them, but new or newish stock of models in BR bauxite and grey can be seen around the shows and swapmeets here. I cant personally see Bachmann touching it, in fact I think by doing the MR pattern vans they consciously avoided it.

 

[Brossard]

Since I have 3 of the things, I probably haven't been paying attention. There are other diagrams that Bachmann could do.

I have grave suspicions about Hornby's 4 wheeled opens - sometimes the underframes are reasonable (but still not as good as Bachmann), other times they are complete fiction.
One does need to tread carefully with these. I'm not enough of an expert to say whether the bodies are accurate or not. Again, though, I'm probably not up to speed as I have more
PO and company wagons than I can shake a stick at.

It's rather a pity that Hornby haven't reprised the standards set by the GWR Horsebox of a year or two ago (as far as I know). The body itself is very good, but the underframe and brake
rigging are excellent (I've got a bit of a fetish about that).

John

 

[Brossard]

I suppose off topic, but here's a D1890 van I just converted to EM:



It is an ancient Chivers kit bought in a estate sale. Originally built to 00 with detailed scratch built brake gear.

I replaced the brakes with some from the Mainly Trains etch and touched up the paint.

John