Sproston - "it's a horsebox Geoff!"
Entry posted by sigtech
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Afternoon people, have been looking around for a small project - to fill a couple of days of otherwise idleness, and I suddenly remembered the Corgi Trackside horsebox I had bought a few years ago for the layout.
This had sat on my modelling shelf in the spare room for some time, as I had become unhappy at the lack of internal detail in the cab - along with the fact it was possible to look through the windscreen and down the full length of the vehicle,- this was obviously not correct...!
The model is a Harrington bodied AEC Maudslay finished as a Midland Region vehicle in the British Railways standard livery of blood and custard.
Looking at prototype photos it appears reasonably accurate, and as this was only to be a quick project I limited what I was prepared to do.
First the body needed to be removed from the chassis - this was not going to be easy, two large metal rivets secured it all together.
So - out with the electric drill and remove the rivet heads using a 4.5mm hss drill, then carefully remove the plastic chassis- and at this point the wheels fall out! it also becomes clear that the chassis is made in two parts so the second part (with the cab detail on it) is removed, also the radiator grill and lights pops out. The remains of the rivets were filed flat as they are used to locate the top chassis accurately.
Ist job was to make a partition wall between the cab and the body of the horsebox - I used thin card cut to shape by offering it up to the vehicle to gauge the size required, then cut to approximate size, glued to the rear of the cabseats which are moulded in with the lower part of the cab rearwall.
Then this partition was cut accurately to the correct size/shape and painted both sides - I used Humbrol paint ( enamel matt 110 natural wood ) also painting all the rear floor area of the vehicle.
There followed some searching to find two "willing volunteers" from my dwindling stock of little people from China (ho scale) to crew this vehicle. I settled on a BR type hatted driver and a gentleman farmer complete with his stick.
Both had to have their feet amputated (unfortunately) to fit in the space - but then it cannot be seen and they will not be going anywhere now except in this lorry.....
After painting them in suitable colours, they were firmly fixed in place with Bostic all purpose 'Glue and Fix'.
This was followed by making a foglight, this was to be fixed just below the right had side of the vehicles front bumper - a simple scrap of suitable plastic sprue of the correct size/shape was found, again glued in place and painted.(Humbrol enamels matt black 33, silver 11.)The radiator grill and lights were refitted- they are just a tight push - fit.
The inside of the cab was also painted at this stage, the seats were finished in RevellAqua colour. Leather matt brown. The steering column in Humbrol steel HS217 and black, with the flooring Dark Stone. 187.
Some spare paper front and rear numberplates were found in the scrap bin and added.
The top of the chassis was refitted into the vehicle to check all was ok, then the front axles were carefully 'adjusted' using some long nose pliers to obtain a degree of front wheel turn.
These were then installed in the lower chassis which was then refitted- it can all if necessary be easily removed.
Finally all the wheel hubs were painted using Precision Paints matt B102 BR Freight Maroon to approximately match the lower body half colour, as this seems to be a more accurate finish.
I have not bothered to secure the chassis assembly as it is held in place securely when refitted, and being able to remove it easily again may become an advantage at some stage later.
Well there we are, small cosmetic changes to try and improve the model, nothing really major but after all "it's a horsebox Geoff"....
Comments good or bad always welcome...
Regards
SIGTECH
(Steve)
-
8
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