Happening upon the ex-Pipe 'ODA' wagon in 'government stores' (military) trains, I like the idea of running one as a pleasing visual addition to rakes of 'Vanwides'.  So tempting fate to have a manufacturer bring one out R.T.R., I bought Peco's Parkside wagons PC43 4 mm. kit at Alexandra Palace in March, and have just finished it, thus:

Paints by Precision Paints, water-slide transfers by @railtec-models .

Unfortunately, I did not do my research first.  Reading the blurb on the Peco web-site, "Additional parts to enable the vehicle to be modelled incorporating modifications made to the prototypes during their working life are included where appropriate", I assumed this meant the revised 'under-carriage' for an ODA would also be in the kit.  It is not; I should have bought in addition their PA30 VEA chassis kit.  The rods connecting the axle-boxes have been cut off, but of course it still does not look right.

However, the results of my bodged fumblings appear to me much better than expected.  The kit goes together easily.  The metal bearings pushed into the axle-box interiors and wheels ran true and do not wobble, despite my lack of abilities.  The body remained square, and parts were easy to assemble and glue.  The only surprises were the assembly instructions' contrast with my memories of Airfix kits of forty years ago - no large booklet of many exploded diagrams here - and the step to attach the brake-gear in line with the wheels.  Unless the wheels are EM-gauge, the brake-gear each side must be set back about 2 mm. from the sole-bar to line up with the wheels, with nothing there to which to attach it.  I bodged it, and put it down to experience.

Painting went well, needing three coats of paint plus touching-up using Precision Paints (also bought at Ally Pally).  I used Rail-Tec water-slide transfers, my lack of dexterity being accommodated better with these than rub-on dry-transfers.  Not having facilities for sprays, I defied the instructions by sealing the transfers with a thin coat of Humbrol 'Matt Cote' varnish.  Having had some loco numbers float away once when doing this, the ODA transfers were left twenty-four hours to dry, and most of the varnish 'brushed off' before application on the transfers.  The rest of the wagon sides were also painted matt.

Incidentally, may I thank Steve of Rail-Tec for enabling me to place a telephone order, as I grew increasingly annoyed at the amount of information the impudent Pay-Pal demand to purchase over the internet, even as a 'Guest': a welcome distraction from the ironing on Wednesday after-noon.

I knocked out a 'sheet' for the ODA (the subject of a future post), using the 'Tunnock Caramel Wafer wrapper' technique cited 'elsewhere in this parish'; I assume 1983 was late enough for the blue plastic.

Here is a final shot of the ODA, behind a barrier-wagon, in a train arriving, with a new Bachmann VEA behind.  I look forward to staging a new cameo soon.

Certainly preaching to the converted on this web-site, but I encourage any doubters to try a wagon kit.  If I can do it, anyone can.  There is a ULV to make next, to carry all those orders for Harvey's beer around the country, and I hope I will be as happy with that.  Then I might open the can of worms of 'weathering' at last...