I've now finished P4 box vans numbers 7 and 8 in the current batch build for 'Callow Lane'. These are two Bachmann insulated planked vans, which have had the Bachmann chassis completely replaced with various components from Parkside, Bill Bedford and our very own Craigwelsh of this forum.

Notwithstanding the valid debate about the mouldings of the planked Bachmann vans, I had acquired a number of examples when the came out, and I wanted to use them on Callow Lane, (the OO layouts having enough box vans for my usual operating sequences).

Whilst the Bachmann chassis are pretty fine, especially by the standards of only a few years ago, the conversion to P4 provides me with a number of smallish headaches, which I now prefer to solve by complete chassis replacement.

On some of the vans I have converted (as opposed to having built from kits) during this batch, I have provided compensation, but I decided to build these two completely rigid, albeit with the usual pin-point bearings, and see how they perform. They have slightly more weight (60 grams) than my previous compensated or sprung examples (50 grams).

During hand-powered speed trials on Callow Lane, with the route set over the sharpest turnouts, they held the track fine....

Whilst most of my P4 stock admittedly has some kind of compensation or springing, not fitting it to these two has certainly saved me some time (although I would have had to have re-thought that, had they not run OK on the layout).

I have used some of the Parkside brake gear, albeit modified. Also, for the first time on my P4 rolling stock, I have used some of Craig's 10' Morton brake levers. Whilst the ratchety bit (the bit that hangs down) was very fiddly indeed to put together, they did get easier the more I did, and I have to say that I am very pleased with the result indeed.

I've now completed eight of the batch of box vans, which I think is enough for now, as I really want to get back to working on the layout again...