With the news that some of university exams at the end of the semester are being postponed (due to the 1 foot plus of snow we've had in Edinburgh preventing the delivery of exam scripts, chairs, tables and invigilators), it seemed like a perfect time to kick back with a bit of modelling. The purchase of four Peco 15-foot wheelbase chassis kits enabled me to make a start on the chassis of my hacked-about Tomix Clarabel. Some careful measuring and two cuts with a hacksaw later (the cut locations happened to line up perfectly with handy raised detail to keep the blade in the right place) and I was able to glue together a rudimentary chassis, which will hopefully have the cut marks (and the bit where the saw slipped!) hidden by footboards if I decide that they're too obvious and can't be hidden by filling... Anyway, some photos:

Bottom of chassis

Side view, showing saw gap

Left-hand-side view of coach

Right-hand-side view of coach, showing saw mark on solebar.

Also this month, I picked up a curious van off a certain well-known auction site. The chassis markings claim to be a Farish product, but what does it represent? The top half being ventilated makes me think it ought to carry perishables, maybe fruit, milk or fish? I'd like to use it to portray a fruit wagon, but if that's not possible I'm sure with some plasticard it can be pressed into service as something else...

What is it?

Thanks for reading.