Details of the Midland are outside my area of interest, but this looks plausible by comparison with the GWR which I do know quite well:

Until about 1902, height of covered vans was about 10 feet 6 inches.

Subsequently height was about 11 feet 9 inches (apart from a few exceptions of about 11 feet 3 inches or 12 feet 3 inches).

For comparison, brake van height remained constant at about 11 feet (excluding chimney).

Interestingly, there were a few open wagons which were almost as high as the covered vans - the "provender wagons" were about 10 feet high, with sides of 10 planks, and were used for transporting hay and straw for the use of GWR horses.

David

Thanks for a mention. I'm glad something that I wrote is helpful to someone. I honestly don't know where the article is though; maybe you could point it out for me please? I do remember buying and building it, before it was in the shop listings. My brother has it now.

Rich, it is in the VAG in files - scroll down and you will come to 'Wagon Instructions Sheets by Nigel Cliffe' - it's in there! I think it was Paul Martin who directed me to it.

Kris - I agree soldering is easier and possibly neater.

Regards,

Chris

Rich, it is in the VAG in files - scroll down and you will come to 'Wagon Instructions Sheets by Nigel Cliffe' - it's in there! I think it was Paul Martin who directed me to it.

So it is. Thank you. I build chassis in a different order now, but I wouldn't like to live without my temperature controlled solder station.

Well I have come up with the notion of soldering as much flat as possible before bending. It has made the early stages much easier.

I do wonder though on some of these kits why solebar axle and buffer holes are not ready formed to a diameter to accomodate association bearing and buffer shafts without the necessity to open them out?

It's not a huge job I know, though I did manage to bend one of the solebars in the process, but why not get ir right?

Oh, and in answer to the final statement on your instruction sheet - yes I am VERY pleased with my new piece of rolling stock! So much so, that I have ordered another brake and a cattle van...

Regards,

Chris