Mr Brunel Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Hello, At Warley I picked up an Airfix brake van kit, which looks like a nice kit but I suspect it needs some work to bring it up to scratch. 1. Are there any shape problems or other inaccuracies? 2. Which transfers would suit the kit? I was thinking of the Model Master M4615. 3. What paint (acrylic)? Humbrol 62, 70, or somewhere between the two? 4. Are there any aftermarket bits worth fitting (e.g. buffers, brass bits, Parkside Dundas chassis)? This is just something to build up my skills, but I'd appreciate some expert advice 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted November 27, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 27, 2012 I can't help with the Brake Van but I made up a couple of Prestwins and they came our really well indeed - they were Dapol versions and came with (if I remember correctly) bearings and decent wheel sets. I substituted brass wire were I could but the original transfers worked out well. Buffers seemed fine although I'm sure there are better ones around for the brake van. Overall the mouldings were very good but your may be better if its an early Airfix kit (masters should be less worn?) I have been tempted by a brake van kit..... Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobhead Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I don't know much about the prototype, but I know that the Airfix/Dapol kits are a lot of fun to build and that MJT makes nice buffers at a reasonable price. Try Dart Castings. Regards, Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brunel Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 I've looked at Dart Castings and they have some good MJT buffers (thank you for pointing me in that direction) - does anybody know which style I need for the brake van? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 40-something Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I have one of these brakes to build to. I'll be replacing the wheels and adding wire handrails. Otherwise thats it really. I really enjoy building these old kits, they go together very well and for their age capture the prototypes very well. Ive built a rake of Prestwins, 16t minerals and a meat Van, currently Im working on 2 tank wagon kits and replacing the ladders and walkways with RT Models etches, Would love them to do the same for the Prestwins. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Even fifty years after its debut the old Airfix/Dapol 20T brake still scrubs up superbly, given a little work as ably described by Joe. Definitely a good starting point - I built my first one at 14, back in 1978! Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neil Posted November 28, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 28, 2012 It's a nice kit, and certainly rewards a little extra effort. You might want to take a look at this topic at Finescale Railway Modellers Workshop, it gives some ideas though you may want to pick and choose which you adopt. I f asked to recommend one upgrade to the basic kit I think I'd choose to replace the thick moulded kit part with one formed from 20 thou plasticard. It's easy to set a curve in plasticard; big glass jar (pasta sauce) a strip of plasticard coiled up and tucked inside, fill with warm then hot tap water to avoid thermal shock cracking the jar then pour boiling water in and leave to cool. The palsticard strip will come out curved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) I've looked at Dart Castings and they have some good MJT buffers (thank you for pointing me in that direction) - does anybody know which style I need for the brake van? Hi, no-one has mentioned 'Lanarkshire Models' buffers yet, I'm a bit miffed at that.... You ask what style of buffers you need. It all depends on which BR van you are modelling and in what period. Early vans had our No. B003 whether unfitted (Grey with 3 link couplings) or piped (bauxite with instanta couplings and vac pipe). Fully fitted vans (bauxite) generally had our No. B004 buffer, vac pipe and screw couplings. Note, there were batch anomalies and odd replacements too. No more unfitted vans were built for general use after 1956. Vans built from 1957 had hydraulic buffers, firstly the square Dowty No. BH01 (bauxite, instanta or screw couplings and vac pipe) then quickly followed by the round Dowty BH02. Fully fitted vans had BH03 with screw couplings. Around 58/59 Oleo pneumatic buffers came in and these were later used to replace worn out buffers of all types, our Oleo buffers BP01 with screw couplings, sometimes instantas and much later BP02 with a long continental screw coupling or a normal screw coupling on an extended hook. Vac pipes were usually our VP03 though very early builds had a tall pipe VP01, these seemed to disappear in favour of VP03. Vac pipes had the steel pipe painted white for a piped van and red for fully fitted. Hope that helps in you build of the Airfix van. I'll not mention the small changes in the handrail positions, check the photos. Dave Franks. Dowty buffer and a trial fit of a new vac pipe mock-up, since replaced by the production version. Altered handrail too. Edited November 28, 2012 by davefrk 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 These vans were far from standardised, as mentioned buffers differ, but so do length of steps, whether unfit, piped or Vacuum brake etc. Choose one that suits you, masses of photos here http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brbrakevan500 http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brbrakevan504 http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brbrakevan506 http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brbrakediag507 A useful article at Banks, Steve (2002). Bringing up the rear. Model Rail February 2002. pp 18 – 24 Drawings at Silsbury, Roger & Mann, Trevor., (1983) The 20 ton standard goods brake van. Model Railway Constructor vol. 50 (part 589) pp 279 - 283. Drawings - Brake van diag. 1/504; Brake van air pipe diag. 1/507. They are very nice kits. Paul Bartlett Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 One last thing, much easier to add whatever weight you plan to make it up to on the cabin floor before cementing the roof on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Yep, paul's website has masses of info if you study the photos, as he says the stepboards were shorter on vans up to about 1950, horisontal handrails on end platforms fitted after that. Also, after 1956 axleboxes changed to roller bearing (see alternative Hornby vans, they do both). If you state what period and van type you want we may be able to suggest a number or photo. Dave Franks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) Whether you use the kit roof or a replacement do note that the kit roof has the chimney and vents in the wrong places, effectively a mirror image of what they should be, the chimney is a bit small also and best replaced with a bit of tube, so can be repositioned at the same time. Keith Edited December 9, 2012 by Grovenor 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted November 28, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2012 Of course you could go berserk and chuck a Dave Bradwell chassis under it. Mike. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjnewitt Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 The guard's duckets are about 1mm too high (or maybe low can't quite remember) and there's the issue mentioned with the roof but it's still a good starting point. They make up into a nice model with a bit of work. I've got one to go under a Bradwell chassis sometime, when I get around to brakevans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 to go under a Bradwell chassis Now that will be a talking point! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brunel Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 Well I certainly didn't expect this much advice - thanks everyone! I think I will follow this plan of action: 1. Shave off moulded handrails and replace with wire 2. Replace buffers, coupling hooks, and vac pipe with Lanarkshire Models items 3. Replace plastic wheelsets with metal ones I am looking to model a bauxite (fitted) van, pre-1956 - one thing I'm not sure about is transfers seeing as the Airfix ones are now very yellow and curled - can anybody recommend a good source? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) Cambridge custom transfers may have them. Note that the majority of bauxite vans were just piped rather than fitted, the guard was expected to look at the pressure gauge and apply the handbrake if needed. Regards Keith PS. Didn't see them in the Cambridge list but Modelmaster have them as sheet 4615 Edited November 28, 2012 by Grovenor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brunel Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 So Modelmaster transfers, bauxite (Humbrol 70), with Lanarkshire B003 buffers and VP03 vac pipe? I'm also wondering if the Bill Bedford handrail jigs are worth buying. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 The book The 4mm Wagon Part Three by Geoff Kent will provide a lot of information and assistance. There was also an article on an early version of rmweb listing the various variations. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Bus Driver Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Here's my Dapol one waiting in the build queue. Lack of time at the moment is problematic, Plus the fact that most of the stuff I need is currently in my case at the club. I'll probably take this, the ventilated van I've got and the Parkside Dundas Grampus there and build them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon hudson Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I've got quite a few myself great little kits to play with i made a few in the 1980's.I got some good ideas from Tatlows L.N.E.R Wagons.The Airfix kit is years old as we know but it's a great kit to cut and shut I still have a few stashed away- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 They are a nice kit, worth replacing the wheels and pin point bearings, new handrails is a must. If you want a really interesting project you could try this: 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 40-something Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 They are a nice kit, worth replacing the wheels and pin point bearings, new handrails is a must. If you want a really interesting project you could try this: Must not use strong solvent... Great work there!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Must not use strong solvent... Must not use strong solvent and smoke in the same room.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I'm also wondering if the Bill Bedford handrail jigs are worth buying. Yes. Once you have them you will find them most useful. They are a good way of getting two or more lengths of wire to come out the same, unless you are amiong the many who are cleverer and more skilled than I am and can do that with pliers and a ruler. Chris 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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