brossard Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I'm building The PD Kit of the subject van, PS113. I was trying to rig the brakes but hit a snag when it came to the connection from the handbrake to the main crank. It's as if the kit designers hadn't much of an idea of how things looked. Here's where I am: The main crank has two arms with the inner holes connected to pull rods for the brakes. A fiddle to do but we got it. There's a third hole that is supposed to connect to the handbrake wheel ...somehow. In the pictures I bodged some wire from that hole to the opposite side of the van but on reflection that doesn't make any sense so I removed it. So, anyone know how things were connected? John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted October 8, 2016 Author Share Posted October 8, 2016 A member very kindly sent me a drawing of a similar brake van. This enabled me to correct the rigging. I'm a bit red faced because now that I've seen how it goes it should almost have been obvious. There is till a tiny niggle and I wonder if there should be a link between the bottom left crank and the bottom right crank. Perhaps there should be a link to reverse the direction so the rods pull both sets of brakes. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 Having been advised in a PM about the correct rigging setup I can proceed with the rest of the wagon. I've been making subassemblies along the way. I figured I'd better do an interior and found several pictures online. The side on the left will house the stove. The handbrake wheel resides at about the middle of the side on the right. Bench seats and partition are made from plastic card. I used Aged White and (don't laugh now) Wisconsin Central Maroon. I've weathered these since the picture was taken. The other thing I turned my mind to was the step boards. Anyone who has made a van kit with these made from has probably broken them. I know I have and they're the very devil to repair. The kit comes with these: Looking at these, I immediately thought that these will not withstand the rough and tumble of layout operation and transport to shows. I therefore made these up: Step hangers are two lengths of 0.020" brass wire soldered together with one length for each leg. I made a jig for the leg spacing and marked my pliers for the bend locations. Steps themselves are 5mm brass strip (luckily I was able to find the exact size in stock). The raised bit at the back was done by soldering 0.032" brass wire. I'll work on attaching the step boards to day - fingers crossed. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 I assembled the step boards this evening: I am amazed and pleased at how well these turned out. I did have to tweak things here and there but everything is quite straight. My only disappointment is that the hangers are not flat as they should be. I did try to solder some 1mm PB strip to the hangers between the steps but couldn't get any access. Perhaps next time I'll do better. I do have a Slaters Dia 61 brake van coming. I wanted to see how things look with the body loosely fitted: Things are a bit of a mess and I have ordered some BR grey paint which should arrive in a day or so. Assembly should be plain sailing now. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 I decided to try using CA to glue on plastic strip to the step hangers. That seems to have worked. I'll paint it up and take a pic once that's done. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted October 20, 2016 Author Share Posted October 20, 2016 I've been working away steadily on this model and construction is pretty much done: I have a stove to install and I'm waiting for a handbrake standard before putting the roof on. I'll do the transfers tomorrow. I know the thread title is wrong but it's not obvious to me how to change it. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 I got my handbrake and stove from Slater's - these have been installed: Almost finished now. Of course once I get the roof on, this lovely detail can't be seen. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 The van construction is done. The last thing I did was to add safety loops under the brake yokes, not provided in the kit or indeed even mentioned - although I'm always missing stuff in the instructions. I used 0.032" wire chemically blackened. Still to do is lamps, weathering and, of course, add a guard figure. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 I have weathered this van: As usual I'm always worried that I overdo things. My first effort looked utterly filthy so I washed most of the powder off with IPA and tried to reapply powder in a more muted fashion. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdseyecircus Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Very nice John. I have just resumed building mine. The poor instructions for the brake rigging don't help so your pics will be a good reference when I get there. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 Good to know, the rigging takes some mental gymnastics but it does work. Hopefully my work will help you. Don't forget the safety loops John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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