Connoisseur North British 20 Ton Brake Van

[brossard]

I thought I'd share my build of the subject kit.  I've made good progress so far and Ihave some photos and drawings.

 

The kit itself:

 

 

 

Top L to R:  Chimney, brake wheel standards (don't know why there are two), duckets, buffers and lamps

Bottom:  Axle guards.

 

Yesterday, I got the main body put together:

 

 

Drama free with tab and slot construction.

 

Today I added most of the details:

 

 

 

I'm rather pleased with the handrails.  The door handrails have bends that are not shown in the kit instructions.

 

I used a bending bar (ie straight file and C clamps) for the steps, solebar and the body flanges.

 

Next up will be the brake gear which is a bit sparse in this kit.  I'll take my cues for the Parkside kits I've built.

 

John

[mike hughes]

I thought I'd share my build of the subject kit.  I've made good progress so far and Ihave some photos and drawings.

 

The kit itself:

 

P1010001.JPG

 

P1010002.JPG

 

Top L to R:  Chimney, brake wheel standards (don't know why there are two), duckets, buffers and lamps

 

Bottom:  Axle guards.

 

Yesterday, I got the main body put together:

 

P1010001-001.JPG

 

Drama free with tab and slot construction.

 

Today I added most of the details:

 

P1010001-002.JPG

 

P1010002-001.JPG

 

I'm rather pleased with the handrails.  The door handrails have bends that are not shown in the kit instructions.

 

I used a bending bar (ie straight file and C clamps) for the steps, solebar and the body flanges.

 

Next up will be the brake gear which is a bit sparse in this kit.  I'll take my cues for the Parkside kits I've built.

 

John

I've built one of these and the 6 wheel one as a commission a few months back and can safely say went together with no problems (well none that I can remember)

Michael

[brossard]

This is sort of a commission too Mike, well more of a favour for a friend.  These kits come highly recommended and I think I can concur with that.

 

John

[brossard]

I got on with the brake gear today and spent the session making the parts for brass offcuts.  I used Tatlow's drawing which shows the brake arrangement with reasonable clarity.  My experience with other brake gear helps too:

 

Now with wheels installed.  I preprimed these and wrapped tape around the tyres.

 

 

I've installed sub floors and soldered the hangers.

 

 

At right side you can see the gubbins I made for actuating the brakes from the hand wheel.  It should get clearer as I proceed.

Yes, I soldered the axle guards using 70C solder, ordinary non acid flux and my regular iron.  I don't hold with anemic 25W irons for this job, lots of heat and in and out quick sharp.

John

[brossard]

I got the brake gear done today.  I spent yesterday and this morning and it was quite a challenge to work out the details.  I used the GWR toad mechanism as a guide.  I think I have it mechanically plausible.

 

 

I think details such as this make a difference even though they cannot be seen clearly.

 

John

[brossard]

I have a couple of questions for the NBR experts out there:

 

1)  Did these vans have sanding gear in the pre grouping era?  One drawing I have shows sanding pipes and another doesn't.

 

Answer:  Gear removed in 1931, so this van needs sanding pipes.

 

2)  Were there safety loops on the brake yokes?  Drawings in my possession don't show them and it's hard to tell from photos.

 

John

Edited December 25, 2017 by brossard

[brossard]

I forged ahead with some of the final details this afternoon:

 

 

 

Added the lamp brackets which are a bit of a pain as they are so small.

Also the duckets.  I made a template from plastic card and drilled holes.  I used the template to drill holes in the sides and castings so that these lined up.  I soldered wire through the holes and cut it off to about 2mm.  I then used CA and secured the castings.

Buffer guides are also CAed in.

Roof is on loosely, I still need to finagle it.

To those who say you can't see the brake gear, I disagree.

John

[mike hughes]

You done more with the brake gear than I did. Excellent

 

Michael

[brossard]

Thanks Mike.  I'm kind of a brake gear geek and like to detail the underframe as much as possible.

 

John

[brossard]

Over last several days I have been slowly painting the brake van.  Today I think I can say that I'm done: 

 

 

Guard is a ModelU figure.  I used blacktack to fix him in place.

Note the sand pipes.

Roof is on loosely.  When the time comes I think I'll use blacktack on this too.

 

 

Buffers were a pain because I should have assembled them first. 

 

 

 

Floor is 0.020" plastic card, scribed and painted.

 

 

Note the sand box in the corner.

The van has a couple of coats of Testors gloss spray.  Next up is transfers.  After that some matte varnish and then glazing, which I was working on today.

John

 

[brossard]

So, my customer brought a sheet of HMRS (for pre group Scotiish railways) round and I duly applied them.  Then, while onthe phone he casually mentioned that the ends were vermillion.  I was a bit nonplussed at that but he agreed to bring me a tin of the red he wanted me to use.

 

After all these delays, I have the van finished:

 

 

 

The roof is held on temporarily with black tack.  My customer will weather it himself.

I have to say the red ends are striking.

John