Brake Van Conversion.

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
I have ordered my first Scale 7 kit, a Slaters O gauge Conflat 'A' with Scale 7 wheels, some thing simple to start me off. While I am awaiting the kits arrival I have set about converting a Dapol BR guards Van to Scale 7.

I bought a set of axles from a very nice gentleman at the Scale 7 AGM for the princely sum of......75p and ordered a set of Scale 7 wheels, again from Slaters. They will arrive at the same time as the kit but I thought I would get the O gauge ones off, do a little more weathering and paint a guard.


The roof is not in place properly because it is so much easier to add the guard with the roof off and I have to build up the bottom of the little chaps shoes so he can reach the floor.

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John :)
 

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
I trust that you recall that I did say "no information yet on how to convert the Dapol Brake Van to take S7 wheelsets... ", so please keep WTers (and hence me) informed of how you progress with the change of gauge.

regards, Graham
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Hi Graham.

Yes I remember, I am not sure if it will work but I will let every one know what ever the out come. Good thing is if I can do it any one can ;)

John :)
 

TheSnapper

Western Thunderer
Hi John
Don't be deceived - the Slaters Conflat is not "something simple", despite it's appearance. It's a great kit but takes a lot of time to build.
Tim
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Slaters Wheels arrived today.

I removed the wheels from the axles and added them to the conversion axles. All seems to fit well the wheels turn but not quite as freely as the original's, I may need to shave a little off of the brake pads but I think I will get away with it.
They no longer fit the O gauge track which is the plan but I will not know how well the Brake Van runs until I try it out on the Warley S7 lay out on Wednesday evening.

I will record the results on here.

The photo's below show the difference in the Slater axles and conversion axles, I should be able to get the Slaters ones turned down at work but it depends on if they are hardened, which I doubt they are.
Also shown are the wheels on replacement axle compared to how they came and also how they look in place on the model.

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John :)
 

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Looking at the photos I am not sure that the stiffness after conversion is down to drag of the brakes... you may need to consider setting the fixed axle bush further into the axleguard be removing material from the bearing housing.
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Looking at the photos I am not sure that the stiffness after conversion is down to drag of the brakes... you may need to consider setting the fixed axle bush further into the axleguard be removing material from the bearing housing.

Thank you DS, I will give her a run tomorrow at the club and if she plays up I will adjust as you suggested.

John :)
 

richard carr

Western Thunderer
Hi John

I have converted a couple of these to S7, I had to hack awful lot of the brake blocks away to get them to run smoothly, but well worth it as they are such a nice model.

Richard
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Hi John

I have converted a couple of these to S7, I had to hack awful lot of the brake blocks away to get them to run smoothly, but well worth it as they are such a nice model.

Richard

Thank you Richard, I have brand new blades plus wet and dry paper at the ready ;)

John :)
 

daifly

Western Thunderer
I must book an appointment at Specsavers
Martyn - don't beat yourself up! If I understand it correctly, John bought Slater's S7 wheelsets. The wheels are removed from the Slater's axles and pressed onto the replacement axles which are the 'correct' length to fit the Dapol brake van. Thus no wheel surgery is required.
Dave
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Martyn - don't beat yourself up! If I understand it correctly, John bought Slater's S7 wheelsets. The wheels are removed from the Slater's axles and pressed onto the replacement axles which are the 'correct' length to fit the Dapol brake van. Thus no wheel surgery is required.
Dave

Dave that is quite correct. :)

It was the easiest way I could think of and I can only do easy.

John :)
 

3 LINK

Western Thunderer
Cheers Dave,

I thought the treads and flange depth looked the same in the photo, that would explain it thank you.

Martyn.
 
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