Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Pass The Salt, Peter
I’ve spent the major part of my modelling time this month backdating this Hornby Dublo 1/260 Gunpowder Van into an Unfitted version. This was another eBay rescue that had part of the solebar missing, and - as it was originally representing a vac-fitted version - moulded Oleo buffers.
I began by making a patch repair to the solebar using some Plasticard, and sliced through the buffers.. These were replace with ABS RCH version. A Lanarkshire coupling hook (I went with two hole oval; some were large 4 hole), and Ambis Instanters were also added.
The brakes - 2 shoe Morton - proved tricky. I tried to use an old Mainly Trains etch assembly, but found that they were too long (the axlebox centres - fixed by the previous owner - are definitely 36 mm so the problem lies in the etch.) So I've cannibalized a Parkside chassis kit I had in Stores. I've used D&S etched vees. I also modified the vertical strengthening ribs to accommodate the brake handle and lever guard (they were angled back and riveted to the solebar on the prototype). I did this by using a piercing saw blade on the back of the stanchion, and then cutting the front.
I’ve added MJT axleboxes, and separate MJT 5 leaf springs (which I modified to remove the lugs and filed them thinner) and the Parkside brake lever. This was after I realised I'd put the wrong side brake assembly on - the Morton clutch side should follow the slope of the brake handle, and not as i had it originally go upwards. The perils of working upside down...
The last knockings were the non-clutch lever, the cross-shaft, and reworking the axlebox keeps from scrap etch (thanks, Jim McGeown
). Next is the painting; the bit I don’t enjoy. as I've mentioned, this will be Unfitted grey - there’s a picture in Larkin’s ‘ Wagons of the early British Railways era : a pictorial study of the 1948-1954 period‘.
Cheers
Jan
I’ve spent the major part of my modelling time this month backdating this Hornby Dublo 1/260 Gunpowder Van into an Unfitted version. This was another eBay rescue that had part of the solebar missing, and - as it was originally representing a vac-fitted version - moulded Oleo buffers.
I began by making a patch repair to the solebar using some Plasticard, and sliced through the buffers.. These were replace with ABS RCH version. A Lanarkshire coupling hook (I went with two hole oval; some were large 4 hole), and Ambis Instanters were also added.
The brakes - 2 shoe Morton - proved tricky. I tried to use an old Mainly Trains etch assembly, but found that they were too long (the axlebox centres - fixed by the previous owner - are definitely 36 mm so the problem lies in the etch.) So I've cannibalized a Parkside chassis kit I had in Stores. I've used D&S etched vees. I also modified the vertical strengthening ribs to accommodate the brake handle and lever guard (they were angled back and riveted to the solebar on the prototype). I did this by using a piercing saw blade on the back of the stanchion, and then cutting the front.
I’ve added MJT axleboxes, and separate MJT 5 leaf springs (which I modified to remove the lugs and filed them thinner) and the Parkside brake lever. This was after I realised I'd put the wrong side brake assembly on - the Morton clutch side should follow the slope of the brake handle, and not as i had it originally go upwards. The perils of working upside down...
The last knockings were the non-clutch lever, the cross-shaft, and reworking the axlebox keeps from scrap etch (thanks, Jim McGeown
). Next is the painting; the bit I don’t enjoy. as I've mentioned, this will be Unfitted grey - there’s a picture in Larkin’s ‘ Wagons of the early British Railways era : a pictorial study of the 1948-1954 period‘.Cheers
Jan
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