Liver & Fry's workbench

L&Y Dia.72 Fish Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
I finally sorted those axleboxes!

In order to allow the axleboxes to accommodate the vertical movement of the floating bearing end within the spring carrier, I had to ream out above the pre-cast hole and then attach the box to the leaf springs, so not to risk gluing the bearing in place:

20250301_210826.jpg

I then painted the remainder of the underframe but apparently neglected to take any photos before I started typing this, so that one will have to wait...

Been looking at end detailing and it appears vac, air and steam heat pipes are in order, along with two lamp brackets at each end. Thankfully I have everything required for this so will likely add these tomorrow evening.

- James
 

John Duffy

Western Thunderer
And as promised...

View attachment 235045
View attachment 235046

I think we're getting close to seeing some green... (Brake levers will go on after an initial coat on the solebar). Probably need to fit the roof too, as that will also be painted green!

- James
James, do you have a source for the colour information? The L&Y wagon books describes as "hearsay evidence" that the first 50 may have been painted a "very light pastel green." There is no reference to the roof and that seems somewhat unlikely. I obviously have an interest having the 7mm version.

John
 

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
James, do you have a source for the colour information? The L&Y wagon books describes as "hearsay evidence" that the first 50 may have been painted a "very light pastel green." There is no reference to the roof and that seems somewhat unlikely. I obviously have an interest having the 7mm version.

John

The reference to the roof comes from the history/livery information provided in the kit instructions by David Geen: "The green even extended to the roof". It surprised me too!

The photo on page 386 of the wagon book, showing a rake of fish vans, references two of the rake as being "probably green". That same photo shows a freshly painted white example, whereby the roof matches the body and I guess the implication there could be that the white livery followed the pattern set by the green examples.

Page 375 references the colour coding of perishable vans, although does not mention roof colour.

Nigel Digby references the various van colours in his third "Liveries of the Pre-Grouping Railways" book, but again, this does not specify roof colour.

Additionally, I have seen someone else model a red gunpowder van with a red roof to match (whilst I know you should never model a model, it has to have been based on something) and so, between that and the David Geen comment, I've deduced that the special liveried wagons had their roofs painted to match - Or at the very least, that's how I'm planning to model them currently.

I hope that helps?

- James
 
L&Y Dia.72 Fish Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
Speaking of green...

20250303_203600.jpg

The photo and the yellow tinted lighting of the room doesn't do it justice, but the shade I've gone with is Revell 59:

20250303_210538.jpg

I felt this fitted the described colour quite nicely (as does Revell 49 for the blue of the Dia.64 Butter Van). Of course, we'll never know the exact shades used!

I've also cut and fitted the roof, albeit unpainted at this time. In fact, only the one side of the van has been painted, as the paint is quite thin and needed three coats to get a satisfactory application.

- James
 
L&Y Dia.72 Fish Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
Some more sporadic progress has been made; both sides have now been painted and the first (half) coats have been made on the ends. The roof has been painted and vents have been added. The brake levers have also finally been fitted:

20250306_211851.jpg

With the exception of the handrails on each door, the van is now physically complete. Paint wise, the green needs finishing on the ends and then the details (buffers, pipework, ironwork etc) need picking out in black. A cost of varnish will follow and then it'll be time for transfers.

I'm back to work Monday and so I'd like this done (or as close as possible) by then...

- James
 
L&Y Dia.72 Fish Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
It feels like this build took longer than it ought to, but now that it's done, I can't help but smile at the thing:

20250309_144702.jpg20250309_145331.jpg20250309_152332.jpg

It's certainly different! But I like different and I'm glad I let the intrusive thoughts win back when I read Digby's notes on colourful L&Y vans.

Speaking of which:

20250309_171725.jpg

It's going to be a rather bright rake when done...

The Dia.64 Butter Van is next, but modelling is likely going to be a weekend only event until May as I'm back to work tomorrow and need to crack on with my post grad in the evenings, as well as finding time to start off the veg plot for another season. No rest for the wicked!

- James
 
L&Y Dia.64 Butter Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
It's barely been two weeks, but it feels like an age since I last did any modelling! That said, the PgCert is in full swing and when I have had any time to myself I've just wanted to crash out and rest, so I'm somewhat surprised to have found motivation this evening!

The plan is to continue the plan from before: build the next in the trio of the "rainbow vans"; this being the Dia.64 Butter Van. This is another David Geen kit but I've found it easier to get my head around now I've had some experience with the Dia.72.

The focus tonight has been on the main body:

20250321_181440.jpg

These were the respective parts prior to cleaning the flash. I have begun the process of putting the body together, but at this half way stage I'm letting the respective halves set before continuing further:

20250321_195234.jpg

It's not much of an update, but just a reminder (mostly to myself) that I'm still here and haven't totally been consumed by coursework!

- James
 
L&Y Dia.64 Butter Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
I've been slowly chipping away at the Dia.64 as and when I've had time. The body is now "complete" with four sides and a floor:

20250323_211135.jpg

I've also fitted the w-irons and made a start on the brake rigging:

20250324_220446.jpg

Reading both the notes provided and the chapter on Dia.64 vans in Coates' L&Y wagon book (volume 2), it would seem the build might be quicker than I anticipated, insofar as it would appear originally these vans were built with through vac and air pipes only, with full vacuum brakes being retrofitted around 1909/1910. Thus, if this is to be a blue van (pre-1908) then I don't need to incorporate the vacuum cylinder.

Coates suggests that, originally, the brake setup was a standard "two shoes per vehicle" arrangement. Unfortunately no photos seem to exist showing the vans as built so I'm going to have to look at other contemporary L&Y vehicles to fathom which wheels the shoes would act on.

- James
 
L&Y Dia.64 Butter Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
Todays post is a lesson in the importance of research!

Previously, based on the evidence in front of me, I commented that the Dia.64s were built with through pipes only and that vacuum cylinders weren't fitted until approximately 1910. Coates states in his book that the original drawing, No.5741, has not survived, before making the above suggestions. However, upon asking around on L&Y groups on a popular social media site, if anyone might know anything about the general arrangement of L&Y wagons brakes (thinking I was now modelling an unfitted morton set up), someone kindly shared a copy of "lost" drawing No.5741, dated 05/04/1905 and signed by Mr Hughes. The "lost" drawing clearly shows a vacuum cylinder and arrangement pretty much in keeping with the later style.

So, with that, it appears I'm back to building the kit as intended with the vacuum cylinder in place!

- James
 
L&Y Dia.64 Butter Van New

Liver & Fry

Western Thunderer
I surprised myself by actually meeting the deadline I set* and getting the van built and ready for painting over the course of this weekend:

20250330_181700.jpg

*The roof detail and handrails will be fitted after initial painting.

Since the previous post, axlebox covers, springs, brake levers, buffers, drawhooks and brake pipes have all been fitted, along with the roof.

I've even put a first coat of blue on the roof...

20250330_193131.jpg

I'm happy with how this has progressed until now but accept the painting will very much continue as and when. At least the last photo can whet the appetite for what's to come in the meantime!

- James
 
Top