AJC
Western Thunderer
To be entirely honest I know nothing about the technicalities of' Shocvans' (or any other wagons for that matter) but having looked at the excellent work carried out on these models, and examined the close up quite carefully, may I, as a mere layman, offer the view that the body is so mounted to allow some 'to-and fro' movement along the underlying girders as part of it's shock-absorbing action in 'rough shunts' ? Hence the elevated appearance.
Just a thought !
Roger
The bodies on the real thing only sit a smidgeon above the solebar (as a quick Google will show you).
Adam