Scratch Brake Van

[Mike Griff]

Hi Guys,
I have built this freelance brake van, from plasticard.
The chassis is from a Lima n-scale 5 plank truck and is a 10 ft wheelbase, i made the brake handles from n-scale track pins, the stove chimney is from a biro ink tube, i used peperclips to form the hand rails, they looked ok at first but look overscale now that i,ve photoed them, DOH!!
I must try to save detailing till i,ve painted stuff cos i can see me having some issues when i try to do this and my loco, another incline in the learning curve. Mike. http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffrail/

[MickT]

Hi Mike

The brakevan looks fine to me. Don't worry too much about the overscale handrails. If they won't come off without ruining the rest of the model then leave them as they are and simply paint them in body colour which will make them less conspicuous.

The loco looks fine as well, but as has already been suggested if I remember, it would look a whole lot better with a whitemetal chimney to replace the stovepipe drinking straw. If you can't get a whitemetal chimney easily GEM models (nowadays based in Bedford, and advertise regularly in the small display ads towards the back of Railway Modeller) offer the 3 Varikit chimneys and other boiler fittings etc from the kit at very affordable prices. Meridian Models also have 2 x sets of 4 009 chimneys, all different and are an ideal way to start your "spares box". Another easy alternative if you want to get something sorted quickly is to get an Airfix/Dapol pug kit and use the chimney from that.

Keep up the good progress and I look forward to seeing more of your models as you make them!

Mick

[Mike Griff]

Thanks Mick, some well usefull info, i shall create some space on the credit card and make some investments, thanks again. Mike
P.S. I also now understand where the Pugbash system comes from, i thought you were all awash with money and buying up all of Hornby's Pugs :laugh:

[Graeme Dunbar]

Pugbash - aha! Yes I guess if you have not come across the Airfix/Dapol Pug before it could be puzzling. Also keep a look out for the other plastic kit bashes such as the Knightwing diesel and Dapol Drewry diesel shunter kits.

Sometimes old kits appear at exhibitions well below the new price. Sometimes you find partly made plastic kits in a bag and there may be enough unused bits to make it worthwhile even if the assembled parts are no use.

[Tigger]

Nice brakevan - loads of character!

[Alan Feldon]

staples are often useful for handrails

[Tigger]

And I'd rather have detailing slightly overscale if that's the price of making them a bit more robust.  (Ducks swiftly to avoid a salvo of missiles from rivet-counting purists!! ;D)

[pilotfriend]

Doubt that you are in danger of that on this forum but I would be very very afraid of some of your inside frames. ::)