The aim of this weekend project was to model an early refurbished 4VEP based on those outshopped in 1988/89 to run alongside my appropriate loco and MUs that would stand up to the rigours of handling and storage.

Hornby's modelled a late refurbished version with cab door sealed headlights so the biggest change was to file off the headlamps. I snapped the fragile front cab handrails several times beforehand so they were replaced by Slaters 20thou X 10thou microstrip, glued onto the bodies, as that best represents the flat metal section handrails.

From memories, Southern Region headcodes were always backlit using filament lamps so LEDs are far too bright but in the interests of simplicity, abandoned lit head/tail lights but kept the carriage lighting (I don't know which of the LEDs on the circuit board mounted behind the cabs controls the round sealed headlight)

Weathering was by drybrushing and using diluted enamel paints so it ran into crevices, and a small amount of graffiti was added to both end vestibule doors.

I chose a South Western Division based unit, 3456, over a Brighton based unit as they had bars fitted over the droplights and it would have been very time-consuming to apply them to the model.

Because the 4VEPs were reformed on refurbishment, once I've located a source listing the individual carriage numbers as applied to the EMU, they'll be corrected to suit.

Overall I'm pleased with this quick job but may revise the weathering and as stated above, change the individual carriage running numbers.