RMweb Premium JZ Posted November 25, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2010 Going through the last box from when I moved house, I came across a ratio "B" van which is finished bar the markings. Needless to say, no instruction sheet can be found. Is there anyone out there who has a finished example they could post a photo of. I have had a look through all my Southern Region books and while the van appears in many photo's, none are clear enough to make out what goes where. I will have enough transfers to do it, so I do not need a reference for any sheets, though I suppose it may be easier with a dedicated sheet. Livery green late '50s early '60s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted November 25, 2010 Share Posted November 25, 2010 Going through the last box from when I moved house, I came across a ratio "B" van which is finished bar the markings. Needless to say, no instruction sheet can be found. Is there anyone out there who has a finished example they could post a photo of. I have had a look through all my Southern Region books and while the van appears in many photo's, none are clear enough to make out what goes where. I will have enough transfers to do it, so I do not need a reference for any sheets, though I suppose it may be easier with a dedicated sheet. Livery green late '50s early '60s. There's a picture of a blue one here :- http://gallery6801.fotopic.net/p37189319.html Green ones had the same lettering format, but in yellow and a different typeface. My recollection was that this lettering was all that was normally carried by these vans- it was usually the only part of the vehicle where it was possible to discern the body colour below the muck. The lettering was, more-or-less, as below:- B SxxxS Load xxxxx Tare xxxx Inside length xxxx Overall width xxxx Overall Height xxx XP Tare The text regarding vehicle dimensions was noticeably smaller than the rest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JZ Posted November 25, 2010 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2010 Many thanks, Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Any progress with your van, Julian? For some reason, I failed to find this topic when I posted some similar questions last week It appears that Brian is the only person here who knows anything about them... Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRat Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Modelmaster do a sheet for them, cream or yellow. Makes it nice and easy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Modelmaster do a sheet for them, cream or yellow. Thanks, I already have these thanks to Brian's reply in the other thread. What I don't know, though, are the number ranges for non-stove versions. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Thanks, I already have these thanks to Brian's reply in the other thread. What I don't know, though, are the number ranges for non-stove versions. Nick The only place I can think of that you'll find this is in Gould's book on Non-Passenger Coaching Stock of the Southern- unfortunately, I think my copy may be in Swansea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 ....What I don't know, though, are the number ranges for non-stove versions. No.s 201-50, 350-367, and S251S - S280S, if I've read Gould correctly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JZ Posted February 5, 2011 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted February 5, 2011 I have got the Modelmaster's sheet on my wanted list. Just waiting now until I have a worthwhile amount for an order. Thanks for all the responses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Belgian Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Congratulations on finishing this kit. I started mine some 30 years or more ago (I think) but have never managed to garner enough patience to fit all those tiny bits of etched brass nor found an entirely satisfactory method of glueing them on accurately and satisfactorily. JE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 I know exactly what you mean I started mine last week thinking it would be done in a couple of days. Since then, I've been sticking on the little brass bits, though I did decide to make my own handrails from brass wire rather than bother with the etched ones. There are no spares on the etch so, needless to say, the carpet consumed one hinge and one T handle. Hopefully, I'll finish the handrails this weekend. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 I know exactly what you mean I started mine last week thinking it would be done in a couple of days. Since then, I've been sticking on the little brass bits, though I did decide to make my own handrails from brass wire rather than bother with the etched ones. There are no spares on the etch so, needless to say, the carpet consumed one hinge and one T handle. Hopefully, I'll finish the handrails this weekend. I've had my Ratio "B" since the 1990s. It sat untouched in its box for years, then in a fit of activity a few years ago, I built the underframe and body shell, and began detailing the roof. Bill Bedford's leaf-sprung bogies were assembled, running on Exactoscale wheels. That's as far as I got (see photos for current state of play). There's still no glazing in the windows, no handrails or door handles Being mostly plastic, it is still very lightweight so I need to put some weight blocks in there somewhere. Does anyone do the correct pattern sprung buffers for it? The old Chivers etched "B" kit is going to be heavier, but I haven't started that one yet..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 I'll be using MJT bogies on mine and will probably drill out the supplied white metal buffers and spring them myself. I've done this before with wagon buffers. As you say, it will need some extra weight. On the subject of wheels, the kit included a set of 00 Mansell pattern wheels which surprised me for vehicles built, I think, between 1939 and 1952. I'll need to replace these with P4 wheels, so is this correct, or should I be using a disc pattern wheel? Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 ....On the subject of wheels, the kit included a set of 00 Mansell pattern wheels which surprised me for vehicles built, I think, between 1939 and 1952. I'll need to replace these with P4 wheels, so is this correct, or should I be using a disc pattern wheel?.... I've used discs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JZ Posted February 5, 2011 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted February 5, 2011 Congratulations on finishing this kit. I started mine some 30 years or more ago (I think) but have never managed to garner enough patience to fit all those tiny bits of etched brass nor found an entirely satisfactory method of glueing them on accurately and satisfactorily. JE What I didn't mention when I said the last box from the house move, is I moved here in 1998. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 No.s 201-50, 350-367, and S251S - S280S, if I've read Gould correctly. Red face time I've just found the kit instructions which confirm these numbers, with 368-399 fitted with stoves between 1945 and 1950. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Red face time .... *facepalm* Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Yes, I'd looked at the assembly instructions, decided they were fairly useless, being of the very brief 'stick the bits together' type. So, I put them away without realising they had some much more useful prototype notes on the front Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted February 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 5, 2011 On the subject of wheels, the kit included a set of 00 Mansell pattern wheels which surprised me for vehicles built, I think, between 1939 and 1952. I'll need to replace these with P4 wheels, so is this correct, or should I be using a disc pattern wheel? The drawing in Mike King's book shows standard SR steam bogies with 3'7" discs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzgresleyfan Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I hope nobdy minds me "hijacking" this thread however it ties in nicely with an inquiry of my own. I'm not normally a purchaser of Southern stock and don't know much about it however as I have seen numerous photos of ex-Southern vans in deepest Scotland I figured they got around during BR days. That and the fact that I will operate to a bit of an "it's my train set" philosophy I picked one up when I saw it going cheap on Trademe (Antipodean equivalent of ebay) and now have to decide what version of early BR livery it will wear. I've seen photos of them in (dirty) crimson; (dirty) green and (dirty) blue. So my question is this: Were any of them painted maroon, dirty or otherwise or did they all go to green from crimson? I'm beginning to suspect the latter but would appreciate confirmation from someone more knowledgable on such matters please. Thanx heaps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suerose Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Hi, LIke others I am now rebuilding my Ratio Van B, but have lost one of the buffer/stock moulding. Can anybody point me in the right direction of some acurate (if possible) replacements for these. As there are probably not may alternatives I dont mind if what they are made from or if they are sprung or not. Any help welcomed. Sue Rose Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DS239 Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Were any of them painted maroon, dirty or otherwise or did they all go to green from crimson? I'm beginning to suspect the latter Your suspicions are correct! They never wore maroon,BTW,-what period are you modelling? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Grovenor Posted November 22, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 22, 2011 There's a well illustrated article on these vans in Model Railways for January 1988 by Eric Kemp, 20 photos mostly in colour, worth finding it if you are building one. Just happened to come across it last night. Regards Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzgresleyfan Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Your suspicions are correct! They never wore maroon,BTW,-what period are you modelling? Thanks for the clarification, forgotten I'd even posted this! I'm primarily interested in the late '50s to mid '60s era although I might let a few pre-TOPS blue diesels sneak in at some stage! Primarily ex-LNER however my enthusiasm for diesel hydraulics means that my (future) layout will see more than a smattering of western region stock. Another question for you - what variety of green did the southern region use please? The Humbrol one I have here looks like it might be too dark... Regards, Rob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Rob, I'd say it doesn't matter overmuch. Someone who knows more about chemistry than I do reckons that green darkens as it fades [unlike red], plus it was by no means common for these vans to be washed and very likely that they were covered in crud. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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