Adam

Thanks Pix, that's very interesting, but don't put yourself out; it's surprising how often one (or at most, a pair) of vehicles got themselves in front of a camera. Adam

Thank Pix - it's curious that you say that - apart from the two on the web (noted in the original thread) and the one in SR Wagons vol. 4, can you recall seeing any others? The basic structure of the van is clear enough as is most of the detail but if there are any other shots out there which might give a steer on things like the existence of chalk boards or lettering then I would be extremely interested to see them. Adam

I blame exposure to Geoff Kent at an impressionable age. On a plain sided vehicle like this it does make a difference, I think. Not much left to do now actually: brake levers and guides (brass; unfortunately, I'm out of stock of the lever guides) vac' pipes - it seems I've run out of cast ones so I'll have to scratchbuild, which is fiddly, but worth it brake cylinder arms Then it's painting and weathering time. Adam

The sun is shining this morning in Southampton and a few bits have been added so I popped outside to take a couple of pictures of the van in the sunshine. There are still things to do, some immediately obvious - upright vac' pipes, brake levers - and others less so. It does now have safety loops, door retaining chains, lamp irons and boltheads, etc. In other words, all the things that make this vehicle 'different' are done and now I just have to do the run of the mill stuff that all wagons need. Still, it's gettng there. Adam

Cheers Brian, that's great. I do wonder why these peaked roof types weren't more widely adopted; I can't imagine that the space at the very top of the wagon was more or less efficiently used that a conventional curved roof. Not that it matters, I happen to like the prototype and have enough information to model it. Adam

Returning to the 'Penthouse' van, the build has reached the point where the components are smaller but their application is - for me at least - more satisfying. The view from the side shows the brakegear (modified Ratio - some SR brakeshoes were triangular in shape and this was the case here) which meant that the detail had to be reinstated in 5 thou' plastic. The axleboxes are Parkside spares and the couplings are from Masokits (and aren't nearly as hard to do as Mike Clark's reputation suggests). The end view shows the characteristically Southern vents and, if you like that kind of thing, a couple of boltheads for the lamp iron: Adam

Ha! I'm not sure how much input Bulleid had really, but it is an impressively lateral solution to the problem of shifting roof planks. As it turned out, plywood answered the difficulties and BR followed suit. Whatever else one can say about the man, nobody can deny that he was happy to try things. There's lots of stuff like that in Volume 4; the one I'm really intrigued by is the fabricated welded wheelsets. These weren't deemed a success but are interesting. I will admit to the temptation of the cast Flatrol - the drawing is there, after all - I have some doubts that plastic would be sufficiently stable long term, especially as regards the fabrications which support the wheels, but it would make a good model. Adam

Kinda - structurally, this was a perfectly normal SR van; which is what it was rebuilt from after all. The chassis did have a pair of 15" vacuum cylinders, which is another odd Southern thing - a bit like this one: http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/srvan/h22fdcbbc#h2b657273 The experiment wasn't only the roof, but in the cladding which was actually lots of rather small planks clad, and presumably held together, with something called 'Ruberoid' which the SR apparently used for roof coverings. In model form, it's easier to start with the plywood version of the van. I'm not sure that steel wagon ever made traffic though the unusual underframe was related to that used under the GRP PMVs and the pressed steel bodied highs O.V.S. developed for CIE when he went to Ireland so that was quite successful. Adam

Thanks Colin - it's one of Mr Bulleid's off the wall experiments, the penthouse roofed van. There were three of them, apparently, and amazingly, one of them (at least), managed to survive until 1966 if not a little longer. There has been a thread recently - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/69402-peaked-roof-goods-van-pictured/&do=findComment&comment=981155 - and there is some information, including an elevation of the end, in the fourth volume of Chorley, Bixley, et al's 'SR Wagons'. Part of the idea was to solve the problem of leaking roofs that the usual shape SR vans were prone to (solved, apparently, by the adoption of plywood sheeting for the centre section of the roof) and partly, this was a rebuild of a bomb-damaged vehicle, no. 49363. The Ratio kit crossed my path subsequently and thus temptation had to be yielded to. Adam

Following a visit to the paintshop, and having been lettered and dullcoted, the Pipe is now ready for weathering (subsequent to taking this picture, I've silvered the buffershanks - correct for OLEOs - and touched in the vac' pipe in red). I'm not sure what's more amazing; that we had the transfers in stock to do the job or that the sun shone long enough to take the picture. I'm reasonably pleased with this one so far though it's a bit clean at present. This has been discussed recently, but, can you tell what this is yet? Adam

That said, there are a couple more completed vehicles (fairly clean, correct for period). A pair of Esso monoblocs - started a long time ago - TOPS would regard them as TTV. Bachmann with new walkways from S Kits and rebuilt brakegear. Adam

Any better now Colin? There are various things stalled for want of time or parts. More as and when. Adam

I've not had a lot of time for modelling recently, but one day when the morning remperature headed above 0 degrees Celsius the Pipe acquired a coat of primer and has sice had a couple of finishing coats; Humbrol chocolate brown on the underframe (mixed with a touch of metalcote gunmetal - I had the mix on the go for something else) and Precision Freight Brown above the solebar. The bodysides have had two or three coats of Klear prior to adding transfers. It's nearly there... The inside has had a couple of coats - a dark grey and some weathered wood colours. This isn't done yet, there's another couple of passes to go. Adam

There's some useful prototype detail in the instructions for Robert's chassis kit too (and here I can't make the usual disclaimer because I supplied it to Robert and typed it out - all the gen comes from Don Townsley however, via the MORILL article). I noticed the other day that correct pattern buffers can be had from Lanarkshire Model Supplies and that you can have them drilled for sprung heads... I have all the bits for another couple of Austerities lurking around - much like many preservation sites - but I have two already... Adam

Presumably the one pictured in the link I posted above? I rather assumed that it was ex-BR and ex-MoD but freely admit to knowing naff all about the MoD's wagon stock. Adam

There seems to be at least one, of the sliding door variety, courtesy of the Railway Heritage Register site (though the shock status isn't mentioned in the entry). http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=8404 Adam

What little photographic evidence I've noted (sorry Peter, I'm generally looking at the '60s) of post-war usage suggests that Warflats seem to have been used post-war for lighter equipment including artillery pieces and armoured cars and there's not shortage of those - tanks simply got too big to fit in gauge. Adam

This may be picky (especially given the deadline) but weren't many of the 'clayliner' opens uprated with roller bearings? Not all I realise, but I can't see any in your pictures. Adam

I doubt the steps on the lever guide are for chaining the wagon down; from what I've seen of the operation of the real thing, such stability as there was available was provided by the attachment to the loco. I've certainly not seen any evidence of chains for any obvious purpose showing up in pictures unlike things like slag ladles which are rather heavier with rather more dangerous contents. My guess (and that's all it is) is that they're present in order to get enough leverage on the brake lever to apply the brakes by means of a brake stick/shunting pole. Have you worked out how to attached the tipper to the chassis yet? Clearly it has to be after painting, but I'm not sure I know what the 'best' way might be. Adam

It's amazing what a boon (and, to an extent, a curse) digital photography is. Much better to spot these things before the paint is on... Adam

Is it a trick of the camera or is that chimney a touch off the vertical? It certainly doesn't appear to be in the same plane as the dome and the Westinghouse pump. A great improvement otherwise. Adam

Thanks Brian - dad already has one with RN type cases, so great minds, etc. Having scanned through pictures, you can add wire coil (unsheeted), 'normal' containers, roped in, small items of agricultural machinery and plant and goodness knows what else. They were clearly very versatile. Adam

Nice work Paul. These are definitely 4w/2 axle drive CK (dad has one): http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/428/entry-10766-judith-edge-ruston-48ds-pick-up-brackets/ The principle problem encountered in trials is that the wheels, being very small, get rather grubby quite quickly and that does impair running... Adam

Thanks Paul - very useful they proved in getting details right too. Adam

Thanks Colin. The tie bars are brass angle for added durability and, given the amount of other work going on, I could hardly leave the safety loops on the brakes. In the course of this model I've established that there were at least 4 variations in brake gear, 3 patterns of rope cleat and enough assorted axle boxes and buffers to provide inspiration for another half dozen models. 1977 is about 10 years too late for my modelling really! This one will be in recently reprinted Freight Brown per a David Larkin photo. I might even load it; these were used as large highs by the mid 60s so something like cable drums might be in order. Or a container, or even pipes... Adam