Thanks Mark. Enjoy your days at the exhibition.

Back to the brake van: I have added the brake shoes now, using the mouldings from the LNER wagon underframe kits. The shoes are moulded as part of a 'U' shaped piece. I had to thin the shoe mouldings a little with a file, and took crescent shaped chunks out of the base part of the mouldings to clear the wheels. I also had to remove the outer corners of the base moulding for the outer axles, to clear the underframe cross-members, while the centre axle had an off-centre cross-member near it, which necessitated cutting the 'U' shaped mouldings to form two 'L' shaped bits instead, with one 'L' having a much longer base leg than the other.

None of this was difficult, it just took a little time and patience.

The result, to date, then, is this:

That little 6-wheeler looked good and ran well (when pushed!) today.  Good to catch up with developments in the flesh once more after quite a long interval and thanks for a most enjoyable afternoon.

Thanks Rick. It wasn't quite as free running as before I added the brake blocks when you tried it, bit it is still pretty good. I have been tweaking the brakes a little to get them clear of the wheel treads and flanges when the axles are at full travel sideways.

I had given it a coat of grey primer earlier that day, and now have applied the first coats of paint, using Humbrol #67 for the initial approximation of the SECR grey (to be followed later with the proper grey after I drill the handrail holes). The roof has had a first coat of satin white, and the wheels a coat of Humbrol #133 brown, followed by a black wash on the wheels, brakes and W-irons (more or less everything below the solebars).

The SECR van has had its first coat of SECR grey, and handrails added (a few still need a little straightening up). 

I like the van but not the three axles, still that is how they made em,
:thumbs;-):cool:
Owen

Thanks Owen.

I'm not sure why they needed three axles, when everything else of the same weight could run on two.

After a brief hiatus, I have progressed a little bit further towards completing the 6-wheel SECR brake van conversion.

I painted the handrails black, except for the end one on the non-verandah end, which is body coloured (SECR wagon grey). I don't think the handrails were white for the period I want to model, but I'm not sure when the white came in. My guess would be during WW1, but it is possible that it was earlier than that.

The windows have now been glazed, and the roof glued on. 

Still to go are the lamp irons and footboards, plus lettering.

Footboards and steps added. I have used the ones from the MR 20 ton brake van kit, but shortened the footboards by cutting a short section out of the middle and filing the clearance for the centre axlebox. There is a small amount of filler needed on one side, but the other side seems to have workked quite neatly.

I also used the plastic hangers from the MR kit, but moved the middle ones outwards slightly to clear the centre spring hangers.

I have started to letter the SECR 6-wheel brake van. There is very little specific information available on the Internet regarding liveries and lettering, but from what I can glean, the SE&CR lettering for the period I want goes in the left hand lower corner and should be approximately one plank tall - I think mine might be a little oversized but it's all I have,

One snippet I did pick up was that the SECR wagon grey was very similar to Great Western wagon grey, so my choice to use SECR grey on the earlier GW wagon builds seems to be vindicated.

I cannot locate any pictures of the brake vans in the period I want to model, but later photos show the "Goods Brake" lettering (some even show "Goods Break"). It was pure guesswork to put the lettering in the centre of the main side panels - someone will no doubt prove it to be wrong, now I have done it!

The "20 Tons" lettering seems to have been on the solebars, while the numbers (yet to be added) should be on the lower right of each side. Again, I'm not sure whether the numbers should also be repeated on the van ends or not, but it was the case with goods wagons.

Look the business Jeff.  Would be pleased if i had made those .:thumbs

Hi Jeff.  No Offence Intended. As this is a fine model, which I would like to replicate one day( or Month), but I am wondering why the SECR chose the "Off Centre" design ? could have been to make it easier to spot in a busy yard?   all the best. Kevin

Hi Kevin. No offence taken in any way! I agree they looked unbalanced with only one verandah. The SECR did add a second verandah at the open end later, on so it looks like they might have been thinking like you.
I really don't know why they, and the Midland railway, whose design it was, chose to do it the way they did. All later new builds had the two verandahs. 
Then again, I have always wondered how practical the single-ended Great Western Toads were, for that matter. they can't always have been able to turn them round, which means that the guard had to lean out  frequently when travelling in 'reverse'.

Can anyone else here enlighten us further, please?

Hi Jeff.   I have just seen the LSWR "Road Van" with a similar appearance   
So the idea must have been catching? all the best. Kevin

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

Hi Jeff.   I have just seen the LSWR "Road Van" with a similar appearance   
So the idea must have been catching? all the best. Kevin

 
Like the one at left in this pic? The two left-hand vans are still on my workbench but nearly complete.

Hi Jeff.   Exactly, I did order one much like that (RTR) from Kernow at the beginning of 2015, and guess what, I am still waiting. Probably by the time it arrives? I might have started on my "Ratio" Bogie B Kit. Not finished? just started:oops:     all the best. Kevin

Mine are Smallbrook Studio resin kits, bought before Kernow announced their models, two of which duplicate the kits. I reckon I will have finished the kits before the Kernow models come out! 

Notwithstanding that, I have ordered a couple of the Kernow models, but in BR liveries. I am having too much fun doing the pre-grouping ones myself.

:cool wink

Hi Jeff.   I have just been reading about MEK, and the advice was to
"Always Wear a Respirator Mask" is that really necessary??:???:
Another thing, do you really enjoy using transfers, in which ever shape or form they are in. The one thing I like about the onset of Autumn and Winter, once the allotment has been.dugover where necessary that is, I can concentrate on the Railway, rather than grabbing the odd chance at operating/ playing or whatever.   all the best. Kevin

Hi Kevin.
With MEK, or indeed, any other glues or chemicals like paints and solvents, one should be careful not to breathe them in, and should always work in a well ventilated area. A respirator is a good idea but not essential if you are careful and sensible about using the glues.

As for transfers, I prefer the pressfix type, followed by waterslide (for ease of use). Rub-on ones can be a little trickier to keep aligned, whereas pressfix and waterslide types can be adjusted before setting in place permanently. Pressfix and rub-on types have the advantage of having no carrier film.

I also have some older methfix transfers, which are very similar to the pressfix ones but need a few drops of methylated spirits in the water to release them.

Hi Jeff   Thank you, excellent information, one of the jobs that I have in mind is to change the number, if possible, on one of my brake vans from the London Transport sets , I have found the numbers online, so that's not a problem. It is a problem if I cannot find matching transfers though.
    all the best. Kevin

Kevin, one of the modellers here in South Australia, added his own numberes onto H0 vans like this one STEAM ERA MODELS - Home Page - one number at a time until he got all he needed and in some cases 4 digits plus an alpha  
U Box Van