Retro build!

I seem to have collected quite a few of the Airfix railway kits of wagons and vans dating back to the early 1960's.  They can sometimes be picked up quite cheaply on 'the bay' and at model railway shows.  They are excellent kits considering they are mostly around sixty years old.  I prefer the original Airfix kits to the current Dapol versions as I find the plastic to be harder and more crisp than the modern offerings.  Also, when made, the toolings were new and the kit parts display virtually no flash.  Having said that, all power to Dapol's elbow for keeping the kits in production.The Airfix kit represents the British Railways 16 ton mineral wagon to Diagram 1/108.  The prototype wagons appeared in several guises and straight off Airfix appear to have 'gone off the rails', so to speak.  The model depicts a wagon with two sets of independent brake gear, one each side, and not connected in any way.  This arrangement would have applied only to vehicles with a door in the floor where the brake shaft would foul the door.  The brake gear would have two v-hangers each side.  The Airfix kit has only one v-hanger each side and no representation of a door in the floor.  The usual arrangement would have been Morton brakes with only one set of brakes on one side of the wagon capable of being operated by a brake lever on either side. 


This is what is inside the box…
My aim is to construct the kit but to take the opportunity to upgrade or improve the model as I proceed.
The kit includes plastic wheels which I have discarded straight away in favour of metal wheels.   Two sets of brake gear are included and I will only be using one set.  The old Airfix couplings will also be discarded to be replaced by Bachmann NEM couplings.

Before commencing construction, all underframe parts were given a coat of black acrylic paint.
 
First off, the solebars were located. 

The headstocks have four strange prongs moulded thereon.  These were originally for fitting either the Airfix coupling or an early version of the tension-lock coupling.  All four prongs should be removed.

I love these old Airfix kits Terry - as you say, they seem much better than the Dapol version, presumably because the moulds must now be almost worn out.

I'm interested in your comments about repositioning the sole bars to accomodate the bearings and metal wheels.  Did you just do it all by eye or is there some means of locating them ? 

I have a couple of ex Airfix brake vans, sadly the Dapol versions, but they do come with metal wheels.  I failed to get the wheels perfectly lined up so they have a few "steering problems" ………  I was thinking of changing the chassis for either Bill Bedford ones or, if they're the correct size, a ready made Dapol one ……….  Certainly somethings got to be done !!

Hello Peter.  I just moved the solebars out to the edge of the floor.  Just be aware that any detail on the face of the solebar will be protruding further out than designed.  I love the British railways brake van.  My favourite vehicle.  Replacing the moulded handrails with wire improves them enormously, as does glazing. I have a number of them awaiting the paint shop.  Maybe I should do a thread on that kit next.  This could end up as a series of Airfix/Dapol kit builds!  I think I have a picture somewhere…

On with the mineral wagon.  I remembered that I have some lead shot hiding somewhere in the railway shed.  Ideal for this job.  The space beneath the floor was filled and superglue was dropped in to secure it in place…
A short piece of plastic rod was now glued in place to link the brakes with the lever on the opposite side of the wagon floor.  This will be painted black. 

Time to fit the body starting with the ends.  One end is plain with two stanchions and the other is moulded to represent the end door.  It appears that the prototype wagons were always built with the end of the brake lever on the non-braked side of the wagon pointing towards the end door.  In other words, if you are looking at the non-braked side the end door will be to the right.  There is a raised lip on the rear of the end moulding which assists in lining it up with the edges of the floor, thus ensuring the end is central to the floor.  I found two small engineer's squares useful to ensure the floor was vertical. Take account of the small lip at the base of each end when placing the small square inside.  

Both ends now in place…

The wagon is coming along nicely Terry, looking forward now to what goes where next.

You are obviously enjoying this build Terry and I can see why, as the venerable Airfix kit has such magnificent crisp mouldings! A  joy to behold.

Enjoy the remaining build, as I know we all will.

Best,

Bill

One thing to mention.  The floor of the kit is a fraction too small.  When the sides and ends are added, there are small gaps in each corner and behind the doors. These can be easily filled and I will do this as soon as I have a delivery of new filler, my old tube having gone rock hard after many years.  The floor problem appears to be a design fault as other people have complained of the same thing during previous build of this kit.

The buffers were painted at the same time as the underframe and brake gear at the beginning of the build.  They have small spigots attached and are simply pushed into the holes in the headstock, or would do in a perfect world!  I had to open up the holes with a 1.6mm drill.  Ensure that the shortest of the four ribs on each buffer faces upwards.  I secured them with a lick of solvent.

Time to deal with the couplings.  As previously stated, I am going to use Bachmann NEM tension-lock couplings on this vehicle. First off you require two Coupling Mounting Blocks designed for Bachmann couplings. I originally obtained mine from Parkside Dundas.  These can now be obtained from Peco under their Parkside banner.  This is what you are looking for…