0 Gauge Vanwide Box Van

This box van was chosen because I have a dimensioned drawing from a magazine. It is an interesting wagon because it was probably the last 10' wheelbase box van to be made by British Railways (in 1962).

Given the name Vanwide because the open doors reveal a large access space 9 feet wide. The doors close flush with the body. When opening the doors pull outward and slide over the van sides being guided by top and bottom runners. The prototype is also noted for its flush plywood sides and lack of angle iron bracing. The end panels are corrugated from pressed steel.

Bizarrely, the two page article in the reference magazine (see below) only showed dimensions of the side panel. The chassis, end panel and roof had to be scaled from photographs.

For the model the doors are not operational, being embedded in  the side panels.

I was able to use some chassis components designed for previous models but this van still required much time over a two week period to design, 3D print and build.

Components were glued together using Super Glue, Added strength to joins was achieved by sprinkling sodium bicarbonate powder into the wet glue, a tip give by Monty's Matchbox Makeovers on YouTube.

This van is considered new for the modelled period so, it is finished in ex works condition. The red bauxite was mixed from Humbrol 100, 20 and 160. Two of these are matte. The gloss finish was applied from gloss cork tile sealer diluted with white spirit. All the above was chosen from what I had in stock The roof is Halford's grey primer and black pastel scrapes brushed over.the dry paint.

Compensated chassis uses the rocking yoke method previously explained and sprung buffers use an adaption of the Peco method, also previously explained.

References:

Another BR Box Van - Railway Modeller February 1968 (drawing)
Wagon Page BR Box Vans - Railway Modeller August 1971
Paul Bartlett's Photographs

Cost:

Plastic: £1.48
Wheelset: £8.75 (including postage) Peartree Engineering bought on Ebay.
Extras: pennies
Total: <£10.50

Also available from the trade: Kit £38 (Slaters Plastikard) or RTR £52.50 (Dapol).

0 Gauge Conflat Container Type A

The A container is half the size of the B container. I have 00 gauge models of the B container so, to model the smaller one for 0 gauge provided greater motivation. and it requires less plastic, thus cost.

I found a drawing and example on the web (see references below).

The box shape should be simple to make but I saw difficulties ahead due to the extensive detail of the panels. I tried to 3D print the panels with their narrow boarding twice but the print quality was very poor. On the verge of giving up and making it in paper and board I discovered that a small number of the prototypes had panels made from plywood with a pressed steel end. This was easy for the 3D printer to fabricate.

The livery is my own 'faded bauxite' mix of Humbrol 100 with a little 160 and then weathered with black and white pastel scrapes.

As with the wagon the chain securing hoops were made functional using phosphor bronze wire.

The decals were designed and printed onto sticky paper.

The large information panel required extensive research to identify data that could be read in a photograph.

I gave the container the same identification number (A3705B) as that in the reference below.

The shackles were very fiddly to make from 0.5mm galvanised wire and are rather crude compared to proprietary offerings. They can be applied and removed from container and wagon to operate the wagon with or without a container but they are delicate and I can see I may need to permanently fix the container and shackles to the wagon if they break due to handling.

References:

Container A3705B photos
Container A photos and drawing

Cost:

Plastic: £0.42
extras: pennies

Total: < £0.50

A variant of the container type A is available in kit form (Slaters Plastikard, about £13) and shackles (CPL Products, about £8.75)

Next up is a BR Box Van.