Brake Van
-
This
is the only brake van on the CSLR and is a long awaited vehicle. It began life
as an LGB 4-wheel refrigerator van for Lowenbrau Beer (some were unsure of its
change in purpose!) in a very bright blue colour. On the
whole, the van did not fit with the CSLR stock and hence it was chosen for
modification. A kit of parts was purchased from GRS to provide the material
for the veranda construction. Whilst not expensive, prior viewing of the
constituent parts would have shown how easy it would be to use 'raw'
plasticard to the same effect. There is little modification needed to the
existing van, save painting, the new veranda end is constructed then glued to
the balcony end forming a separate unit. This means the van can still be
dismantled as per the original.
The body of the van is painted using car sprays - red primer and Vauxhall Brazil Brown with Nissan Red buffer beams. The handrail detail is picked out using a Matt Black touch-up paint (the ones with the brush in the cap). In the picture, the van needs lettering and I intend to add floorboards to the veranda using lolly sticks.
Thoughts of doors for the hole in the cab back of No.3 turned to why they were there in the first place - and a redundant Mamod open wagon seemed an ideal donor. Removal of the Mamod buffers allowed the beams to pull off as the rivets are in slots, these then had the coupling hooks removed and the resulting hole opened out to take the fixing for a CSLR standard D-coupler. Some 45mm gauge wheels replaced the Mamod originals (32mm). A few swift coats of matt black were followed by self adhesive letters.
Internally, a tub from some "Toxic Waste" sweets was slightly shortened to fit across the wagon, primed and painted with the remnants of a tin of maroon, and a "BP" shield affixed. A packing crate with the lid off was added, a Lego shovel and a length of chain. A bucket completes the look.
KDBP & Co. Hoppers
The rake of Bachmann hoppers that have lived in the garden since day one have finally had a spruce up and tone down job. The opportunity was taken to oil the bearings too, as the 'realistic' squeak had become a bit to realistic! The Pennsylvania road names were removed with nail polish remover (shh!) and self adhesive KDBP & Co. added.
The original load plates were shortened and narrowed slightly to make them sit inside the wagon. The space above was filled with Pearlite - very light and white and available at all good garden centres. This was then given a spray of dilute PVA to fix it in place. Some old polyfilla was sprinkled from above to give a dusting of chalky consistency and finally a dusting of white spray from a long way off was applied. The lot was then sprayed with more dilute PVA to seal it.
An interesting effect is caused by the cobwebs across the end framing now having a coating of white powder and paint!
Choppers - replacing the bogie mounted LGB type couplers with body mounted Accucraft choppers has brought the rake closer and made for a tighter coupling. To achieve this, the choppers were mounted to the Bachmann central frame girder using their pivot bolt. The hook was replaced with a bolt and the frame has a slot filed to clear the back mounting plate of the coupler. At the same time, more weathering was added to the bogies using acrylic paints, burnt sienna and umber for general 'muck'.
Southdown Rockworks Wooden Hoppers
This rake of four hoppers was obtained as a job-lot from the White Pass line in Totton. when they arrived they had knuckle couplers fitted (Kadee) but as these were completely unsuitable for the CSLR, they were swiftly changed for Accucraft choppers, much like the KDBP hoppers above. The hoppers have been suitably re-badged with CSLR running plates and Southdown Rockworks name boards. These were produced on photo paper using the computer and the signage cut to shape and size using a small cutting mat and slicer. The hoppers have a false floor fitted and a coal load added, being sprayed with diluted PVA to hold everything in place when stored or being transported.
The CSLR is home to a rake of seven Accucraft brown 8 plank open wagons, helpfully lettered SR (for Southdown Rockworks), with two more similar wagons in grey finish. The Accucraft wagons are supplied with both 45mm and 32mm gauge wheel sets, so some bartering on club night left me with spare 45mm sets and some bargain spare chopper couplings. Two 4-plank wagon kits from Brandbright required assembly as per instructions, with an enlargement to the axle bushes being the only diversion necessary.
The operation proved so successful, that a further 5-plank kit was duly purchased and assembled. The wagons are fitted with the choppers by drilling and tapping 10BA directly into the hardwood buffer beams - not a problem in the 14-loaded-wagon consist so far.
Paint is Matte Chocolate Brown Plasticote from B&Q, no undercoat required and there feels to be enough left to do another two wagons. The ironwork and undercarriage is picked out with acrylic matt black. Transfers are DJB rub-down from their L&B range, adjusting the numbers as required to prevent duplication. Finally, a coat of clear acrylic spray secured and sealed the lot.
Flat Wagon
Following on from the open wagons above, there was enough running gear left over for a subsequent wagon. Another set of DJB transfers and some Brandbright axle boxes (RSA18A - larger diameter bushes) led to the formation of another wagon from strip wood reclaimed from some Venetian blinds.
Painting followed as per the open wagons and another very useful wagon was produced.
Following the increase in unfitted goods traffic, the chance to obtain an ex-WLLR (Accucraft) Guards Van was not to be missed, and after negotiations said van arrived at the CSLR on 25th December 2009. The photos here show the van being tested early in 2010.
