The finished article just before it left for it's new home.
The kit is supplied with fixed axlegaurds. Plan A for adding compensation didn't work well.
This is what it looks like with the wheels on and running boards added.
The Kit came with brake shoes but no rigging, so I made some with brass strip - only representational, not as per prototype
Before selling, it had an hours running to see if anything fell off. It didn't.
The body complete, but not glazed. The roof is not fixed yet.
Plan B for compensation. This is using a Connoisseur Models 3 axle coach suspension. The units fit nicely, but the axle holes had to be opened out to accept the axles. The wheels are 3' 6" 10 spoke affairs - alarmingly expensive!
I'd discovered that the L&Y painted their brake vans all black, and cheerfully assumed hand rails would be white. They aren't. A pity, as it looks really cool with them white.
I stumbled on a bundle of two of these together with a 'Tin-Tab' brake van. A nice kit to make, but I was almost caught out by the wheels required. It would probably be fine with fixed axle guards and no compensation but, well, it didn't seem right. The kits came with a compensating unit each (I have no idea if that was part of the kit or if the original owner added them). However, they didn't fit between the sole bars. After some head scratching I bought Connoisseur 3-axle coach suspension kits which fit nicely, the wheels lining up convincingly exactly behind the axle boxes. The axle holes had top be opened out (with a broach), a bit of a faff but no big deal. The resulting suspension, for that is what it is, is tremendous, the van runs beautifully. This van has gone off to a new home. One day I'll build the second one.
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