peterbunce
1880's Colorado Narrow gauge on 45mm track
Hi,
I have built form the Bristol Wagon Co catalogue (the company closed in 1924) a ?Game Van?, which is a better name for this vehicle than a butchers van, but that is really what it is. The plate was copied and adjusted to the size I wanted using the wheels as a fixed size.
The vehicle (when full size) had a removable top, so it was both an open cart, and a closed and ventilated van. The division is where the colours change. The vehicle is quite high to allow carcasses to be hung on rails inside it. My small one is in one piece.
Built from plasticard, with Evergreen clapboard for the ventilators (2.5mm spacing), the body is .040, with .060 for the framing, the roof also being .040 plasticard, with a front rainstrip and paper bands across the roof to replicate the joins in the covering. I used Hobby?s wheels, with new (heavy paper) tyres added after painting. The mule is from ?Safari?, who has had his ears moved to a better position.
The shafts are from Plastruct tube, with a piece of copper wire inside to make the tube keep its shape; the steps are from .020 plasticard, with paper clip wire for the metal dropper. The springs have 1 leaf of .020 aluminum and 3 others of .020 plasticard. The aluminium makes the spring keep its shape when bent; this vehicle sat too high when almost complete so the three springs were flattened a bit, an the square (Plastuct ) tube was changed into a drop centre design, by adding two small vertical pieces and a pair of horizontal pieces the joints were reinforced by glued in (1.5mm brass) wire to lower it.
The lamps are fiddly little things! They are only 1? high with the centre part being 11mm ? made from a couple of bits of plastic straws (one glued inside the other) a piece of tube for the front, and a series of plasticard discs top and bottom with rod added at each end. To distance them from the sides a 10mm piece of .080 plasticard is used. The handrails by the side of then and the rear door handles are from paperclip wire.
The painting is from acrylic and enamel with the vents being painted a golden brown, and the inside edges enhanced with dark brown and the lowest paint made more obvious with a fine pencil line. The tiny brackets that are on the edge of the roof are a 1mm sliver of tube and plasticard. I have painted the roof a light red oxide, and then weathered and finally varnished the whole thing. The 3 springs two along the length of the vehicle and a ?helper? spring across it facing upwards; the main springs have a ?C? iron at the rear.
The mule has been re-painted after the minor surgery, and then given a full set of harness using a breast harness as this is a relatively light vehicle.
The driver was next, I think the figure is an old ?Carlo Spirito? one alas no longer available; a hat was made from drinks can metal (two thicknesses) a crown to the hat from filler shaped when dry, and fitted then his (resin so it broke off easily) cigar replaced; he was given an apron from tin foil, and his (separate) arms adjusted to take a whip, which is made from plastic rod, a wrap of paper for the handle, and some fuse wire for the whip and one the end a glue teardrop for the clacker, and in his other hand the reins. He has a cushion to provide some comfort and there is a backrest, fitted just below the join between the two halves of the vehicle. All the harness is my usual aluminum foil, in three different widths, with 30 amp fuse wire loops.
I will affix to the upper sides a large board with the name and occupation of the owner, the transfers have been designed but will need to be printed.
The whole 11? x 4? ensemble is fixed to a board for both the ease of movement and safety of it.
Here are some photos of the vehicle, the body of which is 4.25 x 2.75 x 4 inches
The body with the roof stringers fitted; the roof must be pre-curved ( using your fingerrs) before fitting.
The underside showing the three springs; the black is plasticard.
The front of the (almost finished) vehicle.
The rear end showing the access doors.
The roof showing the front rainstrip, and the joining straps across the roof.
The small lights made from little bits of tube, discs, and smaller bits of rod.
Yours Peter.
I have built form the Bristol Wagon Co catalogue (the company closed in 1924) a ?Game Van?, which is a better name for this vehicle than a butchers van, but that is really what it is. The plate was copied and adjusted to the size I wanted using the wheels as a fixed size.
The vehicle (when full size) had a removable top, so it was both an open cart, and a closed and ventilated van. The division is where the colours change. The vehicle is quite high to allow carcasses to be hung on rails inside it. My small one is in one piece.
Built from plasticard, with Evergreen clapboard for the ventilators (2.5mm spacing), the body is .040, with .060 for the framing, the roof also being .040 plasticard, with a front rainstrip and paper bands across the roof to replicate the joins in the covering. I used Hobby?s wheels, with new (heavy paper) tyres added after painting. The mule is from ?Safari?, who has had his ears moved to a better position.
The shafts are from Plastruct tube, with a piece of copper wire inside to make the tube keep its shape; the steps are from .020 plasticard, with paper clip wire for the metal dropper. The springs have 1 leaf of .020 aluminum and 3 others of .020 plasticard. The aluminium makes the spring keep its shape when bent; this vehicle sat too high when almost complete so the three springs were flattened a bit, an the square (Plastuct ) tube was changed into a drop centre design, by adding two small vertical pieces and a pair of horizontal pieces the joints were reinforced by glued in (1.5mm brass) wire to lower it.
The lamps are fiddly little things! They are only 1? high with the centre part being 11mm ? made from a couple of bits of plastic straws (one glued inside the other) a piece of tube for the front, and a series of plasticard discs top and bottom with rod added at each end. To distance them from the sides a 10mm piece of .080 plasticard is used. The handrails by the side of then and the rear door handles are from paperclip wire.
The painting is from acrylic and enamel with the vents being painted a golden brown, and the inside edges enhanced with dark brown and the lowest paint made more obvious with a fine pencil line. The tiny brackets that are on the edge of the roof are a 1mm sliver of tube and plasticard. I have painted the roof a light red oxide, and then weathered and finally varnished the whole thing. The 3 springs two along the length of the vehicle and a ?helper? spring across it facing upwards; the main springs have a ?C? iron at the rear.
The mule has been re-painted after the minor surgery, and then given a full set of harness using a breast harness as this is a relatively light vehicle.
The driver was next, I think the figure is an old ?Carlo Spirito? one alas no longer available; a hat was made from drinks can metal (two thicknesses) a crown to the hat from filler shaped when dry, and fitted then his (resin so it broke off easily) cigar replaced; he was given an apron from tin foil, and his (separate) arms adjusted to take a whip, which is made from plastic rod, a wrap of paper for the handle, and some fuse wire for the whip and one the end a glue teardrop for the clacker, and in his other hand the reins. He has a cushion to provide some comfort and there is a backrest, fitted just below the join between the two halves of the vehicle. All the harness is my usual aluminum foil, in three different widths, with 30 amp fuse wire loops.
I will affix to the upper sides a large board with the name and occupation of the owner, the transfers have been designed but will need to be printed.
The whole 11? x 4? ensemble is fixed to a board for both the ease of movement and safety of it.
Here are some photos of the vehicle, the body of which is 4.25 x 2.75 x 4 inches
The body with the roof stringers fitted; the roof must be pre-curved ( using your fingerrs) before fitting.
The underside showing the three springs; the black is plasticard.
The front of the (almost finished) vehicle.
The rear end showing the access doors.
The roof showing the front rainstrip, and the joining straps across the roof.
The small lights made from little bits of tube, discs, and smaller bits of rod.
Yours Peter.
Its an unusual vehicle - reminds me of a 'Paddy Wagon' of that era!