Ffestiniog Early Brake Van

As part of my 16 mm scale testing programme I also bought an I P Engineering laser cut Ffestiniog early brake van. Totally irrelevant in a large scale 1:19 Nystrup Gravel scene, but a wagon with lots of character and charm. Perhaps it would even qualify as 'cute'. Having seen it at Boston Lodge on my recent visit to the Ffestiniog Railway, I couldn't help buying a kit. I shopped at I P Engineerings own website and found the packet on my door step a week and a half later.

The I P Engineering kit built, but still unpainted. Not my model, but an image from I P Engineering's website.

The majority of the parts are from laser cut wood. The wood is nicely cut and only minute tabs keep the parts attached to the surrounding fret. Metal wheels and brass bearings are included as well as a few white metal castings that make up detail parts like buffers, iron strapping and door handles. Decals are included in the kit.

The complete kit laid out on the garden table.

The kit is designed for the frames including wheelsets to be permanently glued to the body. That is not a design that appeals to me. I like my models to have the running gear and the body as separate parts. In 1:35 scale that has helped when servicing the models, doing repairs or replacing broken parts. I assume that approach will also prove helpful in 16 mm scale. Very little work produced an easy to disassemble model.

Added wooden stop to enable the body to rest on the frames.

I made a hole for a bolt to enable the frames to be separated from the body. In the other end the buffer assembly keeps the frames firmly in place. Here the wheels' running surfaces have been masked off in preparation for priming.

Current status on the brake van. Size comparison with an in-progress Hudson skip.

Cars for 16 mm scale

As I'm quite fond of road vehicles I couldn't think of testing a new scale without checking out if any cars are available. I was pleased to find that you can get nice pre-assembled road vehicles in 1/18 scale that can be used in 16 mm scale. Most of the available models are modern or high-powered cars of no use to me. Nevertheless I found a rather good selection fitting within a 1950's Danish scene. I ordered a pair of nice, characterful French cars because I fancied them and was able to get them to a nice price.

Straight from the box to the garden for a snapshot.

One of the cars arriving in a very large box from France was a diecast Chenard & Walcker type CHV van from 1946. I'm not sure there ever was such a van in Denmark, but the design was taken over by Peugeot and vans of that type were seen on Danish roads. With a modest rating of 26 hp the van was most likely not exactly fast.

The manufacturer of the model is the French company Norev. Being made from metal it is probably the heaviest model I have ever owned! Despite being diecast and pre-assembled I find the detail very satisfactory. It must be the large scale that enables such fine detail to be achieved on a pre-assembled model right out of the box. The rear view mirrors on the doors look a little toy like, but I think a washing with diluted black oil paint will bring out the detail on the mirrors a little better.

I love the way the front doors open!

Most 1/18 car models probably end up as collectors' items in their boxes or in a cupboard. My lovely green van will be fitted with Danish license plates and I will try to remove most of the things identifying it as a French registrered car. It will probably receive some light weathering to enhance realism. It will make it completely worthless on the collectors' market, but I'm a builder and user of models, not a collector.

Skips in 16 mm scale

With an arm encased in plaster 16 mm scale projects have a clear benefit over my 1:35 ones. They are larger and more manageable with my restricted use of my left hand. Consequently, I have been working on two skips, as that is a type of wagon I’m quite well used to handle.

When I bought decals for my GVT wagon I also had two Hudson skips from Binnie Engineering sent to Denmark. I added metal wheels to the order. Both to enhance future running qualities and to provide some weight. Looking through the plastic bag of kit parts upon arrival revealed a simple, but basically sound kit, although with a little less detail than my 1:35 Hudson skips from Scale Link.

Instructions for the kit and the metal wheel set.

My first task was to fill some large sink holes in the skip frame. Located in the curved end parts of the frame, the holes needed several passes with putty and files to be filled. I drilled out the axle boxes for the brass top hat bearings, fitting them with AC-glue. Then I glued the 14 parts together, leaving out the plastic coupling horns. 

With putty and sanding I managed to remove the sink holes in the frame.

I intend to improve the skips a bit, adding detail on axle boxes, improved representation of couplings and enhance detail on the edges of the skip body.

Two Nystrup Gravel skips ready for detailing and final assembly.

Vacation And Obstruction

With decals arrived I could get on with the finishing touches on my 16 mm scale Glyn Valley wagon. A wagon I thought would make an easy and relaxing build to last me through my vacation. It even outlasted my vacation as I'm currently not completely fit modelling wise. During reroofing one of my sheds I had an incident on a ladder leaving me with a broken left wrist. No lasting damage, but enough to limit modelling for a while.

The decals from 'Dickies Decals' are in place. They work well with my usual decal solutions MR Hobby decal softner and setter. I chose no 157 on one side and no 130 on the other. You never see the wagon from both sides at the same time, so why not create some variety! I have picked up the trick from David Taylor and his 0-16.5 Charmouth layout.

Decals were fitted before my little accident and since I have been enjoying weathering the little wagon. Small heaps of granite chippings have been glued inside the wagon. Interior as well as exterior have been weathered with oil and acrylic paints, chalk colours and graphite from a soft pencil. It may need a little additional treatment, particular on the inside.

The 157-side of the Binnie Engineering wagon. I'm not in any way certain if there ever was a GVT wagon numbered 157 or 130. The kit was bought as I felt an urge, not after any deliberation at all or because I know anything about the GVT.

The 130-side of the wagon. A simple design fit for a primitive industrial railway.

The inside still needs some attention to blend the different colours together.

I'm sure wagon 157/130 isn't my last model in 1/19 scale. I like the physical presence of the large models and the relatively large trade support. I notice that the level of detailing isn't always to the standard I'm used to in 1:35 but then there's something for myself to add. Currently I have a Ffestiniog brake van in progress and two Hudson skips unassembled.