The model is built on my standard wagon underframe and also has working brakes, but to a different pattern to other underframes. The bodywork was built from polystyrene sheet, which works well in this application. I've been scratchbuilding models using polystyrene sheets for about 40 years, but that was in HO scale and this one is a lot bigger than anything I've previously built.......
The picture shows the underframe fitted with it's working brake gear and the footboards. A real guards van would have had a screw brake inside, but without access to the interior, the brakes are operated by the rod running off to one end. This has a notch that fits over a pin to latch it in the on position. The construction is otherwise as described in the TVT wagon underframe thread.
This photo. shows the three layers of polystyrene sheet used to construct the van sides. Some detail won't be clear, as it isn't easy to photograph the white sheets.
The inner 0.060" layer has an opening for the glazing. The middle 0.020" layer has a smaller opening which simulates the window frames. The outer 0.040" layer has the board and door detail scribed on with an Olfa P Cutter and larger window openings, so the window frames of the middle layer are recessed. The ends are made from two layers of 0.060" sheet, again with the boards scribed on. The floor isn't shown, but was made from 0.060" sheet.
This photo. shows the assembled body sides, including the side lookouts. The lookouts are built up from various thickness pieces, with an opening in the van side so the glazing can be fitted after painting.
I use Methyl Ethyl Ketone for glueing polystyrene in most cases, but it evaporates to rapidly to use for laminating large sheets. To successfully laminate the sides and ends I used Microscale Micro Weld, which is actual made from d-Limonene and is much better for laminating parts out of polystyrene sheet.
The next photo shows the fully assembled body, before detailing.
This photo shows the roof, with the 0.040" polystyrene sheet roof curved and then fitted to a bracing frame, which is my usual design method when I want to make the roof removable.
The next pic. shows the detailed body fitted with door hinges and handles, handrails, lamp irons and the roof detailed with a stove chimney and lamp tops, all fitted to the underframe. The air brake hoses were caught up in the Christmas mail jam when the photo was taken, but luckily turned up just before the underframe was painted.
The model breaks down into roof, body and underframe for painting. This also gives access to the interior so the glazing and window bars can be added after painting, without the need for masking. The floor is held to the underframe with several screws inside the body screwed into parts of the underframe. The roof is held on by long bolts that pass through the floor and screw into the roof frame. These were made by threading each end of a piece of 1/16" brass rod and soldering a brass nut on one end to make a very long hex head 10BA bolt.
The final photos. show the finished model sitting in the back 'garden' in late afternoon sunshine. For those suffering through a northern winter, the temperature in the shade at the time the photos were taken was 28C. It was 32C in the workshop.......
TVT History
With the TVT being a semi-government organisation and the State of Victoria being generally of the protectionist persuasion (unlike the free trading riff-raff over the river), it was inevitable that as much capital equipment as possible would be ordered from Victorian firms.
Baldwin had won the locomotive order based on short delivery times, as the Phoenix Foundry in Ballaarat were busy with a large VR order for broad gauge locos.
By the time the TVT was built, the VR were building their own rollingstock, but some of the firms that had built rollingstock in the past were still around and were invited to tender. The successful supplier was G. F. Pickles & Sons, who were a large builder of horse drawn vehicles and operated the splendidly name American Steam Carriage Works located in Sandhurst in Central Victoria. Their works were located in the centre of town, so it is assumed the TVT rolling stock was delivered by horse team to the VR station and shipped by rail to the TVT in Gippsland.
As Pickles had previously only built VR rolling stock, the TVT order was based on VR practice and the TVT D vans had some resemblance to VR D vans. The main difference being the substitution of the birdcage type lookout on a VR van with side lookouts on TVT vans.
Like their VR counterparts, the D vans rode very badly when they were at the back end of a long goods train and were unpopular with the guards, although they at least had a stove, which VR goods guards didn't get until the '50s. They were never replaced though and lasted until the railway was closed down in the early 1950's.
Authors Note.
The company of G. F. Pickles & Sons did actually exist and traded for many years as carriage builders in Sandhurst, now known as Bendigo after a name change in 1890. They disappeared around 1930, presumably from the combined affects of the Great Depression and the coming of motor vehicles. All long before I was growing up in the district, but that's why I chose their name to go on TVT rolling stock builders plates.
They did actually use the business name of 'American Steam Carriage Works' in the late 19th Century, which presumably meant the factory was originally equipped with US made steam powered machinery. They also used the name 'Sandhurst Rolling Stock & Carriage Manufacturing Company' for a time when they were building rolling stock for the VR.
Regards,
Graeme
