Dutch Van

[Dhu Varren]

Some time ago, I decided to build a Dutch Van to go with my rake of RPSI Mk 2 coaches.

 

A couple of years ago, at an exhibition, I picked up an old Triang Track Cleaning wagon, with no roof and a broken bogie, for £1.00. Later in the year at another exhibition, I picked up an old Triang Transcontinental Reefer Boxcar with a broken roof also for £1.00. The bogies were used to repair the track cleaning wagon, and the roof, after repair and adjustment, was also used on the track cleaner.

That left a perfectly good Reefer body in my junk box. After checking the dimensions, it was found to be 1mm longer than a Dutch Van would be, but the width was fine. A bit of work with a fine saw and a file, saw the height reduced and the raised detail on the sides and ends removed, leaving a very useable shell for a Dutch Van.

 

 

This van was to be one of the original steam generator type, one of which is now running with the RPSI as No 462.

A new roof was fabricated, using two Triang Hornby LWB goods brake van roofs to get the basic arc for the roof, plastic strip makes up the extra width. Ribbing was added using plastic rod flattened on one side, and roof detail made from plasticard, and bits of scrap plastic.

This is a picture of the roof of an EGV Dutch Van under construction using the two Triang roofs.

 

 

Windows and doors were either cut out, or scribed where appropriate, and handrails and other detail added.

 

 

 

The van is currently sitting on Jouef MK3 coach bogies, which surprisingly don’t look too much out of place, but these will ultimately be replaced with something more suitable at a later date.

 

 

After priming with grey primer from Halfords, which would normally reveal any imperfections in the construction of the vehicle, I am glad to say the primer revealed nothing worth talking about.

 

 

 

The next step was to finish it off in RPSI livery, glaze it and finish the underframe.

Almost completed. Just glazing and underframe detail to do.

 

 

 

I have to say, I am really pleased the way it has turned out, even down to only having the lining on one side, as the prototype had at one time.

 

From refrigerator van to heating van:-

[Warbonnet]

That's a lovely job!

[enniscorthyman]

Looks fantastic,great job.

[Kirley]

Excellent work as usual David

[jhb171achill]

Wow! That is absolutely stunning..... outstanding in every way!!!!

 

As a matter of interest how did you do the lining and lettering?

[Dhu Varren]

The lettering is off an RPSI transfer sheet by Railtec Transfers. The lining was done on a PC, and printed on to transfer paper on a laser printer. Railtec also do an RPSI lining transfer sheet, but it is quite an expensive sheet.

[Noel]

Very fine job and a nice livery

[richrua]

very high quality. looks rtr !

[popeye]

Looks great, the the green matches very well.

[ttc0169]

Excellent work-very nice.

[jhb171achill]

Fair enough, Dhu Varren, thanks - I wasn't aware that Railtec did them. Excellent job of your own with the lining.

 

That lining was deliberately designed to "look" UTA like, without actually being UTA, as the carriages were never UTA carriages.

 

For the record, and for those who (like me) can't function nowadays without glasses, UTA was straw coloured, lined each side in red, while RPSI is yellow with a separate red line on one side.

[Hunslet 102]

Excellent conversation David,well done

[Barl]

Fantastic job on the gen van, it looks perfect next to the RPSI mk2's.

 

Can I ask what paint you used for the conversion or was it one you mixed yourself?

[Dhu Varren]

Fantastic job on the gen van, it looks perfect next to the RPSI mk2's.

 

Can I ask what paint you used for the conversion or was it one you mixed yourself?

 

The Mk2s are repaints as well, using the same paint, which is a 50/50 mix of Humbrol 3 and 195. After the decals were applied, a coat of Railmatch satin varnish was sprayed on.

[John-r]

Have to say that's a fantastic piece of work,

Really looks great, well done,

I do like the Dutch vans both unrebuilt and rebuilt

Just something about them.

[Dhu Varren]

After three years of being on and off the back burner, the EGV is finally complete. The long delay has been mainly due to lack of roof detail, and being overtaken by other projects, but eventually sufficient information was obtained for the build to proceed.

 

The pictures show the completed van, firstly in bare plastic, then in Halfords grey primer, and finally fully finished and painted.

 

The van is entirely made from plastic sheet, rod and strip. The only commercial parts used, were the two Hornby brake van roofs used to form the basic roof profile, the gangways are by Jouef, and the buffers are by MJT. As with the earlier RPSI van, the EGV is running on Jouef Mk 3 bogies, until such time as something more suitable comes along.

 

The final two pictures are of a couple of Hornby Mk 2s reliveried, to go with the EGV. As per the prototype vehicles, the InterCity logo is located in different positions on the coach sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John-r]

Absolutely stunning piece of craftsmanship , very well done. the Dutch van is a personal favourite

of mine for some reason they just look neat, now if only I could get my hands on one?. great job

[Noel]

Superb looking result, especially as scratch built. A very fine scale and precise job with an equally perfect paint job.

[JasonB]

Fantastic result.Flawless paintjob all over and a really crisp finish on the lining.Top class work.

[popeye]

Perfect work, and painting. Well done.

[burnthebox]

Cometh the moment, Cometh the man, & Dhu Varren sir you have surpassed the word masterclass, that's modelling & respraying on another plane, your skill shows no bounds. I have just one very simple question, the paint is it enamel or Acrylic, & I'll confess I have nooooo knowledge whatsoever about Acrylics, TIA

BTB

[Dhu Varren]

Cometh the moment, Cometh the man, & Dhu Varren sir you have surpassed the word masterclass, that's modelling & respraying on another plane, your skill shows no bounds. I have just one very simple question, the paint is it enamel or Acrylic, & I'll confess I have nooooo knowledge whatsoever about Acrylics, TIA

BTB

BTB, The paint used is Revell enamel, a mix of 30 Orange gloss and 85 Brown matt. This was matched to the colour on my MM Tippex liveried Cravens coaches, and gives a lovely semi gloss finish which takes masking tape well. The black is also enamel by Revell, but is satin finish straight out of the tin. The whole thing is finished off with Railmatch satin varnish which gives everything, including brush touch ups and decals, the same consistent finish.

Due to the problems, and cost, of getting paints by post these days, I prefer to get paint such as Humbrol and Revell locally, as it is quite readily available, and mix it to the required colour.

[murrayec]

Hi DV

 

Very nice work, yes the paint post problem is a pain, even worse getting it to here....

 

Eoin

[craven1508]

a set of little gems there!!! such memories of them iconic vans,

people complained about the mk 2a,s, but they were comfi too.

[Barl]

Stunning job on the Dutch van! I know when I built mine a few years ago the roof was the most time consuming part also.

[flange lubricator]

Great work on the gen van currently I'm trying to convert a Silver Fox Dutch Van to an EGV do you have the dimensions of the added headstock's .

 

[jhb171achill]

On 03/04/2016 at 10:26 AM, Dhu Varren said:

Some time ago, I decided to build a Dutch Van to go with my rake of RPSI Mk 2 coaches.

 

A couple of years ago, at an exhibition, I picked up an old Triang Track Cleaning wagon, with no roof and a broken bogie, for £1.00. Later in the year at another exhibition, I picked up an old Triang Transcontinental Reefer Boxcar with a broken roof also for £1.00. The bogies were used to repair the track cleaning wagon, and the roof, after repair and adjustment, was also used on the track cleaner.

That left a perfectly good Reefer body in my junk box. After checking the dimensions, it was found to be 1mm longer than a Dutch Van would be, but the width was fine. A bit of work with a fine saw and a file, saw the height reduced and the raised detail on the sides and ends removed, leaving a very useable shell for a Dutch Van.

 

 

This van was to be one of the original steam generator type, one of which is now running with the RPSI as No 462.

A new roof was fabricated, using two Triang Hornby LWB goods brake van roofs to get the basic arc for the roof, plastic strip makes up the extra width. Ribbing was added using plastic rod flattened on one side, and roof detail made from plasticard, and bits of scrap plastic.

This is a picture of the roof of an EGV Dutch Van under construction using the two Triang roofs.

 

 

Windows and doors were either cut out, or scribed where appropriate, and handrails and other detail added.

 

 

 

The van is currently sitting on Jouef MK3 coach bogies, which surprisingly don’t look too much out of place, but these will ultimately be replaced with something more suitable at a later date.

 

 

After priming with grey primer from Halfords, which would normally reveal any imperfections in the construction of the vehicle, I am glad to say the primer revealed nothing worth talking about.

 

 

 

The next step was to finish it off in RPSI livery, glaze it and finish the underframe.

Almost completed. Just glazing and underframe detail to do.

 

 

 

I have to say, I am really pleased the way it has turned out, even down to only having the lining on one side, as the prototype had at one time.

 

From refrigerator van to heating van:-

That is nothing short of OUTSTANDING!! Superb work! 

[Dhu Varren]

15 hours ago, flange lubricator said:

Great work on the gen van currently I'm trying to convert a Silver Fox Dutch Van to an EGV do you have the dimensions of the added headstock's .

 

I don't have any actual dimensions for the added headstocks. It was simply a case of taking measurements from photographs, and adjusting the ends of the model until they looked right. 

If it is any help, I have made my extensions 5.5mm each end. 

Edited March 12, 2018 by Dhu Varren

[flange lubricator]

52 minutes ago, Dhu Varren said:

I don't have any actual dimensions for the added headstocks. It was simply a case of taking measurements from photographs, and adjusting the ends of the model until they looked right. 

If it is any help, I have made my extensions 5.5mm each end. 

Your dimensions look spot on that's why I asked you must have a very keen eye , some models I have seen they look a little too high many thanks for your help I will work with 5.5mm.

 

[Robert Shrives]

I am also at this stage with mine but stalled on side grills - today contacted John Fowler of A1 models who back in the distant past did a set of Mk3 gen grills...  hoping he can find some or art work - I asked for two sets if he can find them.

Looking at my effort I think I have the angled slow to long and need revisit so the 5.5mm is also useful to my version.

 

Robert  

[flange lubricator]

I have been toying with the idea of using Shawplan  EECD4006 Mk3 Sleeper coach window frames and putting grilles into them.

 

Edited March 12, 2018 by flange lubricator

[Dhu Varren]

I just used 5 thou plasticard cut to shape and size, and glued in position with solvent. When totally set, the hole for the grille was carefully opened up and filed out, leaving a thin surround. A grille was then fitted into the hole.

[flange lubricator]

On 3/4/2016 at 10:26 AM, Dhu Varren said:

Some time ago, I decided to build a Dutch Van to go with my rake of RPSI Mk 2 coaches.

 

A couple of years ago, at an exhibition, I picked up an old Triang Track Cleaning wagon, with no roof and a broken bogie, for £1.00. Later in the year at another exhibition, I picked up an old Triang Transcontinental Reefer Boxcar with a broken roof also for £1.00. The bogies were used to repair the track cleaning wagon, and the roof, after repair and adjustment, was also used on the track cleaner.

That left a perfectly good Reefer body in my junk box. After checking the dimensions, it was found to be 1mm longer than a Dutch Van would be, but the width was fine. A bit of work with a fine saw and a file, saw the height reduced and the raised detail on the sides and ends removed, leaving a very useable shell for a Dutch Van.

 

 

This van was to be one of the original steam generator type, one of which is now running with the RPSI as No 462.

A new roof was fabricated, using two Triang Hornby LWB goods brake van roofs to get the basic arc for the roof, plastic strip makes up the extra width. Ribbing was added using plastic rod flattened on one side, and roof detail made from plasticard, and bits of scrap plastic.

This is a picture of the roof of an EGV Dutch Van under construction using the two Triang roofs.

 

 

Windows and doors were either cut out, or scribed where appropriate, and handrails and other detail added.

 

 

 

The van is currently sitting on Jouef MK3 coach bogies, which surprisingly don’t look too much out of place, but these will ultimately be replaced with something more suitable at a later date.

 

 

After priming with grey primer from Halfords, which would normally reveal any imperfections in the construction of the vehicle, I am glad to say the primer revealed nothing worth talking about.

 

 

 

The next step was to finish it off in RPSI livery, glaze it and finish the underframe.

Almost completed. Just glazing and underframe detail to do.

 

 

 

I have to say, I am really pleased the way it has turned out, even down to only having the lining on one side, as the prototype had at one time.

 

From refrigerator van to heating van:-

Any Idea What green did you use on this ?

[Dhu Varren]

It was a 50/50 mix of Humbrol 195 Satin Dark Green and either Humbrol 3 Brunswick Green or 149 Matt Dark Green. Looking at my collection of paint tins, I would say it is more likely to be the 149.

[murphaph]

Does anyone have a colour code for the roof of the rebuilt EGV's? On page 90 of Irish Railway Rambler the pic clearly shows that the roof is a fairly dark grey colour on 4602 at least.

I'm at that stage now. Eyeballing it I'm reasonably happy with Revell 69 granite grey which I have here by chance but in the unlikely event of anyone having a RAL code that code would be appreciated.