GWR Diag. V5 Passenger Brake Van

Not one to pass up a challenge, I saw the potential in making up two different types of passenger stock from a pair of old Triang Clerestory Brake Thirds. Studying the drawings and photos in well known Great Western coaching stock publications revealed the two compartment sections joined together would produce Diagram C23 10 compartment coach. Then trimming one ducket section off the remaining two brake end sections and joining them together would produce a diagram V5 Passenger Brake Van. Upon making the cuts in the right places and joining them together, both vehicles were accurate for length and looked very much like the prototype photos.

The two vehicles cut and joined together V5 front and C23 to the rear,
undercoated. Internal partition roof supports were added to help hold and
secure the new roof to made. 

The V5 PBV roof line was ever so slightly lower than what it should be but I would be happy with that as it's not obvious. The chassis gear would need the four white metal axlebox/springs, two brass etched W iron sets and two Maunsel style axles to ride on. The long tank, vacuum cylinder, brake shoes , hangers, rodding, and side boards were scratch-built from styrene and spring steel wire. The side boards were secured using staple gun staples which are quite effective given they have a rectangle cross section. Kadee couplers were secured in place with screws and some weight added under the floor.

V5 PBV with cream air brushed on ready for masking for the chocolate brown.

 The vehicle would have the 1928 to 1934 livery so masking for the chocolate had to be carefully done to be faithful to the scheme. Once the brown was dry it was masked up for grimy black to the side sills and chassis including the buffers and beams. 

Roof supports added. roof made up, transfers added, windows
picked out in "Mahogany"

A roof was made from 30thou styrene, bent and formed in the right places. I glued in a couple of lengths of code 100 rail upside down along the curve line inside the roof. This would aid in holding the roof to shape and not warp over time. The roof was glued on and painted, along with the last single gold line separating the cream from the chocolate. This was done with a bow pen.

Roof added with rain strips, lamp housings, end handrails and some weathering to finish.

The final result is convincing and I look forward to towing the V5 behind the 517 class sometime soon.