As often with Bulleid he utilised innovative construction techniques and materials; and his lightweight Diagram 3105 Luggage Van were no exception. The ten vans were built using reinforced plastic body panels for the sides, ends and roof attached to a lightweight welded body framing (the roof supports were laminated ash to give the required curvature. Whilst the vents were traditional light steel sheet.
The body required to be mounted to the underframe via shock absorbing mounts to prevent any distortion in use. Even the underframe was unconventional with no solebars, but two centre longitudinal members cantilevered from which were the body supports and axlebox assemblies. The underframe was 1′ longer than the body, again to aid protection of the body.
These ten vans, numbered 1401-10 were constructed between December 1943 and September 1944. As the plastic could only be produced in black they entered service in a black livery later painted BR(s) Green.
The capacity of the body was more than 40cu ft greater than a standard Luggage Van and 2 tons 16cwt lighter. One was a regular on the post war (1946-48) Golden Arrow formation, and they lasted in normal service well beyond 1960. The final survivor was s1402 that was condemned in 1972!
My model is constructed from a 3D printed kit obtained from David Paylor (based on an original design by Jonathan Duffet) Scalemodelinnovations on EBay (or search for OO Gauge 4mm Southern Plastic PMV).
The kit comprises a one piece body, chassis, footsteps and window grills. You will require to source 3″1.1/2″ 3 hole disc wheels, SR self contained buffers, vacuum cylinder, brakes, brake gear and brake hand wheels.
I used ABS white metal buffers from my stock of spare parts as were the white metal vacuum and steam pipes on the buffer beam. I used Roxey moulding etched window grills (replacing the the supplied 3D printed grills as they are much finer) and hand hand wheels. The vacuum cylinder and brake blocks came from an unmade surplus Cambrian BR Shark brake van kit. I made up the rest of the brake pull rods and their safety loops from brass wire.
To stop the body sides from warping and to provide mounting for the chassis fixing screws (self tapping) I glued 80 thou plasticard pieces between the doors (to still allow access for glazing the windows and adding the grills once painted).
There is enough spring in the axle box / W irons to allow 26mm pin point wheels to be fitted after I reamed them out first (using my DCC Concepts Axle Bearing Reamer). I also added a small piece of lead to the top of the chassis to provide a little weight for better running.
The foot boards as supplied with the kit are quite fragile so I left them off until the painting was complete and mounted to the chassis using brass wire for additional strength and support.
The completed chassis and body was rattle can spray primed with Halfords plastic primer before top coating with Halfords satin black, the roof was painted dark grey, and a mix of HMRS pressfix transfers and from Sheet BL97 by Cambridge Custom Transfers. The yellow does not quite match as well as I wanted but some light weathering should help disguise.
Overall a the 3D print has been a great basis to produce one of these unusual vehicles, and didn’t take too long to build.
THanks Graham, a very interesting prototype. I didn’t know one of these was used on the Arrer!