How To Build A Dapol Meat Van Kit - Model Railway Tutorial

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hi Gang, I'm really sorry about the audio issues in this video. I'm not sure what happened but unfortunately there's not much I can do about it. Hopefully it's not too distracting and you can still hear what's happening. Apologies again and normal service should be resumed in the next video 👍

[@fredtedstedman]

This is nice to see , I built all the Dapol kits for them when they remade the website and catalog . locos , waggons , buildings and structures . Kept me busy for many months building 3 at atime , what a lovely bunch of people to work with . Wales UK.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ah fantastic! That must have been a lot of fun and, although I have no connection to them, I do get the impression that they are quite friendly over at Dapol. Thanks for watching 😃

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Nice video mate. The dapol kits are really great for beginners and they do look pretty nice once complete. One tip I can give you is to spray the model in gloss varnish before adding the decals/transfers this allows them to stick alot better and the gloss film around the transfer will be invisable once it is in place and when matt varnish is applied over the top it will look like the transfer has been printed on just like an RTR model. I have been building kits for a while so that is something I have learnt. Hope that is helpful.- Nicholas.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Nicholas, yeah I'm aware of using layers of varnish for the transfers. The gloss film is something I've never really noticed (or rather it's never bothered me) which is why I tend to skip that step but I may have to give it a go in the future just to see the difference. Thanks for watching 😃

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

After taking a look at the video I think I will give one a go. Cheers Kev

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Awesome, really glad to hear that Kev! Thanks for watching 😃

[@dibsyardshuntinglayout]

I did one of these kits a year or so, ago and found it most enjoyable to build.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ah fantastic, yeah they are a fun kit to build and they still look pretty good despite their age! Thanks for watching 😃

[@rohanhalle580]

Always a pleasure to see a notification for your tutorials.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ah thanks Rohan! Really glad to hear you enjoy them so much. Thanks for watching 😃

[@thedreamtommylees]

I love doing these kits. Having built a break van, Esso tank, mineral they are great to build up a mixed freight set cheaply. I've got a cattle wagon to complete. 1 thing I have learnt though is weight is needed to help them go over points. If running with RTR stock I've noticed they tend to derail Will be getting more as they hardly take anytime to complete. Have you thought about getting a couple of the loco kits, they'll sit lovely in your engine shed on your modual layout

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Absolutely, they are good fun to build and not too complicated either. But yes, I agree they definitely need some weight to stop them derailing. Yeah the loco kits look interesting but I have so many RTR locos already that my shed is full about 10 times over 😂 I have though about partially building one of the kits though to be a loco undergoing and overhaul. Thanks for watching 👍

[@rileysrailways5735]

Very useful video for anyone wanting to build one of these. Great job as always! Keep it up!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Really glad you found it useful. A few years ago I'd have never considered building kit myself and if videos like this had been around I'd have given it a go much sooner! Thanks for watching 😃

[@adam_fordham]

Great tutorial, I've always wanted to build a kit and this looks like a great place to start 👍🏻

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Adam, yeah I'd definitely recommend these or the mineral wagons as a great way to get into kit building. Everything is included, they're fairly cheap and you don't need any fancy tools to build them. Thanks for watching 😃

[@mandbhomestead]

Great video. Those kits look good and roll nice on the layout. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Ken, yeah they are nice kits to build up and run. It's a great way of having a rake of similar wagons without the cost of buying multiple RTR wagons too! Thanks for watching 😃

[@Thomas__Blue]

I'd love to see you do a video on the Dapol Harbour Crane or Windmill, both are also very nice kits for their age honestly.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Great suggestion! I actually have a project in the back of my mind which the Crane would certainly be right for. Maybe I'll have to look into that in more detail. Thanks for watching 😃

[@railway187]

Wow, I didn’t know that these kits existed, very good stuff 👍 I wish they would provide Russian or Belgian rolling stock in kits 😁 Good tutorial!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yeah they've been around for ages now. I think they were made by Airfix originally then moved to Dapol some time ago. They're showing their age and simplicity a bit now but they're still perfectly good for most model railways. We really are spoilt for choice with British outline model railways these days! Thanks for watching 😃

[@russellbenton2987]

Good tutorial . You asked about other Dapol kits . They used to do an Esso tanker . That would be useful to see assembled . I know you can buy RTR versions but these are much more expensive .

[@thedreamtommylees]

I've done the Esso kit, was a great build. Admittedly I need to add weight as it is light and is needed really to run over points

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Russell, ooh a tanker could be really interesting to have a go at. I'll definitely keep it in mind for a future video! Thanks for watching 😃

[@gagasmancave8859]

I fund it easier to apply decals while the side is flat on the bench good bold vid

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hey Nigel, do you mean before the body is assembled or just laying it on it's side like I did in the video. To be honest though, either is a valid way of doing it as long as it works for you. Thanks for watching 😃

[@gagasmancave8859]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy before assembly its just a little bit easier but as you say both ways work 😀😀😀

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

@@gagasmancave8859 Awesome, yeah considering I painted it before assembling the kit anyway it's really only one stop on from that 👍

[@tagsdm]

Nice one, That Model Railway Guy. A very nice kit, too. Hattons puts it at era 5, late crest. Have you thought of airbrushing for your models? The detail on the van seems very convincing, colour looks just right! Maybe some powdered chalk for light weathering, but of course it would have to be fixed with clear matte. Nice build!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

To be honest I'm quite happy sticking to my paintbrush. I don't do enough kit building to warrant using an airbrush and I like the simplicity that comes with just using brushes so I doubt I'll switch any time soon. Yes weathering these vans would be a good little project, luckily they're cheap enough that you don't feel like you've ruined a special model if it al goes wrong. Thanks for watching 😃

[@tinyman1237]

This is very helpful thank you :)

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Awesome, really glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching 😃

[@IanCawthorne]

Great tutorial and nice tip on using the narrower tension lock couplings to allow keeping the vac pipe. From the experience I've had in building wagon kits, I'd be amazed the transfers stay in place with water alone. I found Humbrol Decalfix worked a treat, whereas with just water, the slightest breath of a draft could remove the transfers.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Ian, glad you enjoyed it. That's interesting about the transfers, I've got several similar kits from Dapol all made up now and none of the transfers have shown any sign of peeling or coming off. Not sure what I'm doing to get those results but I'll count myself lucky in that case! Thanks for watching 😃

[@benstrainsandthings]

Look good!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it Ben! Thanks for watching 😃

[@FoxBoi69]

lovely video as always! only thing that may be worth improving is the audio issue :p

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Yeah I'm aware of the problems which sucks, but unfortunately there's nothing I can do about it. Thanks for watching 😃

[@cormacafton6069]

Another great video I'd love to see you try dapols brake van or there crane

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ooh great suggestion! Trying to build up their crane could definitely be interesting. Thanks for watching 😃

[@michaeldavies9600]

Really nice video if you put a tiny amount of Vaseline in the pin hole where the wheel sits,it would run even smoother :)

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ooh great tip Michael! They're pretty smooth runners already but I'm literally going to try that right now. Thanks for watching 😃

[@michaeldavies9600]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Yep only something ive picked up on watching videos like yours,but it does work,use a cocktail stick to put it on with :)

[@hantercans]

Great video, must have a go. Any chance of a link to the narrower couplings?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hey Philip, I got a load from Peter's Spares a while back but I've just checked the website again now and can't find them 😫 Hopefully they're just out of stock and will be back soon. Thanks for watching 👍

[@duncanholden7214]

I've been considering making these Dapol wagons so I was interested in your video. Great advice about the slimline couplings..... but I can not find them online anywhere. I know this video is a couple of years old now, so have Dapol now discontinued them do you know? Any one else do them?. Thanks

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Annoyingly I think they were discontinued right around the time I made this video. So far I haven’t been able to find any more since everyone has pretty much moved over to the NEM pockets. If you don’t mind a bit of adaptation, it would probably be better all round to fit a NEM pocket on instead an use slimline tension locks that way. The easier solution of course is to just omit the brake pipe to allow for some extra movement. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃

[@fordhillbranchline33]

Oh lovely! I had the pleasure of surprisingly finding one last year from Amazon Italy here :'D Too bad they are out of stock :( Weathered look even nicer! :D

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Ah that's brilliant you managed to find one, although less good that they're out of stock now. Yeah I imagine they would look really good weathered, and because they're relatively cheap it's not like you ruin a really expensive model if it goes wrong! Thanks for watching 😃

[@Lamp_2155]

3 of these were my first kits My mistake was spray painting and the doors being extremely wonky and not fitting I didn’t learn my lesson so now I have a ruined drewry too.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I do these and the mineral wagons are good as first kits as they're quite simple and don't cost too much. But I agree, those doors are really tricky to get right! Thanks for watching 😃

[@johnhalley974]

Just for the info…These were originally Airfix kits…Dapol bought the mouldings.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yes I'm aware, but as they're now branded/sold as Dapol wagons it made sense to title the video that for anyone looking for info on how to build one. Thanks for watching 👍

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid looks good thanks lee

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it Lee, thank for watching 😃

[@gothiccard]

Thank you for video, what couplings are you using?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm using Hornby's slim tension lock couplings with the Dapol plug on the end. They used to be sold as a spare in packs of 10 but annoyingly I can't find a link to share otherwise I would have put them in the description. Thanks for watching 😃

[@gothiccard]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy thank you

[@1987TimeLord]

Great video as usual mate :) The kit looks good when finished. Would you say its too light in terms of weight or just right? Sometimes I find the plastic wagon kits sometimes need weights adding to them so they don't hop off the rails if there's track trouble.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Markus, I would say it definitely needs a bit of weight just to get it running smoothly. You can see in the video I add a few lead weights before putting the roof on and it does make a huge difference in my opinion but how much you add will definitely be down to personal preference. Thanks for watching 😃

[@1987TimeLord]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy so you did! Sorry, I must have missed that bit during the first watch 😂

[@davesherwood2575]

Where do you get the other couplings from dave

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hi Dave, the couplings I used don't seem to be available anymore but have a look for Hornby R8099. They're slightly different but should work. Thanks for watching 😃

[@goldbug1981]

Any link to the paint colours and part number for the couplings ?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Hey Matthew, I used Humbrol 70 for the body, 64 for the roof and cheap black acrylic for the underframe. I haven't been able to find a part number for the couplings yet, the best I've managed so far is X7413 but it comes as part of the Hornby Ruston 48DS coupling assembly which isn't ideal. Thanks for watching 😃

[@goldbug1981]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy appreciate the reply, great video.

[@User-3O3]

11:23 Weeeeeeeeeee(!) 😀😀😀

[@pentatwiddles7604]

Can you give me a source for your weights please?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

The circular ones I used in this video don't seem to be available anymore. I tend to use this stuff nowadays: amzn.to/4dYAgxM Thanks for watching 😃

[@peacheymodels3503]

anyone else hearing dodgy audio on the voiceover?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yeah sorry about that, I'm not sure what happened there but unfortunately there's not much I can do to rectify it 😔

[@tico360]

i hate when i find one of those kits for around $12 but then its something like $38.73 shipping. thats the main problem when buying things from other countries when your in america.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Yeah that is a shame, I imagine that's a big problem when your modelling British outline railways in any country that isn't the UK. Thanks for watching 😃

[@juygrs1]

why does it wobble like a duck

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I drilled out the holes for the axles slightly after getting paint in them (stupid me!) and I can only assume I didn't do a very good job of it 😅 To be honest you can only just see it on the camera, in real life it's not noticeable at all. Thanks for watching 👍