How to Improve the Dapol Brake Van kit

[@Hal-Zuzzu_Model_Railway]

Good stuff :) thanks for sharing :)

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@templefield]

This kit is my all time favourite. I hope some advice will not be taken the wrong way. I would use a chisel head scalpel to remove the handrails. The sharper the blade the safer it is. Also, make the first bend in handrails with pliers to get a good 90 deg bend then use you jig for the second bend. Next, try priming the vehicle first. I recommend halfords red primer. You may find the paint easier to apply. Cheers.

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

All great advice, thanks!

[@HamStrains]

Don't even need a fancy bending jig here just a pair of flat surgical tweezers(genuine and used from my hospital days, yes sterilised lol). Bend the first angle, stick that into a hole drilled in a bit of wood or even directly into the model then run a ruler next to the wire or the tweezers up to the next hole and pinch it with the tweezers at the right length and bend it. Just started putting up dumb videos of my work if you wanna see the results. No real right way to do anything but many ways to try...

[@janeresting9667]

Shows how even a basic kit can be detailed. Thanks for the video.

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

Glad it was helpful!

[@OlivierGabin]

Thanks to show us the DCC Concepts ruler and handrail jig, it's a clever tool at a real bargain price (found for GBP 13 at Hatton's). As you did, just using wire handrail instead of moulded ones really changes everything on a shoestring and for a minimal amount of work. I will remember this for my own kits. One great thing in Uk modelling in OO scale, is the existence itself of those kits, cheap, nice and easy to build. You don't have that in continental modelling, except in brass form at awfull prices (a german Weinert locomotive brass kit cost up to 1000 €, approx. GBP 900), and requiring high modelism skills to be assembled. I don't know for US trains if they have such kits, but it's great to have them in OO UK modelling.

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

It's amazing to think that this kit, and the other Dapol ex Airfix kits are now over 50 years old! Which reminds me I really need to do that 16T mineral wagon kit....

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

The next step for this brake van is some weathering. Check out my video specifically on weathering a brake van here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mom8h3SYe8qsbpI

[@garyburford5774]

Nice build. I would though have added a little bit of lead to the floor of the body. They are great kits, but a little light.

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

Yep, although this one was a bit heavier than the usual dapol kits - slightly bigger.

[@sophiaevans9908]

Self adhesive wheel balancing weights are perfect for adding weight. I loaded up my Parkside CCT with them and it's now more than weighty enough

[@rhiwderinraytube]

You can buy some self-adhesive flat 10gm and 5gm flat weights (for car wheels) and stick them to the base/floor. The kit is too light without them.

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

I have been using "liquid lead" up until now, basically a set of tiny, dense ball bearings (i dont think they're lead due to safety issues). They work ok, but I think the wheel balancing weights might be easier to use in future.

[@rhiwderinraytube]

@@MessingaboutwithModels hi In the past there was some issue of these liquid lead capsules reacting with some types of adhesive and expanding to ruin the model. Don’t know if that has been resolved.

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

Well *fingers crossed* no problems so far!

[@templefield]

I am sure you know already but only use super glue (cyno for the cool kids) to glue the liquid lead. Personally, where a space within the vehicle is available, tyre balance weights all day long.

[@MarkJohnson-lp2qr]

Nice Job, in the process of the same project, but been struggling a bit drilling holes with a dremel, do to being to bulky. Tried a pin vice in the past but doesn't grip the drill bit any more. Was wondering were you acquired yours as it looks a lot more robust, Thank You,

[@MessingaboutwithModels]

I picked it up from ebay a couple of years ago - its fairly good, but there are no makers marks, so I cant hep you. My problem has been finding robust drill bits - they seem to have a habit of breaking!

[@markjohnson2420]

Yes , l know what you mean, bent and snapped a few my self. Thanks 😆