This kit can be assembled into a model of wagons built to several GWR diagrams between 1933 and 1945. V23 with vacuum brakes, V24 with hand brake only, V26 ‘PARTO’ vans with internal partitions and V34 (unfitted) which featured revised drawgear. Many lasted into the 1970s. Transfers for GWR and BR. These finely moulded plastic wagon kits come complete with pin point axle wheels and bearings, 3 link couplings and transfers. This kit is supplied with pre-coloured moulded parts although painting can improve the appearance. Additional parts to enable the vehicle to be modelled incorporating modifications made to the prototypes during their working life are included where appropriate.
Wagons with 10 feet wheelbase chassis proved more stable at higher speeds than the previous 9 feet wheelbase type, so the railway companies slowly adopted the longer wheelbase for wagons expected to be travelling in faster trains. The GWR had operated a network of 'accelerated' overnight goods trains on trunk routes from 1905 and adopted the 10 feet wheelbase for new wagons from 1932.
This kit will build a model to several externally identical diagrams and vans built from 1932 until 1948 and includes vacuum brake cylinders and fittings for the vacuum braked versions. Keep the brake cylinders and pipes in the parts box when completing this kit as an 'unfitted' version, these parts can be used to convert the non-fitted wagon kits PS23/4 to the vacuum braked versions.
Diagrams V23 (vacuum brake) and V24 (unfitted).
3,097 V23 vacuum braked vans were built from 1933 to 1941, along with 2,389 of the unfitted V24 diagram. Some of the V23 vans were transferred to V26 below.
Diagram V26 PARTO (vacuum brake)
Starting with modified V23 wagons diagram V26 comprised 265 vacuum braked ventilated vans fitted with internal dividers for stowing fragile products and lettered PARTO. Many were reserved for conveying Huntley and Palmers biscuits.
Diagram V34 (unfitted)
A change to the design of the drawgear in 1941 caused a new diagram number to be issued for 1,200 unfitted vans built during WW2, eternally identical to the previous diagram V24.
The next batches of ventilated vans were built with plywood panelling and are the modelled in Parkside kit PS28. Kits for older GWR ventilated vans are available from Peco for the 16ft length GWR vans built before 1927 and Parkside kit PS24 for the first 9ft wheelbase 17ft6in frame vans.