When I returned to the world of 4mm scale modelling after many years in the wilderness, Airfix and Mainline had just arrived on the scene. Both had a GWR 'Toad' brake van in their range, and I ended up with the Airfix version. Sadly, both appear to be a mix of diagrams, nothing new there, and the latest models from Bachmann and Hornby are little better. Which isn't surprising really given their parentage. But despite all that my old Airfix model has served me well, in later years it ended up being converted to EM, gaining an inside rocking axle in the process. Then, following a rebuild it emerged from my workbench as the Kington Toad, its still far from perfect. So I've been looking at a few alternatives, the obvious choice being the Ratio GWR toad kit, but even that has its faults.
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Paul Marshall-Potter is currently doing some interesting conversion work on a Mainline Toad, which he has fitted with a Morgan Design chassis. The full range of Morgan chassis are available from the Scalefour Society, and you don't have to be a member to purchase one from their public eshop. That got me thinking, because they also produce a chassis for the smaller AA3 van which can be modelled by doing a cut and shunt on the Ratio kit. At one time Keyser, more commonly known as (K's) produced a cast kit for the small AA3 16T van, examples come up for sale now and again, along with the etched kit that was once produced by Jim McGeown under his Pocket Money Kits label. But expect to pay silly money if you come across either, Frogmore also produce several etched kits for a variety of toads, and after a long wait, they are now available again from Dart Castings.
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I have always fancied a model of the smaller AA3 16T brake van, and being shorter they are certainly useful for small layouts such as mine. So rather than butcher a Ratio kit, I took the plunge and purchased one of the Frogmore kits for the AA3 van, with a steel veranda. Now just watch a decent RTR model arrive on the scene.
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This is what you get for your hard earned cash, the body is a one piece fold up etch, to which various detailed overlays are attached. The roof is supplied flat so needs rolling to shape, a task which should be made easier thanks to the half etched plank detail on its reverse side. A pair of etched 'W' irons are provided, one can be assembled to rock, but if compensation isn't required both can be assembled in rigid form. A pair of etched works plates can be found on the main fret, which is a nice touch, and a separate etched sanding lever linkage is also provided. Cast whitemetal axle boxes, and a short length of tubing for the stove chimney complete the kit, no buffers, decals, wheels or bearings being provided. The kit is let down by the instructions, which are very basic, and poorly printed, the photos being small and totally useless, which is not something that you expect today. So its certainly not a kit for the beginner. There are also reports of inaccurately etched parts, but I will approach the build with an open mind, and let you know how I get on. But don't hold your breath, for this one is well down the to do list, and one of the reasons for that is the point rodding. Yes, I've actually made a start on it and all being well most of it will be installed by this time next week.
Paul Marshall-Potter is currently doing some interesting conversion work on a Mainline Toad, which he has fitted with a Morgan Design chassis. The full range of Morgan chassis are available from the Scalefour Society, and you don't have to be a member to purchase one from their public eshop. That got me thinking, because they also produce a chassis for the smaller AA3 van which can be modelled by doing a cut and shunt on the Ratio kit. At one time Keyser, more commonly known as (K's) produced a cast kit for the small AA3 16T van, examples come up for sale now and again, along with the etched kit that was once produced by Jim McGeown under his Pocket Money Kits label. But expect to pay silly money if you come across either, Frogmore also produce several etched kits for a variety of toads, and after a long wait, they are now available again from Dart Castings.
I have always fancied a model of the smaller AA3 16T brake van, and being shorter they are certainly useful for small layouts such as mine. So rather than butcher a Ratio kit, I took the plunge and purchased one of the Frogmore kits for the AA3 van, with a steel veranda. Now just watch a decent RTR model arrive on the scene.
This is what you get for your hard earned cash, the body is a one piece fold up etch, to which various detailed overlays are attached. The roof is supplied flat so needs rolling to shape, a task which should be made easier thanks to the half etched plank detail on its reverse side. A pair of etched 'W' irons are provided, one can be assembled to rock, but if compensation isn't required both can be assembled in rigid form. A pair of etched works plates can be found on the main fret, which is a nice touch, and a separate etched sanding lever linkage is also provided. Cast whitemetal axle boxes, and a short length of tubing for the stove chimney complete the kit, no buffers, decals, wheels or bearings being provided. The kit is let down by the instructions, which are very basic, and poorly printed, the photos being small and totally useless, which is not something that you expect today. So its certainly not a kit for the beginner. There are also reports of inaccurately etched parts, but I will approach the build with an open mind, and let you know how I get on. But don't hold your breath, for this one is well down the to do list, and one of the reasons for that is the point rodding. Yes, I've actually made a start on it and all being well most of it will be installed by this time next week.