Metropolitan Railway brake van kit

[roythebus]

I've just bough the South East Finecast kit for the Met Railway brake van, it's a lovely kit, nice crisp casting with not too much flash at all, and goes together very nicely. there's no instructions with the kit but it's all common sense where it all goes! But doe anyone have a photo of the real thing or a drawing so I know where the handrails need to go? did it have spilt spoke or solid spoke wheels?

It'll go nicely with my F class loco that is now underway after a gap of about 30 years. I'm using the Finecast etched chassis with a High Level Gears drive chain and motor.

I've got about 25 F class body kits available from my old stock if anyone's interested. I suppose I could make them to order but they won't be cheap.

[metman]

I assume we are talking about the smaller 10T vans not the longer Ballast Brakes or the ex WD 20T ones?

There are photos in James Snowdon’s Met Rly Rolling Stoke book if you have that.

There’s also this layout which is surperb!

The brake van there looks pretty spot on in all areas.
bambrickstudio.co.uk/whitchurch-road-2/

I bought an old LMS brake to use as a donor for the chassis and roof and was intending to scratch build the sides. The chassis will need to be shortened but it makes the job easier.

[roythebus]

What a superb bit of modelling! The brake van there has differences to the Finecast version which has a wheeled handbrake stand rather than a cranked handle, and the handrails and lamp bracket positions differ. A letter pic shows the LT variant didn't have side lamp brackets, just an off-centre rear bracket. I don't have a copy of the Met Railway rolling stock book. Just oredered one onne, hopefully that'll show more.