A Kit for a QD/QG-type Van in 1:45 Scale

• Introduction
• The prototype
• The body
• The underframe
• Building instructions, Lettering
• Price and time of delivery
• Drawings etc.

Introduction

Are Danish 0 scale modellers interested in buying kits for models of Danish railway stock? I have asked myself this question during the last couple of years, but I have no idea what the answer might be. Thus I now ask the question here.

I have chosen a cattle van type QD (later type QG) with hand brake. The kit comes as a set of parts; body parts (ends and sides from resin plastic, roof and floor from polystyrene plastic), details for fitting to the body, and underframe parts from brass, nickel silver and white metal. The background is that I wanted to build several QD type vans for my own collection, and Kim Møller from Tikøb Hobby wanted some stock in 0 scale. The kit is developed in co-operation with Kim.

I have made a parts list in pdf format which shows which parts is included in the kit. There are more footstep variants: The first vans had only one short footstep on each side with a single bracket in the middle; the later series also got short footsteps in the right corners. Later they were modified to longer footsteps with two brackets each. There are two types of coupling hooks, and a choice between working or solid leaf springs (please specify the type of coupling hook and spring when ordering). The kit does not contain wheel sets which are sold separately.

The prototype

The kit covers following building series:

*) Except no. 33622 as no. 9158 was scrapped in 1908.

The body

Sides and ends are made from cast resin plastic (polyurethane). The modeller will have to cut of strengthening fins behind the posts and clean away casting fins and pips, drill a few holes and glue the parts together with a floor and a roof from polystyrene plastic sheet. A floor (2mm) and a heat-formed roof (1.5mm) which must be sanded to fit, are included. The parts can be glued with epoxy or cyanoacrylate adhesive. The roof is designed as that of the earliest series with canvas covering but can rather simply be modified to roofing-felt covering. Most details are cast as part of the sides and ends, but the modeller must make and fit a few parts, handrails and closing handles among other things.

Click here to see a drawing of the van the later type in pdf format. To see the drawing you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed.

The underframe

The underframe is built from milled solebars and headstocks and four milled spacers set between the solebars. It is not an underframe with all inside details. The solebars and the headstocks are delivered cut-off to length and drilled. Etched w-irons and other sheet parts are riveted, soldered or glued on; included are also rivets, sprung self-contained buffers from white metal and brass, coupling hooks cast from white metal and screw couplings. Furthermore there are axle boxes cast in white metal and working leaf springs etched from phosphor bronze sheet or non-working springs cast from white metal. The modeller must cut the etched parts from the fret, fit and assemble the parts. Wheel sets (not included) can be split-spoke or solid wheelsets from 0-Scale Models or modified Slater's wheel sets which can run on NEM track. I sell O-Scale Models split-spoke wheel sets with turned-down axle ends, modified Slater's coarse scale wheel sets and modified Slater's Scale7 wheel sets for Proto:45 standards, all intended for this kit.

The screw couplings included can be used as working couplings if coupled and run with care. If you want a more sturdy coupling, the middle part from white metal can be replaced by one home-built from brass. If there is sufficient interest, I can have this part cast from brass, though they will not be cheap. Automatic couplings are not included in the kit.

Building instructions

A parts list, drawings of the model (assembly, body, underframe series 1, underframe series 2, wheel suspension, buffers and coupling, step/footstep and hand brake) and a detailed building instructions in Danish are included (see below).

Lettering

The kit does not include lettering but I have arranged for KM-Text to make transfers for this model. KM-Text is making very good wet-type transfers in different scales.

Transfers for the following four periods will be available (see the drawings listed below):

• Circa 1893-1929
• Circa 1930-1942
• Circa 1943-1955
• Circa 1956-1965

Click on the relevant period to see a transfer sample. Each transfer sheet will contain different numbers. When I know the exact type designations and numbers I will write them here. KM-Text's standard instructions will be included. Please contact KM-Text for transfers.

Price and time of delivery

The price was 800 DKK for a complete kit without wheel sets. It is a little more than I had originally expected, I must admit, but on the other hand my objective is to have the expenses covered. I will have to do a lot of free work on the kit, hopefully you will appreciate it. See the price list for further prices. Postage is added at cost; payment on agreement.

In the future I expect to make small series of appr. 5 kits and announce new series on the news page. Delivery time is 7-14 days if I have kits in stock; if I do not you can make a reservation. Reservations are dispatched first but the kits are otherwise sold in succesion of order. In any case I will send you an order confirmation stating expected time of delivery and price and method of payment.

Drawings etc.

Interested?

The kit is no longer available.