HBA/HEA Hoppers: Brake Van first spin.

A first peak of a much too clean and sparkly dia 1/506 brake van from lot 3129 for use in the scenarios bundled with the HBA/HEA hoppers and other future packs as required. The default LMS van was looking a bit weird bring up the rear of partially fitted and unfitted trains in the late 1970s so we felt something a little different was required.

The model, originally produced as a CAR (through air and vacuum pipes) for inclusion in the VDA pack, has had a bit of an upgrade in a couple of areas along with the removal of the air pipes and visible controls inside the van.

It's safe to say that this has possibly been one of the biggest minefields yet and there is almost a picture to prove everything. Lot 3129 should (according to the diagram book) have been built with plain bearings and spindle buffers but every picture shows them with roller bearings and hydraulic buffers, just like dia 1/507 which covered the final two lots produced by British Railways and the subject of the CAR model.

Many of the vans had their through pipes removed towards the end of their careers with a subsequent change of TOPS code from CAP to CAO and these will be produced too, once the last little issues are sorted with this model.