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N Gauge Society Kit 10
GWR Meat Van
Mica A/B
NGSK0100
Kit contains plastic parts, plastic chassis,
and wheels to complete one wagon.
To complete this kit you will need: Liquid Plastic Cement,
Paint, Transfers & Varnish
This is not a toy. Only suitable for persons over the age of 14. May contain small
parts and sharp edges. Keep away from small children.
Getting Started
First, read the instructions thoroughly all the way through
and be sure you are confident that you have identified all
the parts. It is recommended that you adhere to the
suggested order of assembly, though with experience, you
may choose to deviate. The kit has been designed to
cover two types of van; decide before you start which one
you wish to build.
General Notes On Construction
Naturally, the N Gauge Society wants you to achieve the
best results you can. These simple guidelines should help:
Read the instructions through fully before you begin
Use a sharp knife to separate the parts from the
sprues
Clean off any flash or moulding pips with sharp knife
and wet ‘n’ dry sandpaper
Check fit before gluing
Use a small paint brush to sparingly apply liquid
plastic cement when joining parts
Photographs of the prototypes will help you
But above all .... TAKE YOUR TIME!!
The Prototype
The first Great Western Railway (GWR) designs for meat vans had internal ice bunkers (diagram X2, painted white),
though they were not always fitted (diagram X1, in standard freight grey livery). Later designs had four roof hatches for
filling bunkers, with steps and handrails to facilitate this. Diagrams X1, X2, X4 had coach wheels (slightly larger than
wagon wheels) though from 1912 (diagram X5) wagon wheels were standard.
The complete history of this type of wagon is long and complicated, and for further details, reference should be made
to the following books:
A History of GWR Goods Wagons
by AG Atkins, W Beard, DJ Hyde, R Tourret pages 190/1
Railways In Profile Series, No 17 GWR Wagons Before 1948 Vol 2
by R Tourret page 38
Great Western Wagons Appendix
by JH Russell pages 125/6
This kit will build into a model of the diagram X8 Mica B meat van, for which the spoked wheels in the Peco chassis kit
and the long lever brake are suitable. With slight modifications (removal of roof hatches and end steps), it is possible to
build a model of a Mica A. Also included on the sprue are a bracket and brake lever for the Dean Churchward (DC)
brake; the more experienced modeller may wish to replace the long lever brake for certain diagrams. Given the family
resemblance of the Mica vans, further variations are possible but beyond the scope of these instructions.
Livery and Lettering
Wagons without ice bunkers received standard GWR all-over grey with white roof, while all those fitted with ice bunkers
were painted white with black chassis; roofs were either white or pale grey. Those that passed into British Railways
ownership at nationalisation initially received light stone livery, then white, pale blue and finally bauxite.
Lettering on the grey livery was standard white letters with large G W. The code MICA was on the bottom left corner
over the wagon number with 6 Tons Tare 8-7 on the right bottom corner.
