Bogie Guards Van, 'Van B'
Ratio kit ref 592
First built to diagram 3093 in 1937, 50ft over headstocks, steel framed with mixed 6½" / 3½" planking on the body side. The standard Southern 8ft bogies were used. The kit can be made as stove or non stove fitted (only real obvious difference being the chimney, and in Southern days the livery as the stove fitted versions were not for working off the SR and were identified by orange painted squares at the top of the sides at each end and the lower part of the Guards door.

The kit comprises of a large number of parts rather than relying on moulded on details. The majority of the parts are injection moulded plastic but also nice white metal or etched brass detailing items such as pipes, grab handles, destination plates and window droplights.

A dimensionally accurate kit which I enjoyed building. Certainly in my mind one of Ratio's best produced and detailed kits to date. Three double-sided A4 sheets of comprehensive instructions and diagrams including livery and prototype notes make assembly and part identification easy.

For pictures of the Van B Bogie guards vans click here.

4 Wheel stock
Passenger Luggage Van, 'PLV' (Parcels / Miscellaneous Van, PMV)
Parkside Dundas Kit PC36
Developed by the SECR in 1919 the design formed the base for numerous luggage produced subsequently by the Southern. The Parkside kit is based on the pre 1939 batches of vans with even planking on the body side. The original SECR built versions did not have the side vents (the Parkside kit can be built as either version, with or without side vents) and number of the ex SECR PLVs were through piped in the 1930s for Pull Push work.
The general notes relating to the Parkside kits can be seen on page 3.

Passenger Luggage Van, 'PLV' (Parcels / Miscellaneous Van, PMV)
From the 1939 built batch the PLVs were built with mixed 6½" / 3½" planking on the body side. I am not aware at the time of writing of a kit for this version.

For pictures of the passenger Luggage vans click here.