Wagon fourgonnette

I started a simple build of a closed goods car using two cheap secondhand LGB ToyTrain freightcars.

The cars arrive in thd CFJ workshop

The Vedes logo is easily removed with a small screwdriver.


All parts...


Removing the platform side using a small sawblade.


The red car was cut in half a bit more to the middle. Testing how it looks. The two parts together make a great freightcar although a bit too long for the idea I had in mind. For this long car bogies would be needed and I was aiming for a two axle car. But it is a good option and it looks nice. Perhaps a next time.





So, I sawed the yellow car a bit more to the middle and did a new fit. This is more what I had in mind.



Making the openings for the doors.





Because the car is a bit longer than the LGB ToyTrain cars the chassis had to be modified. I cutted both chassis in half. The chassis and wheelbase of the original cars are a-symetric so I had to make sure I used the right sides of the chassis (the one without the platform).




The two halfs of the chassis were glued together with some plastic strips for extra strenght. Sorry, forgot to take  pictures of this step...

I decided to give each side two doors instead of one bigger door. I made the doors a bit smaller by removing a small part in the middle (3 'strips').



The difference between the original door (yellow one) and the new door (red one).



Also the roof had to be longer. I did not cut both roofs in half but made the cut somewhere 1/3 and the other 2/3 of the lenght. Made sure the pins in the sides fitted the slots in the roofs correctly.



Testfitting. You can see the extra strips on the chassis





You notice the doors are in wrongly?


And that is it after a few hours on a saturday afternoon.
The basic form is finnished. Now working away the seams, do some detailing and some painting. Oh... And not to forget do some testing on the tracks first of that all to see how it handles the R1 curves...
I'm thinking not to install the LGB coupler but use a little chain as coupler. I have a feeling the LGB coupler derail the cars sometimes at uneven Parts of track (lifting eachother up). Hopefully it will run better without the LGB couplers.

Soon some more pictures.

Excellent project Paul....something new for Railexpo?

Thanks Carl!
About RailExpo, unfortunatly I'm not able to come to France this year... I'll send you a PM...

Update!

Sprayed in grey and black livery.





And some weathering.

Fantastic conversion Paul, shame you can't bring it to RailExpo. Look forward to seeing it and meeting you at some point in the future!

Unique conversion, excellent.

Merci, messieurs