The following Minks can be made from the conversions described below:

V14, V16 and V18
The V14, V16 and V18 diagrams had the older and shorter 16ft body and were fitted with a 9ft chassis. They were basically identical, bar the vacuum brakes fitted to the V16s. The method of building a model of one of these diagrams is the same as described previously in the N Gauge Journal, in that the parts required for a side are cemented to a strip of plasticard for strength and then the model is assembled as any other kit. As the doors for the Society's Mink 'C' are narrower than the later type doors on the Peco Mink, just by fitting the narrower ones will shorten the body nearer to a scale 16ft.

Basic assembly of sides (applies to several of the conversions described here)

So, we will need for a Diagram V14 Mink the following:

• Outer side panels and Ends (better if not separate from each other in this model) from a Peco Mink
• Doors from a Society Mink 'C'
• Peco 9ft steel chassis
  

The hardest thing to do is getting the body the same length as the chassis, so don't stick the panels to the backing strip until the total length of all parts together is satisfactory. You will have to do this by removing small amounts from the doorposts and doors until a satisfactory fit is obtained.

V21 and V33
The V21 and V33 diagrams were built in 1927 and 1929 respectively and had had the longer 17ft 6ins body but still mounted on a 9ft chassis. The earlier V21 was vacuum fitted and was the first diagram of Minks to receive the vertically planked doors as modelled in the Peco van.

There is not much to do with this variant, as the body is OK straight from the box. All you have to do is increase the length of the shorter chassis to fit the longer body. By inserting a strip of plasticard across the ends where the Buffer beam should be and profiling the ends of the strips to match the solebar channel section, you should solve that little problem quickly. The Buffer beams are then cemented straight onto the plasticard strips to complete our longer 9ft chassis.

V23, V24, V26 and V34
The Peco Van straight from the box is suitable for diagrams V24 and V34, and when you add the proper vacuum brake gear, i.e. Cylinders, hoses and axlebox tie rods, will become diagrams V23 and V26.

V27 and V28
The V27 (there was only one built, as a prototype) and V28 diagrams were Shock Absorbing vans and were fitted with the 16ft body on the 10ft chassis. The ends were slightly short of the buffer beam at each end, this allowed the body to move on impact during shunting or transit. Also there was a large spring either side of the van which were set in the channel of the solebar and reduced the crashes and bumps experienced during daily life of the van by allowing the body to slide on the chassis when stopping or starting, ideal for fragile loads.

The springs were covered by a sheet metal cover (to protect the delicate pinkies of the shunters), and are simply made by cutting a short length of single core household electrical cable and stripping the insulation from the ends. A small dab of superglue is enough to fix them in place.

Shock-absorbing spring and cover, made from cable

The most difficult part of this diagram of van is that the doors were the newer planked type so must be filed slightly at the doorposts and cornerposts to shorten the body to the required 16ft. Once the body is shorter than the chassis and shows a lip at each end, there shouldn't be any need (unless you are a rivet counter) to remove more than is necessary.

V36
The V36 diagram was built with Plywood sides and ends during the Second World War in 1944, and is a lot more difficult to build than might seem. Basically they were the same as the Peco Mink but the sides were smooth, no planks at all. To model a van of this diagram, the plank marks in a Peco Mink must be filled with Milliput or something similar and sanded until smooth. It sounds quite straight forward but it is in fact very intricate work, and I wish any of you who are going to try one of these the best of luck.