Bruce ,
I used the same technique as used to make flying model aircraft . The material is wood .
The ribs are spaced to represent the edges of the windows , and plated with very thin ply . .A sandwich is built up around the ribs using the ply , this makes one side at a time , and each side becomes very strong --the ply prevents "lozenging " of the ribs , and each side is then joined using a floor and ends made in a similar manner . I left the body as a bathtub assembly to allow for insertion of seats and also give access to allow for accurate positioning of the glazing .
The chassis is made like a conventional truck chassis , I used the existing differential as the drive point for the chain drive.
Bear in mind that this is a converted truck , a very heavy one at that , which gives ample power for a mountain railway bus . Trucks were commonly used for this .
Just put yourself in the position of the chap who got the truck chassis and the job of making it into a passenger carrier .
I have some photos of the construction , but as you know , have problems getting them to the site . I’ll see
what I can do about posting them .
Other little points not shown , but they are there , believe me , are access ramp ( kept in a stowage under the floor where the spare wheel was stowed ) springs , shock absorbers and so on . Also add things like tread plate by the engine access for routine oiling .You will note the oil drips on the body by this tread plate . The tread plate is made as I previously mentioned by rubbing aluminium foil over some tread plate that is available from military model sources ,thus indenting the pattern and giving a nice thin section to form round corners . The entrance to the passenger compartment is done this way too .
Mike
ps thank you all for your kind comments . There is more to this model than at first apparent , but I don’t want to bore you .
