1/35 Scale SJ 891mm Project

[rich_eason]

In preparation of the projects first exhibition at the Lydney MRE in September, work has started to build a short test track.





The purpose of this is two fold. Firstly it will enable us to display the rolling stock at the show (!) and secondly enable us to test rolling stock and locos as we build them. An electrical feed has been added to provide power to the track and enable testing of any locos and motorised rolling stock.

The rail used is nickel silver Peco Code 100 flat bottom rail, pinned down into the sleepers and Sundela board using KB Scale track spikes. The rail has received an initial coat of Humbrol “Leather”, a gentle wash of Vallejo “Ocre” and followed up with a MIG Rust wash.

The sleepers have been made out of coffee stirrers stained using a mixture of various washes of acrylic paint. The stirrers worked out at a scale .2mm too wide, however this is unnoticeable and and thus they were cut to the appropriate length and glued directly to the Sundela board.

Weather and other scenic’s to follow…

[Olof]

Great work Rich, with the high standard I'm getting used to from you

Just a small detail. Swedish narrow gauge mostly used sand as ballast. I get the impression from the photos your ballast is too gray. I would recomend something more yellow. (With the usual resevation for lighting and camera white balance.)

[Jan Frelin]

The ballast used on Swedish railroads at the time was called gravel, but in modern eyes it really resembles sand.

Here's a good example:


This is admittedly standard gauge gravel, but I don't think it matters. The fraction is perhaps a bit finer and more mixed than the one you have used. I personally think your colouring looks pretty close, though.

[rich_eason]

Thanks for your comments...this is the very reason why its a test track, to test methods and make sure its right once we get going on the layout!

The ballast as it is that the moment needs weathering as this is in its pure state - straight out of the bag. Noting your comments Olof, I agree that the ballast is still too coarse and I am contemplating on trying a method where a fine dusting of sieved used silver foundry sand is laid on top of the ballast to create the finer texture of the prototype. Once laid and dry, a gentle toning down with an airbrush to bring in more browns and beige. I never have been a fan of using ballast straight out of the bags as to me it is too uniform in colour.

I'll run up a test piece and would be keen to see what you think...

[rich_eason]

Well I've been a bit slack with updates of late what with the summer, summer holidays and unfortunately work getting in the way.

However there is a bit of progress.

Yesterday was our first outing for us with the new project to a local model railway exhibition. Although a small local show, from experience from exhibiting our UK outline layout, the exhibition attracts "true modellers" and not so much the run out of the box types.

Initial feedback was positive with many inquisitive questions about the prototype and people looking forward to seeing something running next year...eek!

So as a small update I have managed to grab a few updates from work undertaken over the last few months...

Work has started on the Z4p loco underframes.



Seen here the loco internal sideframes are being milled to shape and since this photograph was taken, a significant amount of work has been completed with the loco chassis in a near running state. Only the installation of compensation to complete until a free running chassis is achieved.

As mentioned in previous posts, work has continued on the YO1p Railcar cab end former.

pic to follow

Seen here in the final stages of shaping, the wooden former is finished and a test mould has been completed. Much discussion and thought has been undertaken about what materials to use for the cab end. An initial trial using plasticard was undertaken, heating it around the form; however the complex curves and shapes of the nose profile led to splitting of the heated plasticard sheet.

So a test mould was undertaken using Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP). The form was liberally coated in release agent and a mix of GRP and chopped strand matting placed all over the mould. The purpose of this cast is to provide a mould from which can then be used to cast other YO1p ends from. Initial results are promising...

[rich_eason]

Well I've been a bit slack with updates of late what with the summer, summer holidays and unfortunately work getting in the way.

However there is a bit of progress.

Yesterday was our first outing for us with the new project to a local model railway exhibition. Although a small local show, from experience from exhibiting our UK outline layout, the exhibition attracts "true modellers" and not so much the run out of the box types.

Initial feedback was positive with many inquisitive questions about the prototype and people looking forward to seeing something running next year...eek!

So as a small update I have managed to grab a few updates from work undertaken over the last few months...

Work has started on the Z4p loco underframes.



Seen here the loco internal sideframes are being milled to shape and since this photograph was taken, a significant amount of work has been completed with the loco chassis in a near running state. Only the installation of compensation to complete until a free running chassis is achieved.

As mentioned in previous posts, work has continued on the YO1p Railcar cab end former.



Seen here in the final stages of shaping, the wooden former is finished and a test mould has been completed. Much discussion and thought has been undertaken about what materials to use for the cab end. An initial trial using plasticard was undertaken, heating it around the form; however the complex curves and shapes of the nose profile led to splitting of the heated plasticard sheet.

So a test mould was undertaken using Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP). The form was liberally coated in release agent and a mix of GRP and chopped strand matting placed all over the mould. The purpose of this cast is to provide a mould from which can then be used to cast other YO1p ends from. Initial results are promising...

[rich_eason]

SRJ N1
The recent Exhibition provided an excellent opportunity to make some progress on the SRJ N1 wagon I started back in July.



Prototype photographs of this wagon are proving nothing more than illusive to find and although searches continue I am beginning to run out of search terms looking for photographs. Unless anyone can advise me otherwise then the intention is to model this wagon at pretty much the end of its life just before conversion with addition of van body. Therefore the proposed livery will be nothing more than worn bare wood, staining and rust streaks from the various fittings and identification plates fitted about the body.

Although not detailed before the body construction is plasticard utilising the excellent stainless steel etched PlusModel bolt/rivet heads. Seen in the picture attached to the wagon the some what tedious task of going around with a sharp blade and removing the etch tabs off the bolt heads. You could argue why not do this before sticking to the wagon, however each bolt head is 0.7mm dia!

Further work has been undertaken to fit the side stanchions and handbrake gear with a few small details to complete. Underframe brake gear is still to be scratchbuilt from plasticard.

Thankfully the Parkside Dundas W Irons supplied on the BR Clasp Brake sprue proved to be a “close” match to the prototype and with a bit of work will resemble those found on the wagon. A set of re gauged Slaters finescale open spoke wheels is then all required to complete the build, prior to painting.

Gp Van Details
A start has been made to replicate the smaller details found on the Gp van…



Seen here the body side mounted door bangers have been fabricated out of a small lenght of aluminium tube wound with wire to represent the spring and brass wire for the door stop.

Work has also started on the underframe J Hangers.

[rich_eason]

A bit more of an update...

I have spent a number of evenings trying to form the roof of the Gp van. After much messing about with plasticard – heating, forming, bending; only to be disappointed with the rippled results and a pile of malformed wasted plasticard, I decided to try a sheet of brass to form the roof profile. I'd wanted to stay away from using brass as the weight of the van is already heavy, so the brass selected was as thin as possible.



Seen here in placed (a bit too far forward!) on the Gp van body a number of layers of masking tape have been applied which will help create the textured surface of the roof. The masking tape will be left for a few days to ensure that it does not start to lift away from the brass sheet where upon everything being ok, final trimming will completed.

Prior to final fitting of the roof, microscope slide glass will be used for the body side windows. I am debating at the moment to try and recreate one of the many broken panes found on the prototype by literally breaking one of the glass lenses and gluing in position.

Once that’s done (!) work will continue on the finer underframe and end details…

Meanwhile over the last week work has started to weather the SRJ N1 wagon. As previously mentioned the intention is to model the wagon in a condition towards the end of its working career pre conversion to the Litt G vans.



I’m not overly happy with the results... being that the body is constructed from Plasticard I struggled to get any grain texture or detail into the wooden planked sides. However there is still work to be undertaken, the underframe and brake gear are clearly unfinished and once construction is complete, final weathering and texture can be applied and "hopefully" improve its appearance.

[Olof]

I am debating at the moment to try and recreate one of the many broken panes found on the prototype by literally breaking one of the glass lenses and gluing in position.

Why not break the glass after you have glued it in place. I do that quite often, although not on purpose

/Olof

[rich_eason]

Unfortunately work has got in the way of any recent updates and significant progress of the project, so this update, if any one is interested that is(?); will be brief.

After the laborious task of drafting up and scaling the decal sheet for the Op, Gp etc and generic text and logos, the finalised sheet design was emailed off to Red Firecracker Custom Decals. Once a small test print to confirm all OK, a full US letter sized sheet was ordered. One week later the sheet arrived and looked very good. The only thing I think I will do next time is allow myself a bit more space between the decals to allow for more space for cutting.



Once the decals were printed and returned, I have now been able to make progress on completing the Op wagon build. Started way back in April I will be glad to see the end of this particular build. Seen here with decals applied and mid way through weathering in preparation for a local railway exhibition at the end of November.

Not the best pictures as the flash picks up the decal carrier film and appears worse than in real life.



Meanwhile, a bargain was found tucked away at the local model shop. A model of Peugeot 55GL motorcycle in what appears to be 1/35 scale. Compared with the IBG BMW motorcycle kit, its scale appears to be very similar, however the Peugeot also hosts finer detail than the IBG kit, at half the cost! With a bit of work to add finer details, painting and weathering this is a handy model for the future layout. A nice little project now the colder weather is closing in…