'Taz' in time for Christmas

I have to admit that I've not really been too enthusiastic about completing this model, but having had a few bursts of activity on it I have now completed the remaining post-paint jobs. I've added sufficient weight (25cm of self-adhesive window leading strip) to allow the Tomytec chassis to perform reasonably well, MicroTrains couplers, cab glazing and finally some light weathering and the all-important driver.

The tiny nature of this model means that from most angles the driver is not really visible, he is a combination of a Preiser 1/50th head/upper body (and feet) and Slaters seated legs. I did wonder if he might need a drastic haircut to make the cab sit down on the chassis frame properly but it made little difference...

I think that's about it, I just need to decide what to use 'Taz' for in the longer term, in the meantime I now have an O9 loco that can make it around an 009 layout. Clearly that man "is far away" (to misquote Father Ted).

And finally, I'd like to wish all readers of O9 Modeller a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Colin

Meet 'Taz' - a green devil?

Progress continues on the A1 Models locomotive based on DA1. Whilst this was due to follow my 009 Bagnall through the paintshop, following a few setbacks on that job they have actually been neck-and-neck at times, certainly both reached the varnishing stage together, which actually was an advantage.

Having considered whether to follow DA1's maroon or blue liveries I opted to turn things around and go for green. Ford Meadow Green is again the choice, that can is serving me rather well this year...

Before painting I added an exhaust to the bonnet, but seemingly forgot to add any headlights. Whilst generally this build has been something of a slightly less detailed one (for instance there are no controls modelled in the cab at the moment), this didn't look right. After painting I used Replica Railways transfers for BR diesel headlight lenses and added a dome of Araldite after varnishing.

On the other side of the loco can be seen it's number plate, home made from a scrap of nickle silver etch and Fox lettering transfers. Rather than DA1 this is TA2, the nickname of course is 'Taz'

The model is a little way from completion, windows need glazing, couplings adding and general weathering. The driver is also lagging behind somewhat after a false start, so another update to follow upon completion...

Colin

The Tazmanian Devil Returns

Having started building this loco from an A1 Models kit over a year ago and last tinkered with it back in April I thought it was about time I finished it off. Having looked at my stalled efforts the decision was made that I will actually power up the locomotive rather than leave it as a workshop dummy. I did consider whether the dummy chassis frame could accommodate the Tomytec power unit but I concluded it might be easier to start again and incorporate some of the parts.

The axleboxes are the A1 etchings but sat in the recesses I have created in the 20 thou styrene sideframes, this gives a much better impression of depth.

These are the home-brewed adaptors to take the Tomytec power unit, with the modified unit behind. I'd like to say that I soldered these up fresh but they are actually the ones out of the other A1 loco cleaned up - that locos is still awaiting a decision on it's future.

This is the underside of the new chassis frame, I may add some further re-enforcement to the frames and buffer beams in due course:

Colin

Only the Slim

What better way to spend an hour or so on a cold snowy day (in March) than slaving over a hot soldering iron? This is the second A1 Models kit which was received at the same time as 'Not DA1'. This uses a different version of the chassis frame with the wheelbase offset in the overall length. The consequence of this is that the cab is rather narrow and only for the slim.

It is worth saying that I have only tack-soldered the bonnet to the cab at this stage, it isn't quite on correctly...

Based on experience with the first kit I initially altered the chassis frame prior to building it. Rather than rely on the over-wide fold lines I cut the footplate and side frames into separate pieces and discarded the end sections completely. The frames were soldered to the foot plate about 1.5mm in from the edge, in my view this improves the look considerably. This will require the Tomytec chassis to be modified and mounted in a similar manner to the Meridian Models chassis adaptor.

The cab has a tiny bench seat, the part for this is too long on the etch but this was soon rectified:

The bufferbeams on the initial version of the chassis were made from 20 thou styrene with holes cut for MicroTrains couplers. These were reinforced behind with 60 x 125 thou styrene section. Further strips of this section can be seen superglued to the chassis inside the bonnet. These are mounted on either side of the opening in the chassis to both hold the upper part of the chassis in place and also help locate the bonnet on the chassis frame.

At this stage I nicknamed the loco 'Tiny' as it just seems so small for O9. However, it isn't really that small, at approx 6 x 3 ish scale feet is is very much Lister sized and I can think of at least a couple of small 15" gauge locos around this size that have been kept well out of the limelight!

I later found that my altered A1 Models underframe was actually a little warped when I tried to sit the bonnet and cab assembly on it (no doubt too much heat during assembly). After some thought I opted to rebuild it in 30 thou styrene with the brass sideframes added cosmetically. A few details were added to the brass body from the oddments box, Dapol Drewery shunter crankpins cut down as filler caps, a Chivers brake lever used as both handbrake and throttle in the cab and a switch from a Dapol railbus oddment. The exhaust is a length of brass tube.

Finally here is a comparison of the two locomotives in primer, the grille on the second loco is from an old A1 etch. Just visible are two holes on the bonnet top in which a plastic air horn locates, to be fitted after final painting.

Colin

DA1 Another Day

It was October that I last posted about this A1 Models etch to build something based on the ex-Bush Mill diesel 'DA1'. After that post there was a little adjustment work to my cab interior set-up to allow a small 1/48th figure to sit in there (I hesitate to say comfortably!)

As can be seen I raised the floor level and reducing the height of the checker plate. A piece cut from the cab interior of a Dapol Drewery shunter forms the control desk. Rather than create a seat over the gear tower as previously, I created it around it, once the driver is in place the deception isn't noticed.

Work on the 009 project then took over and the Tomytec chassis unit went on a diet to fit into an 009 Ruston Hornsby 3D print. After much thought about this project I was left wondering whether I could overcome what is the main issue to me, the underframe area. Having put this off for months, seeing the kit on sale at Narrow Gauge North and conversations about future O9 projects gave me a nudge to do something about it.

The idea is that this will be a locomotive under repair with no wheels and engine, so I have been able to put together a simple frame of 20thou styrene with a little re-enforcement from 40thou strip around the top of the frame. Making the whole underframe 2mm lower in height, the frames a lot narrower (15mm opposed to 20mm) and some shape to the buffer beams, has a dramatic effect.

Some further work added a 30 thou strip under the running plate, created a simple cab interior and added details on the bufferbeams, note the usual assortment of Dapol Drewery shunter and railbus parts!

I feel that in this form the model is much better balanced visually and I did wonder if I ought to make yet another version of the chassis to make it run again by getting a slimmed down Tomytec chassis underneath. This is possible without modifying the cut-out in the cab front, indeed there is allowance for the running plate to be another millimetre lower, the real loco is very low slung with the footplate about a foot from rail height.

The next job will be to apply a suitable paint job...

Colin

Not Quite DA1

Over the summer I received a couple of test etches from A1 Models for new O9 kits designed to fit the Tomytec 4w chassis. The first that I have tackled is very much based on the shape of 'DA1', the ex-Bush Mills Railway diesel at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.

The kit is very much an 'inspired by' rather than an accurate model. There are compromises to the width of both bonnet and cab, the arrangement of grilles etc. When I first assembled everything I found that the chassis etch seemed to work against usual convention by having very wide etch lines on the outside of the fold and I wasn't too happy with how this looked.

There is just room in the cab for a suitable figure, although tall, whitemetal 1/43rd scale figures may need to reconsider their application to drive...

After discussing the chassis etch with John Flower at A1 he indicated that it was intended to be built with the fold on the inside, despite this loosing the etched axlebox detail to the inside. As he had included some spare chassis frame etches I was able to build up another inside out and apply a degree of customisation . Having built up the width of the model to a scale 3ft by adding a 10 thou styrene footplate and added new buffer beams from 20 thou styrene, I opted to cut the axleboxes off the first frame, fit them in place and add some very basic detail around them. 

Just visible is that I have also started work on some very basic cab interior detail including a driver's seat, but this may be subject to change as I may have not left quite enough space for a driver... Ooops!

More as time permits.

Colin