Each one is going to be fabricated out of dozens of pieces of shaped styrene.
I've begun by making up the two main vertical rams.
And here they are in place.
Very intricate work but very satisfying.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Thingamajigs
Started work today on what I know now to be the guides for the tamper head when working on curves and points.
Each one is going to be fabricated out of dozens of pieces of shaped styrene.
I've begun by making up the two main vertical rams.
And here they are in place.
Very intricate work but very satisfying.
Each one is going to be fabricated out of dozens of pieces of shaped styrene.
I've begun by making up the two main vertical rams.
And here they are in place.
Very intricate work but very satisfying.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
The Big 5 Oh
The celebrate reaching 50 posts - or to be pedantic, passing, because this is the
51st - I've added a gallery of shots of Bron Hebog's predecessor Dduallt on an extra page.
You'll find it through the link on the right hand side.
51st - I've added a gallery of shots of Bron Hebog's predecessor Dduallt on an extra page.
You'll find it through the link on the right hand side.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Mystery Mechanical Bits
Now the tamper head is in place my next task on the KMX is to install some mechanical bits in the next bay along.
Unfortunately these are rather unlike the resin castings from the OO kit I obtained so it looks like I'm going to have to scratch build them. Hey ho! They'll be a lot easier than trying to build a tamper head from scratch.
I have to confess, I have absolutely no idea at all what these particular hydraulic thingamajigs do.....
Unfortunately these are rather unlike the resin castings from the OO kit I obtained so it looks like I'm going to have to scratch build them. Hey ho! They'll be a lot easier than trying to build a tamper head from scratch.
I have to confess, I have absolutely no idea at all what these particular hydraulic thingamajigs do.....
Friday, 24 September 2010
A Tamping Head Start
Sporadic progress on the KMX Tamper in between work on the contract for the 7mm ballast wagons (see the other blog for the latest on them).
Today I put together the tamper head assembly. I've used some resin castings from a OO kit for this on the understanding that the mechanical bits of the WHR's narrow gauge Plasser machine are the same as the standard gauge versions. And the good news is it holds true for the model versions too.
Today I put together the tamper head assembly. I've used some resin castings from a OO kit for this on the understanding that the mechanical bits of the WHR's narrow gauge Plasser machine are the same as the standard gauge versions. And the good news is it holds true for the model versions too.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Weighty Matters
Some microscopic progress to report on the KMX tamper this week.
As a 'just in case' measure I've decided to add weight discreetly wherever I can inside the styrene body. The machine won't be required to haul anything on the layout, of course, the idea is that greater mass will help ensure reliable electrical contact between wheel and rail.
Here some pieces of a chopped up scrap whitemetal kit have been glued onto the back of the engine compartment.
As a 'just in case' measure I've decided to add weight discreetly wherever I can inside the styrene body. The machine won't be required to haul anything on the layout, of course, the idea is that greater mass will help ensure reliable electrical contact between wheel and rail.
Here some pieces of a chopped up scrap whitemetal kit have been glued onto the back of the engine compartment.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
By Popular Demand...
I've received some requests to see some more pictures of some of my completed models so I thought I'd post a sort of greatest hits collection here.
If you'd like to know any more about any of the models featured here add a comment and I'll post a caption about it.
Enjoy!
If you'd like to know any more about any of the models featured here add a comment and I'll post a caption about it.
Enjoy!
Friday, 10 September 2010
Compartmentalised
A few months ago I decided to try to complete all my half-built projects before starting on any major new ones.
The long process of painting the Cherry Picker is almost complete and now I've got my hands back on the KMX Tamper (after Himself produced a magnificent brass roof for it) I'm setting out to add the rest of the missing details.
It's going to be one of projects when you're never sure when to stop adding details. The sides and innards of the machine are riddled with hydraulic pipes, hoses and wiring but I do feel that in the smaller scales like 4mm sometimes a little less is better than a bit too much. Better sometimes, I think, to identify those details that define the prototype and emphasise those and avoid making it all look cluttered.
Or is this just me trying to excuse my lack of super-detailing skills?
Anyway, I've made a start today on the engine compartment. This is asymmetric with this side - what Boston Lodge would call the Clock Side - fully enclosed behind removable panels. This is the best side for the modeller because it provides a nice hidey-hole for the motor, in this case a butchered Kato 'Shorty'.
The other side - the Engine Side - is more open, as you can see.
There are a few more gubbins to add to fill some the space but you'll probably still see the motor through the gaps. Of course on the real thing it's the diesel engine which you can see so we'll have to try and paint the Kato motor cover to look something like it.
The long process of painting the Cherry Picker is almost complete and now I've got my hands back on the KMX Tamper (after Himself produced a magnificent brass roof for it) I'm setting out to add the rest of the missing details.
It's going to be one of projects when you're never sure when to stop adding details. The sides and innards of the machine are riddled with hydraulic pipes, hoses and wiring but I do feel that in the smaller scales like 4mm sometimes a little less is better than a bit too much. Better sometimes, I think, to identify those details that define the prototype and emphasise those and avoid making it all look cluttered.
Or is this just me trying to excuse my lack of super-detailing skills?
Anyway, I've made a start today on the engine compartment. This is asymmetric with this side - what Boston Lodge would call the Clock Side - fully enclosed behind removable panels. This is the best side for the modeller because it provides a nice hidey-hole for the motor, in this case a butchered Kato 'Shorty'.
The other side - the Engine Side - is more open, as you can see.
There are a few more gubbins to add to fill some the space but you'll probably still see the motor through the gaps. Of course on the real thing it's the diesel engine which you can see so we'll have to try and paint the Kato motor cover to look something like it.
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