NZ120 Tranzrail QR (1502 class) with Grills

Today sees the QR receive Marks's Model Works brass etched grill's (DF & DX), purchased from Trackgangproducts. $5 per etch but detail worth adding. I used the DX grill for the top, & the DF grills cut and applied to the sides. Not the prettiest job I admit but close enough for me.

All that remains is sourcing a N scale Lifelike PA-1 chassis, airhoses, couplers, airhorn & handrails.

Silver Fern truck sideframes arrive

In an earlier post http://newzealandrailwaymodels.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/187-zh.html I had ordered a set of sideframes, and here they are.

Definately cleaner than Frosted Detail! The wheels 13.5dia from trackgangproducts, simply pop in. No need for bearings. They are quite free running, and more importantly don't pop out easily.

Top view, brutal closeups...

The motor bogie... intended as sideframes for the power bogie truck

Fitted with the new bogies, Power bogie to go...

*Update, to answer below question, the model is now available here NZ120 Silver Fern sideframes

NZ120 eeDF receives sideframes

A redesign of the NZR english electric DF class see's a completed loco shell with all sideframes.

After a test print it will be available here http://www.shapeways.com/model/785889/nz120-nzr-eedf-1954-incl-all-sideframes.html?li=shop-results

Side View

Internal View

Comparison Shot

Portable Layout update, Coastal Scene & Ship

Showing the end module, as it receives an update, and a coastal freighter (Built by B. Galpin, Nov 2010).

With Xmas and with it the promise of at least a few days off regular business activity should allow for more designing with any luck.

The overall view. Still coastal rocks & wooden wharf to install (HDR)

The "water" is a bit of cut board, painted, and in the process of many layers of varnish (HDR)

View from land (HDR)

The section before the changes...

As you can see, alot has happened since the layouts first conception, and a path for a future track is cut into the layout for a possible wharf run. (HDR)

Future path for wharf siding, Currently the tide is out :P (HDR)

After some more work, a small wharf is built using strip wood, tinted with weathering and varnish it starts to take shape. 

Top View to give an idea of size

After further work, the end capping can finally happen!

Still to find my tub of flexi paste..

Proposed wharf line in place

First work train, NZ120 F & Yc 

A small wharf crane is required I think

Wab & 56'er

Wharf branch-line after ballasting

Yet another view, Wb in the distance

1:87 Zh & Silver Fern Updates

The Zh shell has been made available in 1:87 scale upon request, available here http://www.shapeways.com/model/1560575/1-87-scale-nzr-zh-class.html?li=shop-results&materialId=6

NZ120 Silver Fern

The silver fern fitted with front lights

The fern also received front head lights. It is a very bright led, but really is a personal preference. 

Also worth mentioning, the bogies... Since the size of the fern, even in nz120 scale is simply too big to fit inside the Printer (for Frosted Ultra Detail). It is available however in Frosted Detail, which is better than Strong & Flexible in terms of smoothness so I can't complain. The bogies however, being small and detailed in nz120 need to be made available as a separate product. 

An initial order to replace my fern, in FUD Material is a go so far. The bogie could be made available in Brass/Bronze after a test print is ordered in one of the materials. The power bogie is spaced apart like the non powered 3 bogies, so its now possible to have an un-powered free running model.

The undergrubbins will be added, and the bogies removed from the main shell, with links pointing to the bogies from main product page.

The undergrubbins will also be made available for mine and others test prints as a separate item also.

NZ120 AKC Arrives

The Northern Explorer gets a step closer to being a complete train set with the arrival of the AKC (Cafe Car)

Now Available at https://www.shapeways.com/model/1517151/kiwirail-akc-class-nz120-1-120.html?li=shop-results&materialId=61

The Di having a turn..

Still much work remains on this..

DB class hauling the Northern Explorer...  Not so prototypical but makes a good picture!

Dxr this time hauling dora

AKC after paint and window glazing installed

And a wee HD video of the consist running, hauled with a Kiwirail DL

Another HD video of the consist running, hauled this time with a Db class

NZ120 DI Class test print arrives.

Today the NZ120 DI class test print arrived, after the tooth paste and brush cleanup, followed by primer shows us the following.

The model will be available to purchase here http://www.shapeways.com/model/1466944/nz120-di-class.html?li=shop-results&materialId=61

The curves and detail are perfect, having been printed in FUD i'm more than happy!

Showing the Chassis sitting in side. The max width available inside for chassis is 11.0mm

Removing the bogie sideframes

Showing the GP-30 Chassis & SD-40-2 Trucks.

Jolon's plan is to use a shortened PA-1 Chassis & a smaller motor. It looks bigger, but that's a "perspective" issue...

HDR image

Does look rather pinkish...

The actual "red" Another great photo by Ken Devlin, found http://www.kiwibonds.com/KenDevlin/Pagebatch2.html

Di, with painted roof, brass nzr couplers

$1 Display Stand, Trademe

A recent Trademe.co.nz purchase, 1 antique display case for $1. Nothing beats that price by any stretch of imagination, one mans junk is another mans treasure after all!

The Display Stand

Wagons on bottom

1st Shelf, Anything designed to move passengers..

2nd Shelf, Diesels/Electric Motive power..

Top Shelf, as it should be, the Steamers & shunters

NZ120 De Class Arrives, Standard Railcar gets a green stripe.

The De was designed and ordered last, before the Di in fact. But due to the Di being rejected 3 times does explain things somewhat. The Di will be in my little hands before long!

Once again I used the tooth-brush & paste under running water to remove all the waxy oil residue.

After priming in Tamiya Fine Primer I gave it a couple of coats Red to get things started.

The De is available to buy here
http://www.shapeways.com/model/1501648/nz120-de-class.html?li=shop-results&materialId=61

NZ120 DE Class, Right hand side

NZ120 DE Class, Left hand side

The Standard railcar gets an initial green stripe

Also, The AKC has been redesigned & a test order is on its way!

New Design, De Class Bo-Bo (1952)

A new design finished this week, the De class in nz120 scale. The bogie side frames will be available separately in the near future, and will be available in FUD & Brass (Perfect amount of weight precisely where it's required).

For any brass etching experts out there, this loco would benefit the most out of etched grill covers!

The New Zealand DE class locomotive is a New Zealand class of shunting diesel-electric locomotives Introduced 1952. The New Zealand Railways intended to replace steam locomotives for shunting duties with this class. They are physically similar to the Tasmanian Government Railways X class, which were also of English Electric design. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Latest Version, without bogie side frames.

Showing inside Cab

New Zealand Railways DE Class. Ken Devlin Photo, Sourced from http://www.kiwibonds.com/KenDevlin/Pagebatch3.html

Tasmanian Government Railways X class Sourced from http://www.dvr.org.au

My scratch built De model, soon to be replaced with any luck!