NZ120 UD (1940) Well Wagon Arrives

Arrived today is the long awaited UD Wagon Printed in Frosted Ultra Detail.

As before, brushed clean with toothpaste while running the model under a tap of water, airblasted, dried & primed.

Waiting on wheels, 2mm brass bearings and couplers. 

Sitting on LGB Track

LGB Track.. could need more of it in the future. note to self, buy more!

NZ120 Ganz

Today sees the completion of the Ganz Multiple Units, A test of the model ordered, and then some attention to undergrubbins.

The bogies are included, once again requiring 2mm brass bearings & wheels from trackgangproducts.co.nz

And once again due to its size its available in Frosted Ultra Detail, but Frosted Detail is still available. Should be worth around $100 for the 2 shells & bogies.

Prototype ; Source http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/em---motor-of-1982.html

Bogies tucked away inside

NZ120 Silver Fern Arrives

The Silver Fern was printed in Frosted Detail, as FUD wasn't an available option due to the size. Also of interest, lower left picture sees a tidal surge..

As soon as I recieved the box from shapeways, I quickly gave the model a bath in soapy water & scrubbed the model with toothpaste and toothbrush, removing the oily stuff. And running under a tap of hot water and continuing to scrubb. Although don't run under the hot tap too long or the model will become too soft.

For a cheaper material than FUD, the finish is more than I expected. Can't wait to see it running around the layout now. And painting it silver is not a big ask!

https://www.shapeways.com/model/1335772/nz120-silver-fern-railcar.html?li=shop-results&materialId=60

Showing Missy the cat being woken from a Mixed Express hauled by KR DXR, Vid taken not a week ago now, Sadly passed away only today (24/09) from what the vet called cancer.

The front of the cab's looks a bit messy, Sanding and touching up is still required!

Nice clean sides..

Showing the Lifelike chassis sitting in place.

Showing bogies, 2mm brass bearings and wheels will be required

Photo Courtesy of http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/rm---silver-fern-of-1972.html

NZ120 DC/DA Bogie sideframes.

The DC/DAR/DA/DBR bogie sideframes, now uploaded to shapeways.

To serve as an affordable extra, we've all got DA/DC classes that require some extra detail im sure!

After at test print passes, I shall make em available here

https://www.shapeways.com/model/1363481/nz120-da-dc-bogie-side-frames.html?li=shop-results&materialId=61

I'm unsure how exactly to account for time, time is the most precious thing I have after all. And some days seem to pass with seemingly no traction to be found, although small goals set in the right order can see a good return on the "time" investment.

Many other projects on the go, but one worth mentioning is the Ganz, ET-EM class. Some bogies & undergrubbins later a test print can be ordered!

Neil Wood's 15" Gauge Railway (Onerahi 1988)

Further to a recent post, some photo's sent in by Darryl Palmer (whom spent a bit of time helping, in fact took these photos).

I would've been 6 years old when these photo's were taken, the more I look at the pics the more I remember..

The loco had a Hillman engine and outboard motor gearbox.

Lower Property Neil and kids, can't see the track but its there! Neil built a functional weed spraying wagon to tackle that issue a year or so later as I remember.

Just left lower property & climbing up left of the garage where it crosses the drive and meets the platform.

A very early shot of Neil & Ronald with kids heading towards loco. Note the track had a turnout & short line running into the shed on the left.

 Remember this dad? Railways Social Club trip at Okaihai Jan 1986, LE Ronald Bryant in cab. 

Engineer Ronald Bryant in cab managing the loco & holding the fireman daisy who doesn't appear to understand her role at all.

Oldest Son Aidan

NZ120 NZR EF Class arrival

Today sees an updated EF class, still no real chassis solution for nz120 yet... This time its ordered in FUD, and the results show! Now with bogie sideframes, so until I manage to get a chassis for it they can remain attached!

Original on the left, printed in Strong & Flexible next to the latest Frosted Ultra Detail model in white.

NZ120 Silver Fern RM & Ud (Well) wagon

NZR Silver Fern

A test print has been ordered in Frosted Detail, not available in FUD due to sheer size of model in 1:120 scale.. Will wait for a test print with great interest! 

The under grubbins will be made available after a test arrives, still unsure how to tackle this as with all the boxes the price of the model tends to shoot skyward. Will make the under-grubbins available as a separate item.. Perhaps a clip on job? still not sure!

This model will replace my scratch build attempt.. 

Designed to be fitted with 2mm brass bearings & wheels inserted.

Power Bogie side frames, designed to attach to a single bogie using a chassis of SD-7 with the other power bogie removed. If you use a lifelike you wont see the motor through the windows.

Showing bogies, Printed inside the body to prevent handling damage.

Ud Class, Well wagon of 1940

This model is a must have for any nz120 Layout, Requires 6 Wheels per wagon, 3 per bogie. Available from trackgangproducts.co.nz

Hooks and rivets!

Bogies need removing from body, 4 1mm struts connecting.

NZR UD Wagon, Image Credits, http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/ A great source for modellers, every single wagon with photos and information on anything.

The railway around the house I grew up in, Whangarei 1981 - 1999

Growing up as a child and having a 15" gauge railway around your house was what I considered "normal", having an uncle also in the same town and also having a large 15" gauge railway once again, around his house helped reinforce the norm! Although the neighbours property bare & lacking in imagination is what I considered "odd"!

So this post is highlighting "modelling" at its best, My father Ronald Bryant built by hand with the help from extended family & friends an oval of track completely surrounding the house. Behind the shed was the highest point with substantial grades, The red wagon's both had handbrakes in prototypical places that worked well & functioned like the real thing. Considering the grade, if rolling down in the wagon by itself filled with kids, we could actually lock the brakes & get it to slide along the bottom for about 2 metres before it would come to a stop.
  The track sourced from all sorts of odd places including old abandoned quarry lines around northland many years ago.

Neils 0-4-0

Dad's Climax 898

Andrew shunting

Loco #3 running over the bridge

Loco #3 heading up the east side of the house & yes, that geeky boy in glasses is me..

Shunting was typically a 2 man job, only 1 turnout but thats all ya need to get the job done. Note; Red wagon with one side down - everything worked!

Alison, the first girl born. Even gets issued with her own wagon.. & with rubber wheels. Man it could go!

All this has since been shifted to portland, where my father has done significant work on a new railway, to start the foundations are in place for a return loop & curve through a significant cutting having taken some years to finally be completed to a point where trackwork can begin. But certainly more to come soon on this venture!

A rather nice photo of 898 & the red wagon 2004 - Portland

898 - 2004 stored over a number of years in this spot amongst the ferns in an idyllic setting at portland.

9 Mill (White Metal & Gold) Dubs A & Trackwork

OK, so this has nothing to do with 3d Printing... Instead publicly admit to a rather terrible sin, i'm a chronic case of "Rubber Gauging".... after some advice from Ev (http://motoriseddandruff.blogspot.co.nz/) i've realised the term rubber gauging implies "That you are modelling so many different scales at the same time that the gauge between the rails is not exactly set....", my father tells me that some take it as a strict rule. And after some discussion the resolution is rather than submit to one single scale It's better to indulge. not to fear as NZ120 projects continue with the Silverfern & other yet unmentioned endeavours.

So what now?! Well, like an itch the reward of twisted satisfaction requires only scratching so acquiring a MarksModelWorks Dubs A in 9MM from is in order. 

 I also picked up Wheels for the T class & a 3d printed Gearbox Paul Woods worked out with motor, worth mentioning there is no worm, so with an adequate flywheel will work very well! Also picked up from Paul Woods (http://www.woodsworks.co.nz/) at a heavily discouted price being the nice guys he is! where perfectly cut sleepers for the early nzr period, track, fishplates & pins.

Printed wormless (Paul woods) Gearbox (12V Motor with 1:30 reduction gearbox)

7mm  etched fishplates.

Dubs A & (Paul woods) Brass Parts

 (Paul woods) Brass Parts, headlights, oil can, oiler & headstock coupler fitting

Sleepers, code 110 track & pins

Dubs A Etch

Track laying commences... On a board of balsa wood about 1.5 mtrs long

NZ120 Loco's looking towards the future!

Showing fishplate attachment, 

17 Scratch Built Turnouts

2 Ybs sit on corner module section

Showing progress, I used the kitchen gas stove top for annealing, a risky proposition (if ya get caught).

More progress, continually going over the same ground tidying up solder joints & lots of filing. Dome is just sitting in place. Chassis screws to the top. 

Hauling a consist...