Plate Girder Bridge

 This bridge idea was inspired by what I saw at michaels place, 3d printed plate girders.

Still a work in progress, each girder took about 2 hours per section. The center guard rails are lego track with the sleepers removed, once painted should blend right in.

Printer Render

Peckett negotiates the safest bridge on the railway

At least it will be when the girders are all attached..

1:24 DXB Build

Showing off a new 1:24 build, this time continuing will the Dx model of which I intend on painting in the "bumblebee" livery. 

"Bumblebee Livery"

It's been a challenge to build this from within my 7mtr house bus, the 3d printer sits comfortably above the bus engine with the fillament spool resting on the gear stick. These rainy days have helped p

rovide good detailing time. 

Features working cab doors and seats, the front hood is an old one I had spare, I intend on redoing this. The control stand is from an older generation that I printed a year or so ago. Still lots to do, working on installing some LEDS and finishing the handrails which i've been using 1.5mm brass

Showing further progress, more sanding and painting and printing.

Breakdown Crane

It runs!

 The 1:24 EL crane is spotted in the wild, looks like big job dismantling the remains of the dam after last weeks storm overwhelmed and caused it to give way. I was going to be prototypical and just rent a road crane but due to location had no choice and use the EL rail crane. 

A quick video of it running and some pictures of the crane in various positions.

Showing the newly rebuilt clay dam with 3d printed water wheel spinning away doing nothing useful yet. I'd say I could power a few LED's that would illuminate the surrounding area or maybe mechanically transfer via axle and chain to a model of an old oil pump etc.

 

Expanding my circle

After a few running sessions it became apparent my initial loop couldn't cope with the larger locos like the Ja and DL, finally had an incident with a long train on the S curve nearer the tent involving a wagon ripping the coupler off which was held by a decent screw.

Old Loop

All track laid & attached, further levelling to do around the new bridge.

for the connection between the USA Trains & Peco track I applied lots of heat to the track ends and married with loads of solder and 1.56mm brass rod to give strength.

The USA curved sections were straightened up somewhat, giving me the wide curves I desire.

Beginning the railway

 The long sought after dream of an actual outdoor layout comes to fruition finally. Starting things with a simple loop running around a water feature. The plan is to then create a line that connects the loop to the upcoming workshop. 

Looking up at the site, still largely trees.

Half a year later after clearing out trees and foliage 

2 months later and the G gauge loop is finished, the drive is in place, the 5 inch railway on the right has a 10 meter run and in the background the 15 inch railway has begun to be ballasted.

I setup a tent to house the battery and solar regulator and serve as storage for a couple of trains.

Ww makes a trial run hauling coal

1:24 Lpa Wagon

 1:24 Lpa Wagon, my attempt at an iconic wagon, saw these daily in whangarei running right up to the 2010's. Body is printed separately to the chassis, fits in place nicely. Creating a jig for the many handrails. Some areas on the corrugated ends need a tidy up in the design, and further details need adding.

2nd Wagon mostly done, Red primer looks about right.

1:24 Q3 Hopper Wagon

 First new design for the year, a 1:24 scale Q wagon, this is just a test print to ensure all the parts fit so looks rather rough. Probably a day and a half to produce all the components i'd say. The doors on the hopper work but still working out the brake rigging & the door release mech. Brake gear is printed separately and added, almost went to the effort of making the brakes function but not worth the effort.

A couple days later and things have largely evolved for the better

The handle bars were folded in a quick jig to ensure continuity. The holes were embedded in the design to ensure correct placement.

Greymouth Port in the early days, My inspiration for this project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_efpsVq5Wc&ab_channel=ArchivesNewZealand

Q wagons in varying stages of production. I'm thinking a rake of 12 would make up a decent train.  

8 Wagons

After watching low resolution videos of the Denniston incline, I was inclined to give it a go. I cut the sleepers out of lego track and placed on a board.

Ab hauling 12 empty Q wagons.

Wab hauling 12 loaded Q wagons

Making coal loads, I used a template to draw with a blue marker around the edges onto card which had mostly black on the reverse side. Next I will layer up some coal using pva.

Showing off some coal load tests, Using crushed coal I've been experimenting with the coarseness to replicate a load of that time period. 

Prototype.