NZR Locomotive Shells for HO 1:87

Going some what off tangent in terms of scale, some New Zealand Locomotive Shells for HO were requested. The DC, DH, DI, DB, eeDF, DL, DXR & Ja converted to 1:87 scale so far. The intent is to print a shell & utilise chassis from donor locos or preferably buy a custom diesel chassis from North Yard Model Railway Parts (www.northyard.co.nz) at a reasonable price. The price for a shell will range from $60 - 200 & a chassis should set one back at least $150.

Currently the 1:87 market for NZR is catered for by the Frateschi Range, which from memory is limited to DA/DC/DX/DH in terms of Diesels

The models in 1:87 scale are only available in the Detail Plastics.

(Frosted Detail & Frosted Ultra Detail). 

HO American dynamic brake details, grills , air hoses, couplers, handrails etc to finish off

A new shop section for 1:87

1:87 (HO) Scale New Zealand DC

1:87 Dh General Electric - Pre Shunters Refuge

1:87 Di Class

1:87 Dxr Original Cab

1:87 NZR DB Class

1:87 DL Class

1:87 Df 1954

1:87 Scale DSG

1:87 Ja Body

1:87 Ja Tender And Bogie Sideframes Oil

New Design, NZ120 UBS Wagon

Tonight we see a new design in progress, NZ120 UBS of 1967 (SULPHURIC ACID) Tank Wagon Body. Requiring bogies & couplers. Plenty of room in the tank for weight to be added.

Showing inside supports & tank ends.

Ubs Prototype - Picture Credit http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/ubs---tank-sulphuric.html

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

With yet another year coming to a close so quickly I fear im running out of time. A huge emphasis on my life being my business and a need to produce lots of profit & keep all partys happy means all my attention being diverted from my passion, which would be trains.

I did manage in the end to save the main layout, now reduced to a single loop with 1 long siding.

Some photos of the loco's lined up waiting for a turn on the mainline.

A big thank you to all, Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

NZ120 Couplers

Some more work on the couplers for nz120 has resulted in couplers that will hopefully be printable in brass..

The previous test prints in brass were quite successfull all round, some work drilling out the holes with a 0.9mm drill is required however.

"Square Coupler"

"Circular Coupler"

Early print of the coupler attached to a Zp with operating door.

Di, with the brass nz120 coupler has functioned without flaw. 

 

New Design - NZR Couplers for 1:24, 1:48, 1:64 scale

After a few requests regarding making couplers in 1:64, 1:48 & 1:24 scales, I've finally gotten around to this job, and have made them available in plastics, metal plastics & raw brass/bronze.

They can be found at https://www.shapeways.com/shops/kiwitrains?section=NZR+Couplers&s=0

I've gone with 2 designs suited to accommodate a variety of materials. The faces will need sanding down for instance.

"Circular Coupler"

Circular Coupler Set - with Hook

Square Coupler

Square Coupler Set - with Hook

 

New Designs - NZ120 D/DM Class (60ft)

This week see's a completion of a new design, the D/DM class. Those who have been to Wellington after 1938 should be familiar with em.

Designed in 3 components, the 2 shells & seperate bogies.

The bogies are designed to fit 15mm axles (In NZ I source the wheels & couplers from Russell @ Trackgang Products. They are available in either Frosted Ultra Detail (Nylon) or "Raw Brass" and can be found here

The main bodies are designed to be printed in "Frosted Ultra Detail" only.

The D can be found here

The DM can be found here

Currently the main bodies are undergoing processing, and is available for purchase now.

The prototype - Image sourced from http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/dm---motor-of-1938.html

Rendered image of the DM

Rendered image of the D class

Rendered image of the Bogie

Showing the internals

After a test print arrives of the design & a lick of paint & wheels it can be properly visualized! Still a bit to go for it to be a runner. The chassis I used came from a Graham Farish N Scale DMU. 

And a wee vid of it running. Currently DC controlled but intend to DCC fit it out

Another video of it running with headlights.

Building an even bigger Station

Work this weekend sees the completion of a station platform. The turnouts have been wired up in 2's & 4 tracks can be easily accessed with only 3 point controllers. Since the layout is DCC (NCE Procab) this gives some rather easy & fun action with 4 trains possible if the operator can keep up.

And being DCC some head on collisions have occurred when gin was introduced in the mix. Some fatalities later it was decided to send everything in 1 direction only.

The platform itself is "Gib". Primed then painted. For the yellow & white lines I used "Continuous Thermal Labels" cut into thin strips & applied.

After I took the shots I was inspired to drag out the passenger fleet under the guise of  a crucial "platform clearance checking" in order to successfully pass final certification.

Again, shortly after I took the shots, I was inspired to drag out the actual passengers.

On reflection, the Wellington Station is one I personally wish to build, if I ever had the room. It would have to be as scale as possible, with the main station building being a challenge in itself, however with a 3d Printer it suddenly seems very possible.