Tuesday 23 July 2013

Taupo Hobby Expo 2013

The Taupo Show just been was a huge success I think in terms of generating interest for NZ120 (NZR Modelling for the common man in the real world). Lots of interest in both the new AK Carriage & the new DL Class Locomotive. I think networking & able to chat to those interested gained me some very good ideas for the future in terms of new designs & what to produce in terms of decals.

I think condensing 3 working trains into such a small concentrated area worked really really well, children were able to see everything without needing lifting up so quickly made the layout quite a popular spot!

Many thanks to Shapeways for sending the "Get the Spark, meet the designers" banner & including a handful of printed designs that really helped the public get to grips with 3D Printing & what it can do right through to the Shapeways shop & seeing the resulting 3d Printed locomotives actually running in front of their eyes!

A friendly visitor (really wished i took photos & wrote his name down) kindly showed me 3 steamers he purchased from http://www.shapeways.com/shops/kiwitrains & added some quite amazing detail too (Ka, Ab & Wb) beyond anything I've personally seen before in NZ120. He also mentioned he was building a recently purchased Wab, if you could contact me with some pictures I would love to show them off for you on a future post!

"I'd recommend buying a DL, if you can find a really cheap bachmann chassis that fits you will find the problems that follow make it quite a prototypical model..."



Showing off the "marketing", the black finish on the side of the layout is "black satin" mixed up by Resene Whangarei. Then perspex screwed onto the side.


The DXR, 6 Zm's & 1 Zh ran for the entire show both days without any issues, although whilst cleaning tracks I managed to knock the entire train off the tracks while in the tunnel of all places!.Unfortunately I have no pictures or movies of it (odd but it is only a *disiesel*).
Static Grass purchased at the show makes an appearance on the layout.
More Grass..

Showing Trackgangs "Concrete Buffer Stop"


I'd recommend buying em, not only do they really look the part but are weighty enough to take all the knocks!

Showing Kiwitrains Ka & Ja do some loops on Trackgang's very new portable NZ120 layout!
The Ka clearly needs more attention in regards to taking 1.5mm off the top of the chassis and allow the top shell to fit properly. Still even in its current state the Ka fully streamlined as they first originally appeared is by far my most favorite NZ120 locomotive!



Some TT Figures, including a crazy german trying to get the crew fired for drinking on the job..
A contact for TT 1:120 scaled products, such as figurines(like the crazy german), cars, trucks & much more!
"The Model Shop", Peter Knipe (090 827 6527) New Lynn, Auckland.

The Hornby O Gauge Group, this is for my father whom couldn't make it to the show


Beakaboy took this, Marklin 1 Gauge!

Saturday 13 July 2013

Decals #2 (AK)

The AK received decals for the first time, these were kindly printed by Grant Morrell & i'm quite impressed! 
Still lots to do with it but now a step closer to seeing a complete Northern explorer!


The art of applying decals is slowly improving, from the mandated 2 foot viewing distance it looks pretty darn good!
 The J/Ja lined up & looking good!

NZ120 Ja & Dxr in background


Sunday 7 July 2013

NZ120 Decals




I've been printing a few decals using an inkjet printer, decal paper & bonder.

I've printed decals for the DL, DXR, steam engine number plates & Zh Wagon.

The number plates are printed on trasparent paper & will require the loco plate to be painted white / gold first.
DL & DXR Decals

Steam Engine Number Plate Decals
Zh Decals
Zh after receiving decals

The DL, now with cab numbers. not as tidy of a job as i wanted but still looks great from 2 feet away. The decals on the front required painting first.. of which i now need to re-do. lucky I printed a few sheets!
NZ120 DL 9008, Class Leader

NZ120 DL 9008, Class Leader
NZ120 DXR 8007, Class Leader



Monday 1 July 2013

Arrival of the NZ120 DL

The NZ120 Kiwirail DL in the flesh, if somebody ever does an etch for the grill's the appropriate removal of printed "grills" will happen. In the meantime painting & the addition of trackgang couplers, air-hoses & air-horns will commence. Hopefully some decals can be made to really bring everything together nicely!




A photo of the DL receiving Handrails, airhoses & horns. 

And a wee vid of the DL running.


A nice modern lineup!

Building an brick arch railway bridge

After receiving some used bricks I spent some time wandering youtube and stumbled across DIY videos of people building brick archways and fi...