Model Engine Works

Tuesday, 31 December 2024

00n3 & TT:120 Chassis Conversion

Kato 11-110 Tram Chassis Conversion to 12mm Gauge

It's been a long-term goal of mine to find a readily available economical chassis for 12mm gauge use. This would give 00n3 narrow gauge modellers an equivalent to the Kato tram chassis that 009 modellers have, allowing entry-level tram engines to be accessible at a reasonable price. As a side note, this may also suit modellers of the TT:120 scale.

After working on various alternatives for some time, I finally asked myself: could I convert the Kato chassis and regauge it? So that's what I did ― and it's simple to do, using the new 11-110 version with the cordless motor. The only new bits needed are some small spacers to reset the gauge of the wheels. The rest of the work involves modifying what you have with the existing chassis.

The best way to explain this is with pictures and notes, so I have attempted to do this in the following instructions:

1 Remove the couplings from each end of the upper shell. They are clipped in place, so pull off quite easily.

2 Remove the balconies from each end of the upper shell. I cut these off with a pair of Xuron Track Cutters ― they cut the plastic cleanly and do a neat job.

3 The next step is to remove the four axel boxes from the upper shell. There are two cuts on each one: first a small nick at the inner end, then cut straight across the top. Then clean the cuts off with a craft knife.

This is important as the upper shell needs to be clear of the pickups.

4 The lower shell needs to be trimmed to allow clearance for the bends on the pickups. This requires two cuts in each corner ― it may be easier to cut these with a kraft knife. There is also a bit to trim off each of the end tabs (the small lip that sticks up).

5 Take the metal pickups and using a pair of fine pliers bend these at each end to form a very slight Z. The idea is to induce a 1.4mm offset to work with the wider wheelsets.

I have noted that this can be difficult to get consistent, and I have developed a press to achieve this.

The following shows the method to use the press:

It has a core into which the pickups are inserted with the outside facing the arrow. It will centralize when pushed right down into the slot. Fold up the sides, and press these together to form the bends in the pickup. The metal is soft and bends easily.

I can supply a press on request at modelengineworks@outlook.com

6 Next take the wheel and pull the metal parts away from the central plastic tube and gear. They are only a very good push fit so will not take a lot of force to remove.

7 The next step is to add small packing disks that are 1.4mm thick to the metal wheel pins. This will leave just enough of the pin to push back into the original tube. These can be made from a Plasticard sheet using a hole punch to make the 4mm diameter disk, then drilled with a 1mm central hole so it is a push fit to the axel. I made some on a 3D printer, and can also supply these on request at modelengineworks@outlook.com. The results are similar using both methods.

8 Return the wheel sets to the chassis ― they are not handed so they fit at either end.

9 This is the start of the fiddly jobs. The pickups are returned to the chassis: these need to be kept in their correct position while the bottom shell is clipped on.

10 It is important to get the bottom shell correctly orientated to the metal chassis. There are arrows on the shells that point to the front of the position where the worm gear is located.

11 Before replacing the top shell: as the motor is loose at this point, the red pad on which it sits can become dislodged, so make sure it is correctly positioned in the metal chassis. At this stage to keep the motor in place, I added a small strip of black insulation tape around the hole unit to keep things in place and to test if the chassis runs OK.

12 After testing, the top shell can be returned to the chassis. Look out for the orientation arrow, and then clip this in place.

13 Now test if the chassis runs. If there is a problem: I have found that the areas above the pickups where they are bent out may need more clearance ― they need a bit of free play up and down. The other area that can cause issues is the pickups being too tight on the wheel: these are best with a little free play or less pressure on the wheels and may need to be eased out from the wheels.

The conversion has now been carried out successfully by several other 00n3 modelers.

They have found that the pickup is a difficult part to bend by hand. Also, these must have the correct clearance above the wheels to allow movement. It is also important to get the bottom plastic cover on the right way round, or this will cause the gears to bind with it, or not clip in place.

See the conversion by Paul Titmuss running on his 00n3 layout 'Lispole' on YouTube.

A copy of the press and spacers can be supplied on request at modelengineworks@outlook.com

Sunday, 14 April 2024

009 Tram Shelter

On the bus route to work from Huddersfield to Elland, I kept noticing a very unusual bus shelter. It stuck in my mind because it looked so ornate and out of place. On one of my journeys in 2020 I walked to the bus stop just to have a closer look and I was not disappointed. It is a fantastic little building, built of wood and painted in cream and red with a grey slate roof and lots of little details. Before my bus came I did a quick measure and took lots of photos. It was a much more interesting wait for a bus than normal that day.

I did a little research into the history of the building. It was built by the Huddersfield Corporation Tramways in 1896, which was the first local-authority-run tramway service in England and was built to the unusual gauge of 4 ft 7 3⁄4 in to attract traffic from neighbouring coal tramways. The shelter was presumably repurposed in 1934, upon the conversion of the Linley and Outlane line to trolleybus. The entire Huddersfield network was converted over the 1930s (the tram network officially closed on Saturday 29th June 1940), and was itself replaced - and the shelter once again repurposed - when the trolleybus network was superseded by buses in 1968. Unfortunately, as with most of our very nice Victorian infrastructure, the shelter became unnoticed, unfashionable, and neglected, despite being Grade II listed in 1977. Its fortunes changed in recent times: in 2015, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive applied to restore the shelter to its former condition and H.C.T. colours of vermilion and cream. This is why I had noticed it. I have since found out that the shelter once had a central coal stove and the roof apex once had a chimney, not the finial that nicely finishes off the restored roof.

Fast forward to December 2023. I had just got a new 3D filament printer and was looking for something interesting to challenge both the machine and my drawing skills when I remembered the shelter. It had a good level of detail and an interesting shape. So off I went and disappeared for several hours doing the drawing. I then had the new dark art of “slicing” software to navigate before unleashing it on the printer.

The results surprised me. They were good, not perfect, but a good basis to work with to create a model with a level of detail at a 4mm scale. I wondered if I could go smaller so tried a 3 mm scale and then 2.53mm TT120. They both worked but with some of the finer window details removed as the printer's 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.1mm layer thickness was just not fine enough. Also at the two smaller scales, the details are just not that visible.

The 4mm scale version I did in three sections: the roof, walls, and floor. It worked well for printing and allowed the interior to be accessed for painting. For the smaller scales, I just did the roof and walls, though I am sure a floor will print with the floorboard details.

There was a little bit of cleaning up to do around the windows, and also the underside of any overhangs are challenging to get smooth on the printer. I have found that small needle files are a very good tool to smooth things out in these areas. Printing on a fine setting does give a good finish to the model and although there are areas with some fine lines these are not difficult to overcome. When preparing the model for painting I used a spray matt primer in either white or grey then gloss spray lacquer, which has the effect of levelling the surface. I applied two or three coats of each and this gave me a smooth surface to paint on.

Painting the first model I used Vallejo acrylic paints, each thinned with a little thinner medium and applied in multiple thin coats and washes to highlight shading. I decided to try and go with the current colours of the shelter and used a mix of 70.926 Red and 70.947 Dark Vermillion on the lower panelling and details, 70.837 Sand on the windows and upper details, 70.826 Black Grey on the roof and floor concrete base. This was mixed with 70.951 White to create a light grey for the concrete base and a mid-grey for the roof tiles. It was also used to dry brush over the roof area. The floor was based out with a light grey and then a black wash to get between the boards and finally dry brushed with the sand. For any areas with lead flashing, I mixed a bit of the black grey with some 70.997 silver to give it a metallic grey look.

It has been an enjoyable venture into the world of home printing my own models and learning a new skill, and though it is not to be compared with commercial printing such as Shapeways, it has a place for those of us who like the challenge of trying something ourselves. I picked a filament printer as it uses less messy materials and takes up less work space than resin printing, so would do for me at this time. Things are changing fast though, so that will change I am sure.

Based on the original panels which I have drawn in a modular fashion, there are some variants of the original shelter also - these include a hexagon smaller version a double-fronted rectangular type and two-handed smaller rectangular versions.

If you like the model and would like your own copy please get in touch with me at modelengineworks@outlook.com and I will do my best to help.

Sunday, 6 November 2022

009 Chiemsee-Bahn Style Steam Tram

Following on the theme of the steam trams I had a look at European types and found some really good candidates to suit the new Kato-Peco Small England chassis, one stood out for me, the meter gauge Chiemsee-Bahn tram looked a perfect match for the chassis.

The Chiemsee-Bahn (Chiemsee Railway) is a meter gauge line in Prien am Chiemsee, Germany. It is one of the world's last steam tramways and is said to be the oldest continuously operated steam tramway in regular operation.

It has worked out as a very compact model, and as such, I have ended up adding the couplings to the buffer plates and not using the Peco coupling pockets which I would normally use. It is a superb running model and I think my favorite tram from my ever-growing collection.

To allow for fitting details inside the very small space in the cab that is left after accommodating the chassis and the large weight. I have made the whole of the upper cab including the roof and supports separate from the lower body. This has allowed me to fit a figure with its lower half removed. I used one of the Dapol trackside work crew. It also makes it possible to add pipework and controls if you like.

There is a bit of deviation from the original tram around the smoke box door, this was purely for the structural stability of the roof supports and to locate the upper and lower sections. The smoke box door is printed as a separate part, I used a dart from RT models.

The handrails have small pilot holes formed to give a guide for drilling out to suit the wire used. My choice was 0.45mm brass. There are three small lamps added with the print, two for the front of the tram and one for the rear, I added some clear and red rhinestones to form the lenses on these. There are holes in the front of the bodywork for the lamps, but you can decide if you want to fit the rear one and where to position it.

One of my modifications on the prototype was to abandon the NEM pockets and to fit a set of RT models Penryhn Locomotive couplings, as space is a premium inside the lower bodywork. I have added a similar printed pair to the model on Shapeways now also some location holes on the buffer beams.

Finishing the model was done in oil-based enamels, the black was Revell M09 Anthracite and the green was a mix, not as bright as the original. The roof was left in the grey primer. The lining used is Fox Transfers cream 0.35mm, and this is sealed with a matt varnish.

It goes well with a small tram coach which I converted from an Atlas tram model obtained on eBay.This started out as a Berlin tram in a 1:86 scale which I added a 4mm section between the footplate and the bodywork to raise its height and give it the height to look like a 4mm scale model. Under the footplate I used a Peco wagon frame split in half to extend the wheelbase and some etched brass mesh to form side guards to the chassis. The foot plate being of metal gives it enough weight. Because of using the Peco wagon frame, I was able to fix Peco NEM pockets and couplings directly under the footplate. With the paintwork being superb on the Atlas models I decided to keep it untouched, the additional section that I added was painted in a contrasting darker green and the footplate was lined in red.

I have made this model available on Shapeways if you would like a copy of the print. see the link below.

009 Chiemsee-Bahn Steam Tram (649WKSZ4H) by tdhurst (shapeways.com)

Tuesday, 13 September 2022

009 Coaches Using Moulded Sides

A set of coaches to complement a 009 Beyer Peacock with G.W.R. theme livery.

I decided to replicate a previous coach build using the same Ratio coach sides. My plan was to cut and reform these into sides for a small bogie first coach with three compartments, using a set of Ratio 612/123 GWR Composite coach sides. Also a small six-wheeler three compartments third coach, and a brake/mail coach also a six-wheeler, using Ratio 613/123 GWR Brake 3rd coach sides.

The wheel sets for these would be a Peco GR-106 bogie set for the bogie first coach and three Peco 10ft wooden wagon chassis to form the six wheelers.

The plan with Peco 10ft wooden wagon chassis was to cut the first one in half and use the brake details, then cut a second to fit equally between the first removing the brake details just leaving the axle boxes of the central one. All of the moulded buffers were removed leaving clean square ends to butt together and glue with liquid polystyrene cement. This was done, top down on a flat non plastic surface. This created the chassis frame for the brake/mail coach which was going to be visible.

For the second chassis, I did the same thing cutting a chassis in half, but this time removed all the brake gear and with the remaining axal box from the first conversion I positioned this between the two halves, then with some Plasticard packers added between to create a longer version to suit the compartment, third coach. This coach frame was to have running boards fitted at the height of the axle boxes so details like the baking gear would not be seen.

The central wheels are flangeless, a simple solution and while fiddly to create is an idea that has been used for a long time by manufacturers. These N gauge wheels are so small it is very hard to see if they have flanges or not. I did the removal with a sharp scalpel, carefully scoring around the wheel rim several times until the flange ring popped off. When on the track it looks as any six-wheeler would but has the simple ability to negotiate tight radius curves like any four wheel chassis.

The core of the coach body is formed in 3mm balsa wood, this includes the base and compartment divisions. These are cut and shaped to a template, so they are all the same section. They are then glued to the base at 90º to line up with the coach sides window frames. On the compartment, third coach the thickness at the edges was reduced on both sides to allow for the thinner window frame sections. The coach ends are cut and shaped from 1mm Plasticard again using a template to get them all the same. The plank effect is scribed (not cut) into the surface with a sharp pointed Vee, using the back of a knife blade, then clean off with wet and dry paper to get rid of the burs.

To form the roofs, I have used a cold moulding method with brown gum paper tape, not the reinforced type but the artist's type which comes on a very long roll and is 50mm wide. The former for the roofs is the spray primer can which I later used to prime the model, so nothing special. It is just the right length and curve for the job. The first of 5 layers are stuck in place on the can with masking tape at each end gum side up, lining this up carefully is important to make sure the roof is not twisted. The next layers are all added to this gum side down, dipping in a shallow tray of water to activate the gum. These are cut smaller than the first layer, so they do not cover the masking tape and make it easier to remove when dry. The roof should be left to dry fully usually overnight will be fine. They can now be cut to size to suit the coach body they are to be used on.

The roof is located with some small strips of balsa wood at each corner, the rain gutters are made from strips of Plasticard bent and fixed with contact adhesive, and the roof vents are a set from Dundas Models. Once all was put together and dry, I sprayed it with a grey primer. It was then cleaned off any blemishes. I used a combination of grey and white primers to give different shades of grey on each of the coach's roofs.

The coach bodies and chassis were then assembled onto the balsa wood cores using contact adhesive, and the ends and sides were glued with liquid polystyrene cement. After this a set of running boards were added, one on the bogie first coach, two high on the compartment third coach, and steps only at the doors on the brake/mail coach. This gives a good idea of what the various styles look like. To strengthen the lower boards on the compartment third coach, I used some small wire brackets bent at 90º and fitted into holes drilled in the bottom of the upper running boards when fixed to the coach. The lower boards were glued to these and the axle boxes, which has been a good stable platform.

Next, I added Peco NEM coupling pockets to the coaches, these can sit directly in front of the N gauge coupling mouldings, you will need to open the mouldings out to allow the new pockets to be fitted in the correct positions on the chassis, also a small amount of the pocket mould will need to be trimmed back. The good thing with these is that they sit at more or less the right level to work with other 009 couplings.

Painting, I used a grey primer as the base coat, I then masked off the bottom and interior of the windows to spray the upper sides in white primer. The upper coach sides were finished in a matt mid-cream mix and the bottom and ends of the two passenger coaches were finished in a Humbrol M160 brown. The brake coach was finished in a red/maroon mix giving a deep red shade, the ends of this one and all of the coach chassis and running boards were finished in Revell M9 Anthracite. Handles were picked out in Humbrol brass metallic, and the window frames were lined in the respective coach bottom colours as a contrast to the cream upper sides.

The lettering was added using some Old Time Works gold First and Third signs on the centre door mid panel of the passenger coaches. The brake coach received Guard and luggage on each door and black 2mm MAIL on each side upper panels between the doors. A black lining added a definition between the upper cream and the lower colour, this was done with a Staedtler permanent Lumocolour fine pen and a ruler. All of this was then sealed with an overall coat of satin varnish to all areas of the coaches.

I then added some sheet lead weight to each of the coaches and clear glazing as a finishing touch. The results are good vernation on the wood grain coach I did using this method previously. They look well with the Beyer Peacock. Also, I have a nice simple method of making 009 six wheelers now, I will have to try it on some wagon next.

Sunday, 3 April 2022

Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T

The creation of this model started as a challenge to me to create a 3D printed chassis as well as an engine body. I picked the Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T as it worked well with the motor, gears, and wheels I had selected for the job. Over time and several versions of the model it evolved and I got one to work with a Halling motor bogie as a temporary chassis. This was taken to a meeting at the Oldham 009 group in November 2021 where it ran on Paul Titmuss’ 00n3 layout Wood Brook.

It was suggested that it would be a good idea to work up a copy of the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T but with motion covers and frames on both sides to allow the use of the Halling chassis. With a lot of help from Paul and the 00n3 group, a 3D model was drafted based on the original and confirmed as looking correct. The idea behind this model is to offer to modellers a tempting introduction to the 00n3 gauge.

This also turned into a challenge for a friend who runs a small 3D printing business Thingymaker to see if he could produce a print to compete with Shapeways. This is a challenge that has for several years eluded him. I had a pair of prints produced by Thingymaker and Shapeways. These were both in acrylic resin but using two different processes, so they are not exactly alike, but the level of detail is good and sharp on both prints. Both do take a bit of preparation to make ready for finishing in different ways.

The Shapeways print in Fine Detailed Plastic, as usual, needs the wax support residue removed and a fair bit of surface residue removed from some of the print faces before priming and adding details. But this is as we expect form this material. The Thingymaker print is supported on sprues and they are tightly packed inside the print, so a bit of careful removing is needed to avoid breaking anything off the model. There is also some work to do on the internal surfaces of the print to remove some areas where the resin domes as it finishes printing, a bit like surface tension on a liquid surface. This is a little bit fiddly on some of the smaller parts but not insurmountable

I have developed the model to print in several parts, a bit like an “Airfix” kit, we have the main body, the upper cab and the front bogie are the main pieces. Details parts such as the sandboxes, smoke-box door, funnel, bell dome, and safety valves, Westinghouse pump, toolbox, water tank filler caps, air cylinder, and boiler fittings are separate for ease of finishing and adding more details.

There are also several other small parts that I have added. Cab handrails formed in 0.45mm brass wire, pilot holes are formed in the bodywork for these, a brass whistle by Markits, brass grab rails on the boiler using short handrail knobs, and wire again by Markits. Pipework from the boiler fittings to the cab in soft 1mm steel armature wire. I also used this to make the coupling hooks mounted on the front bogie and under the rear buffer beam. This was obtained from a jewellery craft supplier on eBay and is soft and pliable.

To create the bogie pivot a 12BA cheese head machine screw was used with a couple of washers, one under and one over the bogie frame. The thread was screwed straight into a tight hole drilled in the bodywork where a pilot whole marks the location to drill. The wheel set on the bogie was from a Tralee and Dingle Railway van by Dundas Models. The axles were slightly shortened with a file, turned down in an electric drill to give a clearance fit in the V pockets of the bogie frame, and retained by some 0.45mm wire slotted in holes under the axle in the frame. A small amount of sheet lead was added to the top of the bogie frame to give it a bit of weight, and help it to run better. Lead sheet was also added to the tank sides above the motion cover frames on each side of the body, which seemed to add enough weight to give the model reasonable traction.

A pair of white metal vacuum hoses were carefully reshaped to work on the front and rear of the model. The front one is flat and sitting on top of the buffer beam, the hose retained to the right side viewed from the front. The rear one sits to the left side of the buffer beam viewed from the rear, with the pipe bent towards the coupling hook then under the beam. These can also be done with armature wire of about 1mm diameter.

When painting the model, I gave it a few coats of grey spray primer. Most of the parts are painted separately and added to the model when dry.

The crimson lake I worked with is a mixed colour using Humbrol gloss 20 maroon and a bright matt red Revel M36, the same one I used for the buffer beams. This is toned down on a second coat with the addition of a Revel red-brown matt 37M to the mix which takes most of the shine away but leaves a matt to a satin finish.

I have then dry brushed on some Revel 9M charcoal black to highlight the rivets and shadows on the model. The 9M charcoal black is also used on the foot pate, motion frames, roof, bogie, and smokebox areas. Some parts are highlighted using a mix of the black and silver (gunmetal). Areas like the bogie axles boxes, cab steps, smokebox door handles and hinges, Westinghouse pump, pipework, and handrails all benefit from this.

The models had their first outing at Narrow Gauge North in March 2022 and were displayed on Paul Titmuss' layout Wood Brook. This is where the pictures show them running.

I would like to thank the 00n3 group of the 009 society for all their help in producing this model.

This is a list of items and supplier used on the model

3D Printed Body

Model Engine Works at Shapeways

00n3 Beyer Peacock (5ADPMUXAS) by tdhurst (shapeways.com)

Also through Thingymaker a UK based printer

https://www.Thingymaker.com

1-Halling Motor Bogie ref Verio 4W Drive H0m Supplers: Halling Modelle

ref Verio 4W Drive H0m

IDANT-VAR-HOM-DG 9mm SD wheels

https://shop.ferro-train.com

2-Bogie wheel set Dundas Models

https://dundasmodels.co.uk

Mosskito 8.0mm metal wheels – solid disc DW86

12mm gauge

Vale of Rheidol Vacuum & Heating Pipes DP03

Short on rear & long on front

3-Small metal parts Wizard Models Limited

RM10: Medium Handrail Knobs (Pack 12)

AG04: Short Handrail Knobs (Pack 25)

ebay suppliers

0.45mm Brass wire (pack off 10 handrail wire)

0.7mm Brass wire (pack off 10 modelling wire)

2010rowantree634

BA Brass Cheesehead Screws, Nuts & Washers(20pk) BA 12 BA

ekpsupplies2009

200 x 30cm x 0.9mm Steel Armature Frame Wire

Galvanised for Jewellery, Modelling

trustleaf

4-Company Crest

The C & V.T. crest was printed on a home inkjet printer

using a Image imported into a word document and sized to suite.

Decals can be supplied by Custom Model Decals

Http://custom-model-decals.com