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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
 Posted - 02/29/2012 : 11:25:30 PM
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While perusing my NGSL Gazettes I ran across articles written by Gordon North on On30 using HO mechanisms and scratch building and or kit bashing the rest from what was available in On3, at the time. My favorite was a motorcar (rail bus, doodlebug) using an Atlas Kato RS-3 diesel mechanism with scratch built styrene body and grant line doors and windows (Sep. Oct. 1986). As I studied this and several other articles from other people who had been inspired to build motor cars, it dawned on me that I had the materials to build one. I had bought two N&W RS-3s when I joined a Ho club. I also had an On30 Bachmann Wonderland Express set collecting dust. Hmmmm. The combine would make a great rail bus and a shortened passenger car to drag behind it. Great for a tourist line.
[img]http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/data/littledave/2012229232259_IMG_6883.JPG[img] |
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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 11:48:37 PM
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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 12:22:46 AM
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I started by cutting off the end of the passenger car and then cutting off a three window section from one side and equivalent off the other side. Nice cuts are important as windows will be used later. File and fit the end using groves as a guide.
The combine I cut the passenger end off, one window on one side and equivalent off the other side. I cut the other end off and then cut another three or four boards off to shorten the car. I decided this by comparing the body to the length of the body to the wheel base of the motor block.
. I then trimmed a window down similar to this (another board on one side. I then cut a notch in the body below the fascia to match. (I leave extra material to file and fit).
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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 12:36:09 AM
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I pulled a clay mold of one off my Dinky toys, and used some high resin body filler to make a radiator. I taped it altogether and this is what it looks like.
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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 01:24:32 AM
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The front was the hardest part to get square and the spacing right between the windows. In fact I cut up another passenger car (more on this car later)for another set of windows. I cut top and bottom pieces with matching angle profiles and glued them in (white plastic). This end of the car actually sets on the bottom piece.
I cut the end sticking up, down to the top of the door molding. I carved a piece of balsa for the roof and taped it altogether to see what it looked like.
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Edited by - littledave on 03/01/2012 02:55:25 AM |
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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 02:06:32 AM
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I had previously cut down the frames of both cars as I test fitted them. I had also cut center out of the combine frame for the motor block to fit. Now I had the final length finalized I glued the ends together and trimmed the inside rail so it would sit down lower on the motor block.
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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 02:36:45 AM
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The corner s are not shown here as separate pieces. The hardest part was cutting them off the original end and filing them to fit (not much bigger than a tooth pick). I glued them first and then fit the three center pieces.
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andykins
Fireman
United Kingdom
3879 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 03:26:20 AM
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| looks like you're orr to a great start! will follow with interest |
"Is it really "rivet counting" if it's regarding NBW castings?"
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Geezer
Fireman
USA
8185 Posts |
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Schoolmaster
Fireman
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 08:58:31 AM
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| Good start and nice look. I love hacking up coaches/combines. |
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CieloVistaRy
Fireman
USA
4444 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 09:58:03 AM
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I love railbus builds! You're off to a great start. Can't wait to see what's next! |
Arthur
Cielo Vista Railway (on30) |
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Rick
Administrator
USA
17740 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 10:11:00 AM
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Very nice work.
That clay mould and resin body filler trick for the radiator turned out well.
Would you mind going into a little more detail on exactly what you did? |
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visman48
Fireman
USA
4485 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 10:50:57 AM
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Like the others I am a big fan of railbuses, having built many here for my RR. I have used the Rs3 Kato mech and the bachman diesel mech for mine. All of mine have Soundtraxx 1st gen or tsunami.
Les |
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Tom Sullivan
Fireman
USA
2426 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 2:45:31 PM
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Ditto on the "I like railbuses" comments....looking forward to see how this one turns out....
what else on "on your workbench".....sully |
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BigLars
Fireman
USA
7367 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 3:05:16 PM
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| I am also a rail bus fan and have a few. Looking forward to following along. |
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littledave
Engine Wiper
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 3:09:40 PM
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Thanks for everybody’s interest. They’re turning out neater than even I expected.
Les, I did quick run through (1 ˝ hr.) of 44 pgs. of Les Davis Rail Trucks (it would take me week to read all of it). Very inspiring.
Rick , to make this as short as possible; Using clay is a quick one time use mold that you are not worried about a high degree of accuracy. Small simple parts you push into the clay and pull out leaving an impression of the part which you then fill with some kind of resin. After the resin cures you pull part, the clay will want to stick to it distorting the clay as you pull. For bigger parts, I knead the clay to make it soft pliable, and then push the part into it trying to keep as much depth in the clay as possible. I then put the clay with the part still in it in the refrigerator to stiffen the clay. The hard part here is getting the part out of the clay with out distorting the clay too much. Resins in part two.
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Rail Bus build
