Railcar Scratchbodge

What is your latest project?
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Narrow Minded

Railcar Scratchbodge

Post by Narrow Minded » Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:12 pm

The management of the Westwood & Loscoe Light Railway couldn't help but notice all of this "railcar activity" here on the Forum!

Never one to miss a trick the Traffic Manager, Ivor Oster, seized on the savings to be made on off-peak services. Chief Mechanical Engineer Al Bodgit has been tasked by the Financial Director R. Mutch to check the Company's Stores ledger and produce a feasability statement with regard to the building of a railcar in Pentrich Siding Works.

After finding the following parts, Al submitted his findings to the Board at the recent meeting in the snug of the Flag & Whistle........
" I reckon' as I can meck summat arta these bits gaffer "

And so it begins :D

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A clear plastic box that previously had something in it, a curved piece of plastic, a toy car from the pound shop, parts of a model car that had previously donated parts to earlier projects, wheels, bogie frame, battery box and connectors - and a limitless supply of Costa coffee stirrers! :D

DolwyddelanLightRail

Post by DolwyddelanLightRail » Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:46 pm

Can't wait for progress! :D

SLRmidge

Post by SLRmidge » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:21 pm

I look forward to seeing the result :D

MDLR

Post by MDLR » Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:12 pm

(Having read another thread) Holiday project??

Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Thu Jul 22, 2010 9:04 pm

Holiday project??
Hiya Brian, no - because it's going to be a 100% bodge, I won't know what bits or tools I'll need until I need 'em ;) The considered options for the "Holiday Project" can be much better planned (I hope)
Also, they're only for when we're not out and about or days when we're "trapped" indoors with the weather (and the odd moment waiting for meals etc :D ). Where the W&L management have expressed a desire to trial the railbus service asap - the staff at Pentrich Sidings are pleased :roll:

Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:29 pm

Ply sheet and coffee stirrer sides, front, rear and seats. Card drivers compartment all mocked up :D

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The new roof (possibly - I haven't made my mind up yet :roll: ) is from a toy "Clarabell" in the charity shop!


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Ignore the bit of mdf underneath, it's only there to pose the photo because if the "lip" beneath the radiator grill ;)

taliesin001

Post by taliesin001 » Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:25 pm

good start, can't wait for more updates :D

DVT Dweller

Post by DVT Dweller » Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:50 pm

Nice work there Greg. I cant even finish the kits I start within 12 months nevermind scratch build :lol:

Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:08 am

Well, it's been a late shift down at Brinsley Lodge.......

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with most of the gang working hard!

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and here's the fruits of their labour! :D

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The bogie frames need painting, but apart from that, it's all done apart from detailing.
I've scored the door profiles with the stanley knife, but they don't show up too well - I'll go round 'em with a dart tip and I've found a pair of steps in the stores (bits box) which will need fitting for passenger access at the halts (low / no platforms :oops: )

It needs a windscreen wiper and door hinges, but as a "quickie" I don't think it's turned out too bad.
We'll see what "The Management" think when we trial run her tomorrow :roll:

taliesin001

Post by taliesin001 » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:00 am

Good work there, it's turned out really nicely :D

Pendo Pilot

Post by Pendo Pilot » Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:04 pm

Wow , missed this thread before. That is some excellent work there fella. Really simple idea as well, never thought of that though. I must of chucked out loads of those plastic boxes as well!! Not anymore.

Is it running now? & if so how does it perform?

Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:15 pm

Trial run this morning, the weather was still unsettled so the works decided to fit the windscreen wiper before allowing the railcar out on the "main".

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Oops, no tail lamp :oops:

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Well, it runs great! No speed control and no reverse (at the moment, but I might not bother anyway - prototypical! :D ), it trundles round at a nice steady pace!

When I start throwing a bit of detailing at it, I'll be sure to add some "underframes", fuel tank and exhaust pipe to hide the motor block! :roll:

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Post by mhlr » Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:37 pm

Haha fantastic! To me, it looks like a stretched, hot-rod (big back wheels :P ) version of 'Bluebottle'! :lol:
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Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:36 pm

mhlr wrote:Haha fantastic! To me, it looks like a stretched, hot-rod (big back wheels  :P ) version of 'Bluebottle'!  :lol:
Haha - what colour are "Go Slower" stripes???? (even Bluebottle would hate to be stuck behind this thing!)

The big back wheels (ex Bachmann) were the bodge around using the battery/motor/gearbox from the toy car in one piece - the axles sit on the centre line :?
Since I'm pretty pleased with how the plastic box turned out, I'll address this in the future with a custom made drive (3v motor though, not the 1.5v with a AAA battery that's in there :!: )
Once all the underframe "bits" are in place they'll hide my efforts.

By the way the black roof is "in the plastic" waiting for a trip to the spray shop once I've bodged the lighting and a luggage rack :D

Pendo Pilot

Post by Pendo Pilot » Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:49 am

Narrow Minded wrote: Oops, no tail lamp :oops:

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Well that must of been one hell of a divide in section mate, the couplers gone south with it!

:D :D

Seriously I'm inspired by scratchbodge, will have to look about for items to knock up :shock: into a railcar or MU now. I don't suppose foster cans will work? Hmmm

Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:53 am

the couplers gone south with it!
Couplings????! :shock: The clutch would never take a trailer :lol:

As for the Fosters cans, the only thing that springs to mind is cutting 'em up and using the thin sheets for strapping, cladding, "scrap" etc :D

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Post by 90733 » Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:03 pm

WOW, I love it, i like the way it's 'thrown' together with bits just lying around, pretty awsome i say :D
Thanks
Jack

Crackingjob

Post by Crackingjob » Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:47 pm

My kind of project...very very well done that chap

Crackingjob

Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:31 am

Crackingjob wrote:My kind of project...very very well done that chap

Crackingjob
Praise indeed from a master of budget railway engineering! :D

Quick update, due to a sleepless night :shock: , the "big back wheels" have gone!
I've removed the motor block (which I've now converted into a 4 wheel power bogie for a future project) and modified a smaller motor / gearbox unit and fitted the same diameter wheels as the front.
This is a 3 volt unit so it should give a bit more oomph and since the batteries are not self contained, the overall profile is less conspicuous!

I'll hopefully be using Tenmille axleguards to give a nice easy fit, I'll probably even fit a reversing switch (wasn't happy that I didn't do that with the old unit ;) )

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