What to do with a couple of chassis

[-steves-]

Almost there with just a few bits left to do, but definitely getting there.

Turned the air filters and exhaust pipes from aluminium on the lathe today, made the air tanks underneath out of mild steel and the claxons are from Roundhouse. Still got handrails, door handles, cab detail and I am sure a couple of others things left to do like paint the air filters and exhausts for starters.

[Gralyn]

Looking Good.

[Peter Butler]

I have been watching this build from the start and it looks most impressive. Much better engineered than my work and the result is pleasing and convincing.
The black is a good choice too!

[IrishPeter]

Black tends to be my favourite colour for locomotives. Grim looking brute - I like it!

Peter in VA

[philipy]

Yes, I agree, it is looking good. I particularly like the satin black finish, what paint have you used?

[invicta280]

A fine result. Smooth paint job too.

[ge_rik]

Very nice! Looks a very workmanlike loco.

Rik

[FWLR]

Superb build and well constructed "how too" thread also. every bit of your build is brilliant and thought about with loads of photos showing your progress.

Thanks....

[-steves-]

Yes, I agree, it is looking good. I particularly like the satin black finish, what paint have you used?

The paint is "meant" to be matt black, however I agree it totally looks like a satin finish. I am more than happy with it even if it wasn't the original plan

The paint is straight out of a Halfords rattle can, along with all my loco paint finishes and primer and lacquer. The only paint I use that is not Halfords it Etch Printer.

[-steves-]

I would just like to say thanks to those that have followed this build, despite it's long post and many many pictures.

Your kind comments have made me feel very proud of my work and give me encouragement to continue with my scratch builds

Thank you to all

[Keith S]

Be sure to post pictures of it with the handrails and ladders, etc. I'd like to see the end result, maybe a video? That loco deserves a sound card, too.

The ends of the bonnets with the square grills and little headlights remind me of a tiny black "Tri-Ang" shunter I had when I was a little boy.

Well done- the locomotive looks like a factory job, I'll bet there will be a few chaps wishing it was, once they see it. Great loco.

I'm always astonished by the results people are getting with that white plastic card material- it seems like it can do almost anything!

[-steves-]

Well I am a bit gutted today as I made a mistake on one of the last parts to do and I am not sure what to do about it?

I am so used to building open cab loco's that I put a handrail either side of the door, then realized it would only have one on the opening side, but alas, too late, holes already drilled and handrails fitted.

So, any advice on what to do next would be appreciated. My thoughts are, find a 2mm diameter bit of plastic, plug the hole and use a small brush to paint it black again, but you will always see where to hole was and the fact its been plugged. The only other option I can think of, i fill the hole, rub it back, respray the entire model, then repaint all the window frames and handles, hinges etc, an awful lot of work which will take a few days to do and to be fair, I am not sure i want all this extra work

I could leave it as it is, but I would always see it and be gutted when everyone else noticed it, which they of course would, lol

[Peter Butler]

I could leave it as it is, but I would always see it and be gutted when everyone else noticed it, which they of course would.

I think you may be over reacting to such a slight error, which I doubt many people would either notice or bother to mention. The overall effect is the main thing when our creations are usually seen from a distance. Be proud of your work and look on it as a learning experience.

[philipy]

My suggestion would be a length of styrene strip which is longer than the handrail ( possibly even the fulllength of the cab side?). Spray it black and when dry, carefully glue it over the holes. That way it should look like a structural support - you could even add some rivets to it to enhance the illusion.

[GTB]

I am so used to building open cab loco's that I put a handrail either side of the door, then realized it would only have one on the opening side, but alas, too late, holes already drilled and handrails fitted.

Don't sweat it.....

Two handrails indicates the door opens inwards, which is a common arrangement. A single handrail would indicate an outward opening door.

The Accucraft Baguley has two door handrails and the position of the door handles indicates the doors open inwards against the back of the cab. Other commercial models also have two handrails. If you do a Google image search I'm sure you'll find plenty of prototypes.

Your loco has a large cab, so plenty of space for the doors to open inwards. If some knowitall comments, just airily say 'but of course the prototype had inward opening cab doors'.

I'd imagine inward opening doors would be preferable on real diesels on safety grounds, as the door can't open accidentally when leaned on and either wipe a crew member off against a bridge abutment, or drop them over the edge of a viaduct, etc.

Regards,
Graeme

[-steves-]

I am so used to building open cab loco's that I put a handrail either side of the door, then realized it would only have one on the opening side, but alas, too late, holes already drilled and handrails fitted.

Don't sweat it.....

Two handrails indicates the door opens inwards, which is a common arrangement. A single handrail would indicate an outward opening door.

The Accucraft Baguley has two door handrails and the position of the door handles indicates the doors open inwards against the back of the cab. Other commercial models also have two handrails. If you do a Google image search I'm sure you'll find plenty of prototypes.

Your loco has a large cab, so plenty of space for the doors to open inwards. If some knowitall comments, just airily say 'but of course the prototype had inward opening cab doors'.

I'd imagine inward opening doors would be preferable on real diesels on safety grounds, as the door can't open accidentally when leaned on and either wipe a crew member off against a bridge abutment, or drop them over the edge of a viaduct, etc.

Regards,
Graeme

Well goodness me, I never. I have just taken a look at the internal door mechanisms and realise you are indeed correct. This particular loco type has internally opening doors and therefore requires two handrails. It's a good job I put them both on or would have had to have added one later.

Thank you for your inspiration

[-steves-]

I could leave it as it is, but I would always see it and be gutted when everyone else noticed it, which they of course would.

I think you may be over reacting to such a slight error, which I doubt many people would either notice or bother to mention. The overall effect is the main thing when our creations are usually seen from a distance. Be proud of your work and look on it as a learning experience.

You are of course correct, no one else would have noticed, but I would have and that would have bugged me. Fortunately it looks like it was not an error after all as both handrails are required for the doors opening inwards into the cab

[-steves-]

My suggestion would be a length of styrene strip which is longer than the handrail ( possibly even the fulllength of the cab side?). Spray it black and when dry, carefully glue it over the holes. That way it should look like a structural support - you could even add some rivets to it to enhance the illusion.

Great idea, fortunately not needed this time, but that's now held (a least for a short time) and will hopefully be recalled as and when then type of "repair" is required next, which I am sure it will be at some point.

[Keith S]

I see others have resolved your worries, but I was getting ready to help by posting a photograph. I believe I will anyway. Here is a Canadian locomotive with a similar door to yours, and it does indeed have TWO handrails!

C0BD9B3C-27DE-45A8-8989-96EFB99FA106.jpeg (40.05 KiB) Viewed 5289 times

[FWLR]

Well goodness me, I never. I have just taken a look at the internal door mechanisms and realise you are indeed correct. This particular loco type has internally opening doors and therefore requires two handrails. It's a good job I put them both on or would have had to have added one later.

Thank you for your inspiration

That's the beauty of our forum Steve, there is always someone to help out, encourage and inspire.