New build Tram loco

[James from Devon]

I am a big fan of Trams. One of my early locos at Staple Hill was an IP Shelly which is of course based on a LNER Y6 (I think) Its a favourite with my son and is named after him - as such it get a lot of use and and a lot of love.

My issue with this loco is that it was never a narrow gauge loco in the first place and the scale isn't quite right, couplings too high and so on.

I thought I would have a go at scratch building a narrow gauge "could have been" version - making it much more chunky and a little lower.

When finished it will have a swift Sixteen chassis and be RC.

Here is the loco so far:

Side panel:



My first go at a louvre panel....lots of swearing at this bit!



Inside end panel:



Front panel, I make my rivets by driling 1.2mm holes and gluing in cut off dressmaker pin heads:

[/url]

Coming together:



Structure nearly done:

[/url]

Cowcatcher, made from Plastruct, coupler fitted and one end painted. There are working headlamps which do look like eyes...not sure they are quite right yet and paintwork coming along:




That's it so far...I will update more when more progress is made.

Thanks for looking at my post.

[Peter Butler]

Nice looking tram James, good detailing too. More please.

[LNR]

I too have a liking for trams, and yours is going to be a good looking one by the looks of it so far.
Grant.

[Dannypenguin]

That looks great James!

[planty]

Looks excellent so far!

[ge_rik]

Brilliant! Very Wisbech & Upwell (which I regard as an honorary narrow gauge railway)

Rik

[James from Devon]

The Tram has been gathering dust at the back of the bench while I built the Kerr Stuart Loco....with appalling weather and no garden progress I decided to progress the tram a little. A step closer to being run and Rik....I too regards the W & U honorary narrow gauge....always should have been built in 2ft right??

Second Cowcatcher being made - I have to say that this bit is the devils work!


A little conduit to hide the wires to the headlights where they run through the cab:


The last 2 headlamps:


A start on some cab controls:


And finished off ready for fitting:



I think this model is destined to be a slow build! Other things take over but hopefully it will make it on to the rails this year.

Thanks for looking and for all the nice comments.

[philipy]

It really is looking good. I love the small details.