Otto bash

[Soar Valley Light]

Another triumph Rik. That's a really well proportioned and good looking engine. The detailing is very impressive and I love the livery. Worth every minute of the hours you've clearly put into it. I look froward to seeing clips of the PLRs latest motive power at work!

[ge_rik]

Thanks chaps.
I think that'll do me for a while. Now got more locos than I envisaged when I planned the line. Mind you, I said that the last time, and the time before that!

Rik

[Big Jim]

You can never have enough locos.
I don't have a railway and I have dozens of the blighters.
Ever thought of a 16mm scale spot hire operation?

[IrishPeter]

It is a lovely little locomotive, and really captures the feel of the original. Congratulations!

Jim - I have been lucky so far, but I am seriously think of building a battery electric tram loco for when I don't want to have to try too hard. My fear is that it might open the flood gates, and I really should be doing something a bit more useful - like building more Goods Wagons!

Peter in Va.

[markoteal]

Great detailing - my fav is the water gauge - what did the glass section start life as? a square biro case?

[ge_rik]

Great detailing - my fav is the water gauge - what did the glass section start life as? a square biro case?

Hi Mark
I cut two corners from the top of a pack of cocktail sticks. It was all quite serendipitous - I usually have a pack of cocktail sticks on my workbench - handy for applying small quantities of superglue and, just as I decided to make the water gauge, the top of the pack happened to be sitting on the work bench. A couple of deft slices with the razor saw, chamfering with a file, a dab of superglue with a cocktail stick, and the body of the gauge was done!

Rik

[ge_rik]

You can never have enough locos.
I don't have a railway and I have dozens of the blighters.
Ever thought of a 16mm scale spot hire operation?

Hi Jim
Tempting, but no.
I can live with all the little idiosyncrasies of my creations but I'm not so sure anyone else would.

Rik

[bazzer42]

That is a really nice loco and a clever adaptation of a easily obtainable model. You must be inspiring a lot of 45mm gauge modellers.

[ge_rik]

That is a really nice loco and a clever adaptation of a easily obtainable model. You must be inspiring a lot of 45mm gauge modellers.

That's kind of you to say so.
Five of my locos are based on the 'Otto' motor block - but this is the first where I've bashed the body into something a bit different.

There was an interesting kit-bash kit based on an LGB ToyTrain Porter on one of the stands at Llanfair (the German chap with all the tempting detailing bits and pieces). I ended up buying some etched valve gear designed for the Otto motor block from him - so looks like I might be casting around for a prototype with valve gear ...... No, be strong, Rik. Resist the temptation!!! Repeat after me, "You have enough locos!"

Rik

[FWLR]

I love your loco Rik, it just seems right to me and such a clever build and imagination has gone into it..one day i may get to be able to have the skills do attempt a kit bash myself.

[tom_tom_go]

What's happen to poor old Chaloner Rik, is she going to get a look in soon?

[Lonsdaler]

Delightful scratch building (or should that be modding?) This is the sort of modelling I enjoy.
Excellent stuff, Rik

[GTB]

No, be strong, Rik. Resist the temptation!!! Repeat after me, "You have enough locos!"

I'm with Big Jim, you can never have enough locos............

You need some sort of project to keep your hands and mind working, as you can't spend all your time running trains, not in your climate.

The latest loco has come up nicely. It reminds me of the ancient tank locos that used to potter around the colliery lines on the NSW coalfields.

Regards,
Graeme

[ge_rik]

What's happen to poor old Chaloner Rik, is she going to get a look in soon?

Hi Tom

The weather has been so unpredictable, I've just not had time for many proper running sessions. On decent days there always seems to be something else which needs to be done (eg went for a walk with a mate on the Clwydians yesterday). Had an afternoon's running on Friday when the grandson of a former colleague came to 'play' but he seemed more interested in running as many locos as possible at full tilt - amazingly they stayed on the track - though my nerves were somewhat frazzled after three hours!!!!

Rik

[ge_rik]

Just managed to get in a test run before the weather turned - you can see the first few drops of rain as the train passes over the viaduct.


Rik

[tom_tom_go]

Great loco Rik. I would like to clone your railway and somehow squeeze it into my smaller garden!

[Peter Butler]

Looks right at home on your railway Rik, another video triumph too..... beautiful framing for the shots.

[LNR]

The engine certainly looks right at home on your railway Rik, particularly in the copper mine sidings. Another great bash and a superb video.
Grant.

[FWLR]

She looks brilliant Rik, great video..

[ge_rik]

Thanks folks. It's very gratifying to get such feedback.

I bodge together these locos and things largely for my own amusement but, through my blog and posts on the forum, hope it might encourage others to have a go. I like to think that my modelling is generally 'kitchen table' style - a few basic tools and materials, plus odds and ends from what Cyril Freezer et al used to call the 'bits box'. My mechanisms are generally recycled from cheap secondhand off shelf models picked up on eBay and so, not including labour, each loco costs around £100 - £150, including the radio control and sound, or around £50-£60 for the basic loco. Of course, I could do it more cheaply if I made my own mechanisms and chassis, but I know my limitations.

Rik