Semi-scale BR: electro-diesel time travel
Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:33 am
https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?f ... 65#p160065
Welcome again to the fantasy Southern Region that might be 3’11” gauge and where, due to one of those hiccups in the spacetime continuum, a locomotive from the 1960s has rematerialised from the 21st century and 500 miles away...
In the past five years or so, astonishingly, after more than 50 years in service, some of the Class 73 electro-diesels have been completely rebuilt and fitted with more powerful engines, for use in Scotland — on the Caledonian Sleeper between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Fort William or Inverness. And still equipped* for SR third-rail 750v DC. It’s true!
My celebratory, fun-scale version has two Piko motorblocks from G-bits and is battery-powered — but with Loco Remote wi-fi control (when I’ve wired it up correctly), using an old iPod as a controller. (New Deltang receivers weren’t available all year and I was having to swap my existing stuff between locomotives anyway). The ‘scale’ ought to be somewhere around 1:26 — except that really the dimensions were established in advance and the proportions and detail of the prototype adjusted to fit (and there are mistakes as well, of course). Like my previous efforts, it’s not accurate but I still want it to look at least vaguely believable.
It’s mainly plasticard — with boardgame counters, buttons, a cooling fan from a PC, aluminium mesh, wire, strip, rod, mouldings; silicon-moulded resin; a few parts from Cambrian, GRSUK, SLR; foamboard and, inevitably, mountains of filler... Attempting to save time and effort and to keep them consistent, I made only one, much simplified and ‘flattened’, bogie side and from that cast all four in resin — with a few plasticard bits to be added subsequently (some after painting). I had hoped to fit sound and synchronised filthy black exhaust (I know... ) but I haven’t got anywhere with that. It’s just about 600mm overall and will weigh getting on for 3kg completed. Cost of components and materials totals around £300.
It’ll be turned out in Caledonian Sleeper livery, now that I’ve got my hands on some ‘Midnight Teal’. With luck, the paint job should distract from the dodgy bits! Sadly, I don’t think building a rake of Mk5 sleepers to go with it is really practical.
*Online sources suggest (some) pick-up shoes have now been removed (though presumably they can be easily refitted anyway). There are no plans for third-rail electrification in the Highlands.
Latest: Recent pictures (Nov 2020) online show a Class 73 at Georgemas Junction, the last station before Thurso or Wick, at the end of the Far North line: 150 route miles north of Inverness (and about as far as you can get from Eastleigh). Hey!
Re-posted pix – six combined into two files, as suggested by Rik: Welcome again to the fantasy Southern Region that might be 3’11” gauge and where, due to one of those hiccups in the spacetime continuum, a locomotive from the 1960s has rematerialised from the 21st century and 500 miles away...
In the past five years or so, astonishingly, after more than 50 years in service, some of the Class 73 electro-diesels have been completely rebuilt and fitted with more powerful engines, for use in Scotland — on the Caledonian Sleeper between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Fort William or Inverness. And still equipped* for SR third-rail 750v DC. It’s true!
My celebratory, fun-scale version has two Piko motorblocks from G-bits and is battery-powered — but with Loco Remote wi-fi control (when I’ve wired it up correctly), using an old iPod as a controller. (New Deltang receivers weren’t available all year and I was having to swap my existing stuff between locomotives anyway). The ‘scale’ ought to be somewhere around 1:26 — except that really the dimensions were established in advance and the proportions and detail of the prototype adjusted to fit (and there are mistakes as well, of course). Like my previous efforts, it’s not accurate but I still want it to look at least vaguely believable.
It’s mainly plasticard — with boardgame counters, buttons, a cooling fan from a PC, aluminium mesh, wire, strip, rod, mouldings; silicon-moulded resin; a few parts from Cambrian, GRSUK, SLR; foamboard and, inevitably, mountains of filler... Attempting to save time and effort and to keep them consistent, I made only one, much simplified and ‘flattened’, bogie side and from that cast all four in resin — with a few plasticard bits to be added subsequently (some after painting). I had hoped to fit sound and synchronised filthy black exhaust (I know... ) but I haven’t got anywhere with that. It’s just about 600mm overall and will weigh getting on for 3kg completed. Cost of components and materials totals around £300.
It’ll be turned out in Caledonian Sleeper livery, now that I’ve got my hands on some ‘Midnight Teal’. With luck, the paint job should distract from the dodgy bits! Sadly, I don’t think building a rake of Mk5 sleepers to go with it is really practical.
*Online sources suggest (some) pick-up shoes have now been removed (though presumably they can be easily refitted anyway). There are no plans for third-rail electrification in the Highlands.
Latest: Recent pictures (Nov 2020) online show a Class 73 at Georgemas Junction, the last station before Thurso or Wick, at the end of the Far North line: 150 route miles north of Inverness (and about as far as you can get from Eastleigh). Hey!