Garden Railway Forum

I bought another HGLW chassis and was wondering what to do with it .....


It's a sort-of, maybe, might be Ruston. I couldn't find a 3 foot gauge Ruston and so 'adapted' a 2 foot gauge one. I've almost got away with it.
I think, when Ruston's did produce 3' gauge locos, they were inside-framed. Maybe, if the wheels on the chassis were a bit smaller, it could sit closer to the ground, and look less sit-up-and-beg.
Rik

Well... it's .... errr... different!
Be good to see how you finally finish it.

What surprised me is the large number of variations in the basic design of these locos, which is why I felt justified if creating yet another version.


Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 4:22 pm I think, when Ruston's did produce 3' gauge locos, they were inside-framed.

Rustons that were built to other than 2' gauge had extensions welded to the sides of the frames to carry the wider wheelsets.

This link to a photo taken by the late Weston Langford shows a later model Ruston that ran on the 3' gauge SECV Bogong Tramway in the Vic. high country. The frame design didn't change over the years, just the bodywork styling......

https://www.westonlangford.com/media/photos/122152.jpg

A good reference for modelling Rustons is a booklet published by the Moseley Trust. 'A Guide to Ruston Narrow Gauge Locomotives, D. R. Hall, Moseley Railway Trust'. My copy is the third edition 2003. There are photos and drawings of most of the variants Rustons produced over the years......

There are other more expensive books on Rustons, but this one does the job for modelling.

A small no. of Rustons had larger cabs that were big enough for the driver to stand up in. These links are Weston Langford photos of a Kiwi and an Aus. variant, both 3'6" gauge.

https://www.westonlangford.com/media/photos/131793.jpg
https://www.westonlangford.com/media/photos/126266.jpg

Regards,
Graeme

Thanks Graeme.
Can't think why I've not bought that book on Rustons before. I've now ordered one from the Moseley Trust.

I must start making my own powered chassis. Relying on commercially available chassis does limit what I can make or, as in this case, how realistic the models appear.

I do like the look of those Rustons with the taller cabs. I might tweak this model to take that design into account.

Rik

Dammit! I've just found this wonderful source of Ruston NG loco photos .... which includes, among many others, a three-foot gauge version
https://www.flickr.com/photos/34938158@ ... 2356322545
Plenty of inspiration here, chaps - and some clear detailing for modellers.

Rik

Rik,
If you want pictures of Berwyn, or 'the pigs' (the various orange painted loco's)..
These are at the WHHR, and I can get/take chapter and verse, for you.

Berwyn is now in the museum, for this season.

ge_rik wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 8:18 am I must start making my own powered chassis.

It would expand your modelling horizons considerably..........

Although at the rate you are going at present, you will have the diesel equivalent of Boulton's Siding soon. **

Graeme

** look up 'The Chronicles of Boulton's Siding' by Alfred Rosling Bennett.

GTB wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:51 am It would expand your modelling horizons considerably..........

Although at the rate you are going at present, you will have the diesel equivalent of Boulton's Siding soon. **

Graeme

** look up 'The Chronicles of Boulton's Siding' by Alfred Rosling Bennett.

Looks fascinating. I found a copy in Google Books
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=N7p ... &q&f=false

There seems to be a fine collection of line drawings in it. A pity they're not narrow gauge locos.

Rik

Phil.P wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:10 am Rik,
If you want pictures of Berwyn, or 'the pigs' (the various orange painted loco's)..
These are at the WHHR, and I can get/take chapter and verse, for you.

Berwyn is now in the museum, for this season.

Thanks Phil
They're a bit too modern for me - I like the earlier diesels.

Rik
PS - I like the way they've bolted chunks of steel on the outside of the loco - presumably for extra adhesion?

GTB wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:51 am Although at the rate you are going at present, you will have the diesel equivalent of Boulton's Siding soon.

I'm reading that book now as a result of our 'ugliest locos' thread from a few months back. I agree, the PLR does seem to be amassing a considerable roster of funny little diesels! (And Rik, I have to ask... Any relation to the author, or just a fun coincidence?)

drewzero1 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:01 pm (And Rik, I have to ask... Any relation to the author, or just a fun coincidence?)

AFAIK there is no relation - though I've not yet traced my dad's side of the family, so who knows?

Rik

Wouldn't that be a "Rust-ish?"

Rust-Oleum?

Scrat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2024 9:41 amRust-Oleum?

Is that a 3D print, 'papered' in lino?


Phil.P

I do love a Ruston - always have done, "Rusty"'s such a likeable character in the Thomas books...

I like your 3' version, looks like a plausible "might have been" to me... Will it go into your standard green livery?

Andrew wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2024 1:32 pm I like your 3' version, looks like a plausible "might have been" to me... Will it go into your standard green livery?

Thanks Andrew
Yes. I'm working on another Ruston and so will put both through the paint shop together

Rik

It's been a while. I have been busy with this, honest!

I wasn't at all happy with the HGLW chassis. Nothing wrong with the chassis per se, it just didn't look right with the Ruston. And so, the time has been spent in perfecting my own powered chassis. I've not altered the dimensions of the body (which were based on photos, guesswork and what would fit the original chassis), but I think the new chassis is much better suited to the prototype.
Still more smoothing and a tiny bit of filling to be done - but it's now under way once more.

Rik

Rik,
Four-wheel drive, and are those metal wheels?

Phil.P

I think it is Phil... I spotted that little peek of the drive chain!

Keeping my eye on this one Rik. I used one of those geared motors on Thornas originally and really like the (quiet) sound and performance.