"Codename: Industrial Saddletank" - Part 1
Entry posted by S.A.C Martin
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"Proof of Concept"
It's become a buzzword here in the Copley Hill Works. I am currently working on a venture with a friend, and our discussion which started over a beer whilst on a trip to York, is starting to come together with very serious discussion and much thought on the way in which we proceed from this point on.
I have become increasingly fed up of plastic kits, designed for railway modeling, which look easy enough for the beginner to the hobby, but ultimately end up proving rather poor in practice. Therefore, our first thought turned to a simple bodyshell kit, which could simply replace that on a "ready to run" chassis, most likely the "Railroad" small tank engines, that could be simply plonked on, and painted, to the delight of its young owner.
I firmly believe the future of this hobby, in modeling, lies in allowing the youngest members the ability to try their hand at things like painting, and putting together kits, and if they are introduced to plastic kits which break, warp, or are otherwise difficult for the average modeler to put together, they will be turned off the hobby altogether.
Sean and I thrashed out a business plan of sorts (which is always being revised to reflect our observations on the various forums, and magazines we read), and we have reached the stage where we are - separately, for the time being - designing and producing a "proof of concept" bodyshell to see if our theory can bear some fruit. Sean is developing a traditional outline Saddletank, to fit on one particular chassis, and I am developing a more quirky model to fit onto another chassis.
So, a change of medium in modeling this month. 3D modeling, using Google Sketchup, a surprisingly powerful program considering it's completely free (the full package does have a cost to it, but for the purposes of this proof of concept test, this will do for now). The idea is simple - a "Ready to Plonk" bodyshell to put onto a "ready to run" that will offer some customization for younger modelers, wanting to add something different to their growing collection of model trains.
The chosen test subject was a Vertical Boiler Tank (VBT) engine, "Musketeer", a Sentinel steam locomotive. The bodyshell has been designed in this "proof of concept" to fit a ready to run chassis - the standard Hornby 0-4-0 (on which the Holden bodyshell usually resides). The reason for choosing this one is simple - it is readily available, and everyone and their mother has had one at some stage of their early modeling career.
So, bearing the above in mind: a disclaimer. This is in no way 100% accurate. In order to fit the Hornby 0-4-0 chassis, the proportions of the prototype have been stretched in several areas - length of running plate and height of bonnet most noticeably. I have however tried to keep to the measurements in everything else, including the leaf springs/oil pots/bufferbeams/and so on.
This is also my first 3D model - ever! So mistakes are likely and not unexpected. However, accuracy was not the point of this model - it is to see if the idea has merit, and can be taken beyond the 3D design stage.
To start with, I modeled the running plate:
It has been measured and designed to fit exactly onto the Hornby chassis. At this stage, I saved the running plate as a separate item - it could in theory be reused for other projects as a template for how it all fits together on that particular chassis.
The leaf springs - extremely crude I might add, as this is my first venture - are at least, in overall size and proportions, close to the real thing. I am always learning, and Sean - my partner in crime - is significantly superior in his detailing that I am always learning how to improve on my modeling. Here's an example of Sean's work:
So as you can see, I do have a lot of catching up to do! However, the best way to learn is to try, and with this attempt at the Sentinel, I feel I have experienced a great deal of problems along the way that I have, for the most part, overcome.
The next job was to add the cab - whose proportions are correct in height and width, but not in length, due to the fitting of this bodyshell to the chosen chassis.
After this, it was a case of creating the "bonnet" to fit on top of the running plate. This is where the model really suffers - to clear the motor, the bonnet had to be made taller, thus changing the proportions of the cab to bonnet quite significantly. In retrospect, by raising the cab roof a little more, the overall look would have been better (but significantly out of scale in height).
Colouring the model (as below) shows up the proportions compared to the real thing even more.
However, accuracy is not the fundamental point of this 3D model. It is to prove that a bodyshell can be designed and manufactured, at a reasonable cost, to offer younger modelers a way in which to customize their models, and learn how to paint, at a very basic level. The next stage would be to create a simple four piece kit, to be put together with plastic cement or similar, that would give a further success in building up the confidence of a young modeler.
This as an exercise into how to 3D model for the first time, has opened my eyes to what can be done, and the limits of the exercise. The next stage is choosing the prototype to follow through with a prototype bodyshell, and following the same stages as outlined here in its development.
Until next time.
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