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Cambrian Railways rolling stock


NCB
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A few years ago, with a long-time interest in the Cambrian Railways, I extended this interest into 3mm/ft. This thread is about progress so far.

 

My first attempts were the following wagons:

 

post-26119-0-91281400-1519908812.jpg

 

The two-plank dropside wagon had a body built mainly in plasticard, with brass rod used to represent bolt-heads. The chassis was a modified Slater's chassis. The buffer beams were also modified Slater's, with Slater's buffers.

 

The coal wagon is a cheat, simply a Slater's 1907 RCH wagon finished in Cambrian livery, but I thought it looked the part!

 

The brake van has a scratch-built plasticard body on a modified Parkside chassis. This is all to 14.2mm gauge, by the way.

 

With no suitable transfers available in 3mm/ft I used selected Dragon Models 4mm transfers.

Edited by NCB
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One of the biggest stumbling blocks was of course the lack of transfers. However, searching around I found that Powsides did some in 4mm, for a 2-plank wagon and the gunpowder van. Them having done other transfers for 3mm in the past, I managed to persuade them to do these in 3mm. A nice Cambrian Models kit for the GWR Iron Mink style gunpowder van was available, so that was next on the list:

 

post-26119-0-00256800-1519911673.jpg

 

The only alteration needed to the kit was to extend the side stanchions down in front of the solebar, using microstrip. There's some debate about whether these wagons were in black or in red; I went with the red. The transfers were a tight fit between the stanchions; possibly the latter are a bit wide. But I managed. I've an idea the Prince of Wales feathers is actually to 4mm, but there was no obvious means of remedying this.

Edited by NCB
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A means of extending the wagon range occurred when Coast Line Models (Quarryscapes on RMweb) agreed to make his 3D printed Cambrian 15T coal wagon body in 4mm available in 3mm, along with with 3D printed Cambrian buffers and axles boxes + springs. It needed a chassis, so I designed a straight-forward fold-up one in CAD and had it etched in nickel silver. Here's the basic chassis made up:

 

post-26119-0-99777000-1519910633.jpg

 

The chassis uses 3mm Society RP3 bearings and 9.25mm wagon wheels. The complete chassis simply slots underneath the body between the solebars, as here:

 

post-26119-0-62537500-1519910801.jpg

 

It says much for the buffers and axleboxes that they fitted perfectly, as seen here:

 

post-26119-0-96413400-1519910971.jpg

 

Before fitting the buffers were reamed out slightly to take 3mm Society steel buffer heads, and also the fit in the body checked. Also, the fit of the coupling hooks I'd etched were checked and the slot in the wagon buffer-beam eased slightly. These were done before I attached the body to the chassis.

 

Here's the wagon in a rather scruffy first attempt at painting:

 

post-26119-0-87796100-1519911181.jpg

 

Overall I'm pleased with the result so far. I used Railmatch LNER freight gray for the main body colour, as with my other wagons.

Edited by NCB
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Thanks, David.

 

I had come to the point where I needed to start seriously thinking about transfers for the Cambrian. I had assumed that I would have to end up producing my own transfers to get anything satisfactory. However, about this time some WRRC sponsored transfers appeared, aimed at 4mm and 7mm users.  So I spent some time investigating whether or not this could be a viable route, and at the same time involved the 3mm Society. One very useful thing to emerge was that the Society had itself been investigating possibilities for producing low volume waterslide transfers at a relatively economic rate. In the event, we came to the conclusion that the WRRC route wouldn't give us what we wanted, and as a result I decided to start doing artwork myself, initially for Cambrian wagons, so that we could test the route the Society had come up with.

 

Technically it was easier than I anticipated, partly because the Society member leading the project (whart57 on RMweb) had already worked out an effective approach. Basically the process involved taking photographs which showed the required lettering and insignia, correcting perspective and scaling using GIMP, then tracing around the objects of interest using Inkscape. Net result was that by last summer we had a small batch of Cambrian Railways transfers.

 

Some were applied to my existing wagons, successfully, as seen here:

post-26119-0-71606600-1520016606.jpg

 

The transfers include appropriate wagon numbers and tare weightings, as well as company insignia.

 

That's as far as we've got with the transfers. I have copies of the Cambrian coat of arms and more involved Prince of Wales feathers, as applied to coaches and locomotives, and am looking into producing shaded lettering, so that coach and locomotive transfers can be produced.

Edited by NCB
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More wagons. Coast Line Models recently made his 2-plank fixed side wagon bodies available on Shapeways in 3mm. So I had etched a typical Cambrian 9' wheelbase unfitted wagon chassis to match. Here are a couple:

 

post-26119-0-46891300-1520017434.jpg

 

Again, I used Coast Line Models buffers and axleboxes to finish these. The wagons are painted in Precision general purpose primer. It may be some time before I get around to finishing them completely, as I have other things queuing up on the work bench!

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Looking to the future, at one time D&S made their Cambrian coach etchings available in 3mm. They aren't currently readily available but some time ago I managed to get my hands on four of them, two each of the semi-corridor composite and the rebuilt brake third. One of the latter I have already made up to suit my other interests, namely my Great Western mid to late 1930's layout. Here it is:

 

post-26119-0-87597500-1520018088.jpg

 

These are nice kits. Current intentions are to do the other 3 in Cambrian livery, probably around 1908. That will mean the brake third will have to be "unrebuilt".

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Some lovely models there. How easy (or difficult) will suitable Cambrian motive power be in 3mm scale?

 

Hi Neil

 

Basically, one has to do it oneself. However, I've got into etching, successfully, so in principle that's not a problem.

 

In general I like the etching approach. However, Sparkshot Custom Creations (SCC) on Shapeways has produced a number of Sharp Stewart bodies including Cambrian ones in 4mm. As a short cut he's produced bodies for the Cambrian 2-4-0 Albion class and associated 4-wheel tender for me in 3mm, so I intend to give those a go to see how they work out. A problem in doing etched bodies is not so much the etchings as getting hold of the right fittings such as chimneys and domes; going for a complete 3D printed body gets around that. I'll knock up some etched chasses to go with them.

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As someone who is possibly looking at 3mm in the future, I intend to offer my 3D printed designs in this scale, indeed I have a test print for an LSWR G6 in this scale on the way!

 

Eventually, the plan is to offer models in all scales from 1 downwards to N and 2mmFS, Including 7mm, S, 4mm (00, EM & P4), HO, 3mm, TT (In case someone is doing something really unusual - 1:120!), 2mmFS and N.

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When you have a product available for purchase I'd suggest you contact the 3mm Society website webmaster, who could stick it in the news section of website.

 

Cheers

Nigel

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I need to get the G6 available in 4mm, then up/downscale from there.

 

How about a Stockton and Darlington loco?

post-33498-0-05066200-1520284568_thumb.p

 

You never know, somebody could be inspired by it! Maybe because, unless you're keen on Triang TT, this is essentially a modellers scale, so it happens that people sometimes go for more unusual prototypes, as they're not relying on off-the-shelf anyway. So there's a Brunel broad gauge interest, several shades of Irish railways, both 5'3" and 3' gauge. Somebody is modelling Thai railways, someone else South American.

 

I've had a long held interest in the Cambrian, and it's now beginning to come together. It's helped by acquiring the skills to do etching, of which I now do quite a lot, and also the transfers seen above. I'm currently trying to crack 3D printing; some of it I should be OK on, it's things like chimneys and domes I need to work out (in particular, the flare at the bottom).

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As someone who is possibly looking at 3mm in the future, I intend to offer my 3D printed designs in this scale, indeed I have a test print for an LSWR G6 in this scale on the way!

 

Eventually, the plan is to offer models in all scales from 1 downwards to N and 2mmFS, Including 7mm, S, 4mm (00, EM & P4), HO, 3mm, TT (In case someone is doing something really unusual - 1:120!), 2mmFS and N.

 

Hi 

I would be very interested in your prints for LB&SCR locos in 3mm, I have a bec G6 body for 3mm would it be possible to do your chassis and rods in 3mm?

Steve

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Hi Neil

 

Basically, one has to do it oneself. However, I've got into etching, successfully, so in principle that's not a problem.

 

In general I like the etching approach. However, Sparkshot Custom Creations (SCC) on Shapeways has produced a number of Sharp Stewart bodies including Cambrian ones in 4mm. As a short cut he's produced bodies for the Cambrian 2-4-0 Albion class and associated 4-wheel tender for me in 3mm, so I intend to give those a go to see how they work out. A problem in doing etched bodies is not so much the etchings as getting hold of the right fittings such as chimneys and domes; going for a complete 3D printed body gets around that. I'll knock up some etched chasses to go with them.

 

Hi Nigel 

Thanks for the gen about SCC. He did me his LB&SCR E2 in 3mm for me. Very nice it is too.

Steve

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  • 2 months later...

Thanks, David.

 

I had come to the point where I needed to start seriously thinking about transfers for the Cambrian. I had assumed that I would have to end up producing my own transfers to get anything satisfactory. However, about this time some WRRC sponsored transfers appeared, aimed at 4mm and 7mm users.  So I spent some time investigating whether or not this could be a viable route, and at the same time involved the 3mm Society. One very useful thing to emerge was that the Society had itself been investigating possibilities for producing low volume waterslide transfers at a relatively economic rate. In the event, we came to the conclusion that the WRRC route wouldn't give us what we wanted, and as a result I decided to start doing artwork myself, initially for Cambrian wagons, so that we could test the route the Society had come up with.

 

Technically it was easier than I anticipated, partly because the Society member leading the project (whart57 on RMweb) had already worked out an effective approach. Basically the process involved taking photographs which showed the required lettering and insignia, correcting perspective and scaling using GIMP, then tracing around the objects of interest using Inkscape. Net result was that by last summer we had a small batch of Cambrian Railways transfers.

 

Some were applied to my existing wagons, successfully, as seen here:

attachicon.gifm161.jpg

 

The transfers include appropriate wagon numbers and tare weightings, as well as company insignia.

 

That's as far as we've got with the transfers. I have copies of the Cambrian coat of arms and more involved Prince of Wales feathers, as applied to coaches and locomotives, and am looking into producing shaded lettering, so that coach and locomotive transfers can be produced.

Lovely models NCB! I hope to be able to focus on doing something similar with building Highland Railway rolling stock in a larger scale than 2mm, when I've finished my current projects.

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Lovely models NCB! I hope to be able to focus on doing something similar with building Highland Railway rolling stock in a larger scale than 2mm, when I've finished my current projects.

 

Think there's at least one Society member doing the Highland. I believe he had a few of the Lochgorm (currently closed) kits reduced to 3mm. The locomotives had clean lines so could be quite easy to scratchbuild as well.

 

Nigel

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Think there's at least one Society member doing the Highland. I believe he had a few of the Lochgorm (currently closed) kits reduced to 3mm. The locomotives had clean lines so could be quite easy to scratchbuild as well.

 

Nigel

Sad news about Andy at Lochgorm. I received a 2mm footbridge kit from Lochgorm only a month ago.

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Yep, very sad. I've had an interest in the Highland ever since I came across Allchin's locomotive book, and took an interest in what Andy was doing. However my current Cambrian interest has put it rather on the back burner.

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Look forward to seeing your Highland models if you get round to them? I originally joined RMWeb to access some help and advice for a couple of local projects, but have become fascinated with a number of different aspects of railway modelling and think I will keep going...

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  • 3 months later...

Recently I have also released a 3mm version of the Furness D1 / Cambrian Small Goods Class.

 

https://www.shapeways.com/product/WVCMSYWA3/3mm-fr-d1-cambrian-sgc-basic?optionId=68180076

 

The link also has loads of other links to the accompanying items.

 

 

If any other SCC items are wanted in 3mm or in a different gauge let me know. :)

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