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For those of you who read books about trains and train stories as well as playing with toy trains, what if we could actually interpret fictional trains as models we can actually run? What if we can all make model trains from our imagination using Junior locomotives or creating stuff from scratch?

 

Well, I have been looking at various vintage O Gauge model trains and I am interested by some of the freelance designs in Pre-Grouping liveries. If you have read or seen the original illustrations of The Three Railway Engines, the William Middleton illustrations made the trains very toy-like. I thought it was fun seeing as Bachmann made the Junior locomotives in their range but sadly no longer do. These models I found rather nice and would love to have owned one if I ever do come across one. The interesting things they did was not only re-use the HO Thomas models, but they also interpreted a junior version of a J94 0-6-0ST. That model would;'ve been nice as Wilbert the Forest Engine had he been introduced in the TV adaptation.

 

Speaking of Bachmann Thomas models, I am turning my Bachmann James model into a freelance Midland Railway 2-6-0.

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Of course, I made the handrails out of Milliput stuck them on the sides of the cab. The face and eye mechanism were removed and a Midland Railway-style smokebox door and a milk-churn safety-valve was added atop the firebox. The lamp was also removed and a new one was made from scratch with a bit of wire and Milliput to hold it in place. Add a spot of superglue to hold them together and here we go. The cab steps and running-board steps I have yet to add on and that will come in due course. I might try and do something with my Bachmann Gordon model left over from a project I once started but never got round to finishing it, and as you can see on my Sudrian Engines thread, you'll know exactly what I mean. That itself, however, is another project for another day.

 

Also, please tell me what are your thoughts on Junior locomotives and freelance rolling stock - I'd love to hear you comments.

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Speaking of course as someone who you know works entirely in freelance as part of the ever-expanding Castle Aching universe, I feel that is a sincerely underrated part of the hobby. People underestimate the amount of creativity and dedication needed to design and build their own locomotives and stock, especially for an entire line, and call it childish: that annoys me to no end. Not being a stickler for accuracy or making real locomotives doesn't make you any less of a valid part of the hobby than any one of those elitist rivet counting sorts (not saying everyone who strives for accuracy is like that of course, I've had nothing but support and encouragement here on RMWeb, but I have heard some real horror stories.)

Personally I feel that freelancing is more in keeping with the true spirit of the hobby: building for fun rather than to recreate some specific point in time. If people support you and help you fantastic. If they don't, just ignore them. You do you.

 

As for the Bachmann Jr. stuff, I've also been trying to get my hands on some for some time with similar success to your good self. I'd wanted to turn the aforementioned J94-ish into something similar to a Manning Wardle 0-6-0 kind of like relaxinghobby did. Then again I improvise a lot of my stuff so if I really want one I can find other ways. The journey is just as important as the destination.

If you're looking for something to bash into a TV-style Wilbert, can I suggest the old Triang 0-6-0 saddle tank as a starting point? You can find the body shell quite cheap on eBay.

Edited by RedGemAlchemist
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Yes. Very nice indeed.

Sorry for the ultra-serious first contribution LNWR, but that is my honest opinion as a diehard freelancer. Anyway, onwards to fun!
Some quick photos of some of my own creations for those of you who haven't read through my workbench thread (considering the people on here already probably most of you have but best to be courteous.)

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Yes. Very nice indeed.

 

Sorry for the ultra-serious first contribution LNWR, but that is my honest opinion as a diehard freelancer. Anyway, onwards to fun!

Some quick photos of some of my own creations for those of you who haven't read through my workbench thread (considering the people on here already probably most of you have but best to be courteous.)

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Thanks for sharing that here. Right now, I have just gotten the steps on the locomotive, now.

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Back again with some updates!

 

Here are some shots of the Midland Railway Mogul, this time with added steps and a tender (this tender was from a Hornby N15 with a six-wheeled tender). The tender came from a G274-6-0 from a fictional railway company of mine, the Coventry & North Western Railway, but that is another story.

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The tender has received modifications at the back and is nearly done.

 

Also, work on the freelance ten-wheeler is commencing and work is starting from a Bachmann Gordon.

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I have also included a poll as I am having a bit of trouble trying to decide which livery the locomotive should be in so I decided on a poll.

https://strawpoll.com/g4r99sy1

Once you have made your choice, please comment here with your vote.

Edited by LNWR18901910
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Very nice, though I would suggest stripping the paint from that green tender before applying a new coat as your skills really have improved since then and it would probably wreck the new finish if you left the old paint on there.

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Very nice, though I would suggest stripping the paint from that green tender before applying a new coat as your skills really have improved since then and it would probably wreck the new finish if you left the old paint on there.

Brush lines and keeping paint the right consistency must be a challenge? I haven't tried modifying or scratchbuilding locomotives and rolling stock yet. I have purchased an airbrush and hoping to use it to paint a collection of Peco N gauge wagon kits.

If you are creating fictional freelance models, I was wondering how easy it is to modify lining transfers to fit, or is this something that is too fiddly to contemplate?

 

Marlyn

Edited by Marly51
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Surprise, SURPRISE! And here is more on the Mogul!

The tender may still have some more work to be done on it. The wheels have been painted and it runs fine as I have used the Duracell 9-Volt battery for testing.

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I have yet to also put on the decals and lining. The whistle, dome and chimney cap are to be painted in gold. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the update on this project. More to come soon on the Ten-Wheeler and Express Passenger Baltic.

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  • 1 month later...

And here I am again with some more Freelance stuff!

 

The Mogul has had some improvements done to it and it looks nice so far.

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The Caledonian Ten-Wheeler and the Eastern Freelance W1 4-6-4 is taking shape as well. More on it as it develops.

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A lot has changed over thelast weeks on my workbench, but anyhoo, here are some more projects just to wetten your appetite.

 

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No pics of my freelance W1 Hudson, but that's still ongoing. I hope you all like it and I hope you liked the Caledonian Ten Wheeler (you helped me choose the livery for it), the tender still needs work.

 

More coming, soon!

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The Wild Nor'Wester

Correct!

 

Also, a big thank you to everyone for their kind words on this thread of mine, I really do appreciate it.

 

The red engine is a freelance Midland Railway Mogul and the blue engine is a freelance Caledonian 4-6-0 which I have dubbed the Highland Belle. Another locomotive, loosely based on Gresley's W1 'Hush-Hush' 4-6-4, is in the works.

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  • 1 year later...

It's been a long time since I last posted anything!

 

Well, I've been inspired by four locomotives inspired by the re-done illustrations by Reginald Dalby of the early RWS books that I intend to make into model form. It's nice to design something you can actually draw on paper and translate into a 3D model just like the original Bob the Builder series which had interesting vehicle designs.

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A user on DA has made digital model recreations of the interesting loco designs so I thought about making model recreations myself.

 

  • The big blue Mogul (87546) will be made from a Hornby Peppercorn K1 with a Maunsell N Class tender and modifications along the boiler and running-board.
  • The small red Mogul will be made from a modified Hornby James body with the smokebox altered, chimney replaced, handrails added and modifications to the cab roof and such along with a Bachmann 3F 0-6-0 chassis and tender as well as cab interior details or a modified C Class 0-6-0 with extended running-board, modified Belpaire firebox, added pony truck and Fowler tender added on.
  • The big red Ten Wheeler would be made either from a cut-down Tri-ang Princess body with a Bachmann Jubilee chassis or a Hornby Class 5 4-6-0 chassis with a Fowler tender; however, a Hornby Rebuilt Patriot with altered running board, smoke deflectors and steam pipes removed and single chimney added as well as a Fowler tender added is another possibility.
  • The big green Pacific (Henry) would be a modified A3 body mounted onto a Duchess Chassis with internal bearings trailer truck and a six-wheel tender - I bought a streamlined Duchess tender which has then been trimmed at the back and modified.

Those are all my potential model projects for the future. If anyone has a spare Hornby James body that they have with them, please PM me and we can arrange some method of transaction.

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15 minutes ago, TangoOscarMike said:

Questions:

  1. Will you sculpt faces?
  2. Do you happen to know what software was used to make and render the 3D models?

Cheers

Tom

1. I see no need to sculpt faces because I want them to have realistic features of locomotives. Instead, they will have normal smokebox doors like real engines.

2. I'm not sure what the program was used, but it would have to be Blender or something like that.

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