Brief introduction  and Wheel Quartering Jigs .

Snitzl Works blog will illustrate and describe my efforts into modifications and scratchbuilding  of rolling stock / locomotives along with all the sub assemblies / components such as gearbox's,  gears, worms, wheels, motor bogies, wheel quartering jigs and will also include all the trials  and tribulations that can sometimes occur along the way, so perhaps this blog should be a guide on how not to modify and scratchbuild locomotives. I realise that this blog will only attract a  handful of rmweb members but I'd rather present these projects than stop blogging altogether.

Brief History : First loco was scratchbuilt using very basic tools in a fashion described by John H Ahern in his book 'Miniature Locomotive Construction', later models were constructed  with the aid of an emco unimat SL which with its accessories can perform as a lathe, milling  machine and pillar drill. Time has moved on and I now have a workshop complete with traditional engineering workshop machines ( mainly company retro throw outs ).

I started sratch building loco's in the early 1980's to the more common gauge of  16.5mm but after a few years a change to EM gauge was made and this involved modifying  six locos to the new gauge. A few years later a change from EM gauge to P4 was made  and this involved modifying fourteen locos to the new gauge, three of which have still  to be done. Signs of this modification can be seen on some locos in the gallery, you'll  notice brass chassis, painted body combination . Although I use the term 'scratchbuilt',  all loco's have commercial motors and most have commercial wheels and gears.

 All rolling stock has a fully compensated chassis system as described in Mike Sharmans  book 'Flexichas' , which is essential for reliable running in any gauge with true scale  tyre profiles.

I hope that this blog will encourage others to venture into this most rewarding side of the hobby.

The most influential sources of information on locomotive construction was a set of articles by Guy Williams in Model Railway Constructor which were later combined to produce a book : Model Locomotive Construction in 4mm Scale by Guy Williams. see also : The 4mm Engine - A Scratchbuilder's Guide - R.Guy Williams.

Snitzl.