Paxton Road's workbench

An interesting looking prototype that James..! Something else to follow with interest! Interesting to see your comments about the Kato chassis - as you know I've been looking at some of their products, and they do look nice... good to see someone with such known good credibility give them a vote of confidence (er, you I mean)....

Follwoing with interest

Jon

Thanks Jon - yes Kato chassis in general are superb - although in American outline stuff, the Athearn Genesis stuff also gets a good writeup and Atlas were always lovely runners.

What a great prototype James. I thought it was a disease when I first saw the name :-)

 

Nice looking grilles, really delicious. This will no doubt become a super loco in your hands.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's a fan of this manufacturer - I drew some plans for a more modern Schöma tunnellok to build in 1:35/600mm gauge, but never got very far with it. Must extract finger, as ever you are supplying great motivation.

 

The Kato 4w chassis is a very good choice, I have one under the Ruhrthaler on Tanis and it runs reliably for hours at a time at exhibitions. I bought spares but have never had to use them.

 

BTW your article in CM just came out down under, I loved it.

Hi Will - thanks, yes I've just bought a big LGB Schoema as well! Quite distinctive design aren't they, I'd seen their 'tunnelloks' too in the past, they're on their website IIRC?

 

I'm glad to hear from you that the Kato chassis is a good one - did you add much weight to get consistent running?

 

Which article was it in CM? The one about the LGB bash? I've just submitted another one so look forward to that in 2012. In the UK you can now get a e-mag version which I've subscribed too - I guess that might mean you'd get instant copies down under as well?

 

Just glad to be modelling with a subject I can share on here

It was the LGB bash, yes - the extended tanks on the tank+tender loco. I must admit I was mainly enjoying the pictures, I need to go back and read the words properly now that we're back from a week away.

 

I added a bit of weight to the Kato chassis, but not much - my loco is built from styrene with some brass rod in the frames for weight and rigidity, and lead mixed into Miliput under the bonnet and in the toolbox. It might be a wee bit bigger than yours (seeing as it's 1:48) which helps. I use graphite on the rails which is a godsend provided you don't want to pull too much.

 

I know what you mean about "legal" subjects, I'm currently painting a 1:72 Dragon Wagon and accompanying Sherman - definitely modelling, but not really RMWeb-able. But seeing the Schöma makes me want to finish this pair of wagons which are sort of related. I finally have the right treadplate for the decks now!

Will if you're interested in the LGB stuff and pictures then check out my garden blog... http://ejklr.blogspot.com

 

Interesting point on graphite on the track, does that make much difference? How do you apply it?

 

That hydraulic crane does look nice I look forward to seeing you progress that

Oops, missed reply. I just rub graphite onto a short stretch of rail (by drawing on it with a carpenter's pencil or a stick of artist's graphite) then run a train around to distribute it.

Thanks Will - I shall look forward to trying it when I have a layout. I don't plan to have long trains so if it improves running I'll give it a try