RMweb Premium Popular Post steverabone Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 13, 2019 (edited) Whilst I've modelled British S Scale for many years, Midland Railway in the early 1920s, on my Halifax Midland layout, some time ago I decided that my long held interest in the railways of Germany dating back to the late 1960s deserved to be celebrated in S Scale. The discovery that there are large numbers of excellent card kits of Deutsche Bundesbahn diesel and electric motive power and carriages available free of charge on the Internet in pdf format gave me a way into this type of modelling. The kits which are originally mainly in O Scale were resized to S Scale and printed out in card. They gave a basis on which to start construction, although to get what I wanted they were not used as originally intended! Mechanisms were provided by tramcar bogies (originally from BEC but now available available from KW Trams). The original 16.5mm gauge wheels were replaced with longer axles and Jackson disc wheels by the manufacturer for me at only a minimal extra costs. Over the last year or so a good selection of stock has been constructed to run on a small branch terminal layout. There are two Bo-Bo diesels a centre cab BR212 and a larger BR216 together with two shunting locos. These are a small Kof 4 wheeler and the standard DB BR260 0-6-0. No German 1970s era layout would be complete without one of the small Uerdingen railbuses. Passenger rolling stock is limited to a rake of 4 six-wheel Umbauwagen; these were 1950s rebuilds of pre-war carriages and were the backbone of many DB local and branch services well into the 1970s. There are also a small number of 4 wheel wagons - some modified from the pdf kits whilst others have been scratchbuilt using print outs of scale drawings. The layout is a typical three track branch terminus with a couple of short sidings and for this I utilised Peco code 100 rail and re-gauged pointwork - not something i would do again but it did save a lot of filing point blades using code 100 rails. Virtually everything; rolling stock and on the layout has used card board. Whilst the results aren't always as good as I'd have liked (card has its limitations) I feel that the project has been worthwhile and has produced something that is almost unique. I doubt that there are any other DB S Scale layouts, especially not in cardboard! NOTE: some of the photos were taken on my British S Scale layout, hence the retaining walls. Edited April 6, 2022 by steverabone 10 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Alex TM Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2019 Hi Steve, Looking forward to seeing the images, and learning about how you went from pdf to working model. Regards, Alex. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted September 13, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2019 (edited) The images have now been added Alex. When I started modelling in S Scale I decided to record construction in detail on my website - mainly because I often forget how I solved a problem and it is useful to be able to look back over what I did several months or years later. Each of the models I've constructed is described in full detail here, including details of the failures! http://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/modelling_the_d_b.htm A description of building the layout is here: http://steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/new_german_s_scale_layout.html There are similar pages for my Midland Railway and London Midland Region layout which can be accessed from here: http://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/indexpage.htm Edited September 13, 2019 by steverabone 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Alex TM Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2019 Hi again, That's some fantastic modelling. Impressed, in particular, by the Kleinlok; it doesn't even seem to blink as it crosses the pointwork. Thanks for posting that. Regards, Alex. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 Brilliant work. Though my security does not like one of the websites. I do like the double tram car bogie idea. That could be adapted to almost any rail car. There are some building downloads that would be handy to adapt as well. Many thanks for posting. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Very impressive modelling. I've modelled DB in HO and can appreciate what you have achieved. One question, could you have substituted plasticard for card in the construction? Second one, there is a fair amount of US stuff available in S, could any of it have been suitably modified? I assume no German S RTR? Thanks steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted April 5, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted April 5, 2020 On 03/04/2020 at 20:30, steve1 said: Very impressive modelling. I've modelled DB in HO and can appreciate what you have achieved. One question, could you have substituted plasticard for card in the construction? Second one, there is a fair amount of US stuff available in S, could any of it have been suitably modified? I assume no German S RTR? Thanks steve My use of card is deliberate - I've been impressed by some of the techniques by German modellers and reported on various forum. I could have used plastic but why not use a more environmentally friendly and cheaper material? I first started using card for my Midland Railway s Scale coaches about 15 years ago and they have remained absolutely stable to this day - that isn't always the case with models made of plastic card. The reason for using British tram mechanisms is that I was able to get precisely the wheelbases I needed without having to hack up expensive a rtr American chassis. You are correct there is currently no German S Scale - after all S Scale is an imperial scale so obviously USA and UK and NZ seem to be the main countries where it is commom(ish). 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 On 05/04/2020 at 16:38, steverabone said: You are correct there is currently no German S Scale - after all S Scale is an imperial scale so obviously USA and UK and NZ seem to be the main countries where it is commom(ish). Indeed there is currently no S in Germany, but there has been in the fifties (and also in France). I wrote a small article with pictures about it, see attachment. All very toy-like; this German Baureihe 05 with train is the most scale like: Regards Fred S_trains_made_in_Europe_(Germany,_France,_England).pdf 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted May 5, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 5, 2020 Well I don't think any firm is likely to make one of these anytime soon. My latest German loco a BR64 2-6-2T. 6 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 The Baureihe 64 is very popular in Germany, so it is made in Z, N, H0, 0 and 1 Gauge. But since there is no interest in current S in Germany I agree that it is unlikely. Regards Fred Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 Today I succeeded in having a run with my BUB Spur S DB Baureihe 05: Regards Fred 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted August 7, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 7, 2020 Well seeing that BR05 running is a bit of a surprise. By the way my father saw one 05:003 still streamlined at Hamburg Altona in 1946. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ColinK Posted August 7, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 7, 2020 Hope we’ll see you layout at an exhibition sometime. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted September 25, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 25, 2021 (edited) I'm afraid that my layouts are not portable and the baseboards are actually supported by the walls on brackets. In any case my exhibiting days are over as I ceased to enjoy it. This link will take you to a short video of the layout in action. http://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/German video with sound.mp4 Edited September 25, 2021 by steverabone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted September 25, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 25, 2021 I thought some of you might like to see my latest S Scale models which are DB Silberling passenger coaches. These were the standard regional/ suburban coach found every where in Germany. The had a distinctive fish-scale like pattern on the special no rusting steel used for the bodyside. This is difficult to reproduce in model form but as you will see there is a way! They are once again built almost completely from card - just the bogie inner frames and wheels are metal. The sides are print outs of photographs of the sides of the latest Piko HO models which have been re-scaled from images found on a review of the models on a German website. The roof is card with a little epoxy resin used as a filler on the roof end domes. The models are run as a two coach push-pull train with my BR212 diesel - this makes an ideal 1970s/80s branch train. Full details of construction are on my model blog on my website: https://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/building_a_silberlinge.html 7 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halvarras Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Blimey Steve, you certainly like a challenge! Very impressive, I had no idea card could be made to look this good. They look the biz! (By coincidence I've just been catching up on unread articles in the latest issue of Traction because I've just realised the next one is imminent and I am somewhat behind with my reading!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted September 26, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 26, 2021 (edited) Yes I like a challenge but the real reason is that by modelling in a scale that very few use and in a material that is often looked down on I end up with models that are unique, even if they are nowhere near the standard of some modeller's work or ready to run models. Edited September 26, 2021 by steverabone 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timber Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 These are really nice models.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted March 12, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) Another German loco is under way. This is a BRE44 Bo-Bo electric which uses re-gauged Airfix tender drive units for the powered bogies. Everything else is card using a resized pdf "kit" from a German card modellers' forum. The pantograph (a second one is needed) is non working and is made from nickel silver wire and brass strips. Lots more to do but the model is basically complete. Edited April 6, 2022 by steverabone 9 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneKennerley Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 looks great Steve, I must finish my Rhodesia Railways DE7 which is similar to one of the German locos, Wayne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted March 21, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) This is another loco built from a pdf card kit using an Airfix tender drive unit (re-gauged for S Scale) for power. The loco still needs a lot of detailing but is essentially complete. The real locos were used on both passenger and freight trains on the branch between Murnau and Oberammergau until the 1980s!! The sight of one of these small locos hauling two 26.4m long Silberlinge coaches was somewhat bizarre. The pantograph is none working but set at a suitable height for when (or if) I build some overhead catenary. The locos were painted a reddish brown colour. There is still quite a bit of detailing to be done before painting. Edited April 6, 2022 by steverabone 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted March 21, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) And this one is for those who need convincing that it is possible to build a working chassis using just a pair of very sharp scissors, a mini-drill and broaches, some files and a soldering iron and all built on a card table! It is the chassis for a DB BR86 2-8-2T which uses Markits wheels on S Scale axles and has valve gear assembled from modified parts from Alan Gibson etches. The loco has to get around 36" radius curves so there is a lot of side play on the 2nd and 4th axle and I have also had to devise an unusual system for the pony trucks. The frames are from .016" brass sheet cut with scissors to the required shape and filed as necessary. The two frames are tack soldered together and drilled for the axle holes. This needs to be done accurately with all holes absolutely in line. Once separated the holes are opened up with broaches and top hat bearings inserted. The frames are aligned with frame spacing jigs and Alan Gibson frame spacers soldered in place. To strengthen the side frames I also solder double sided sleeper strip to the frames which ensures that the frames sides are absolutely straight. The crossheads are strip of nickel silver folded at the top around the slidebar (German locos usually only have one slidebar). The cylinders are made as one unit from brass and nickel silver sheet and soldered to the frames. There are still a few cosmetic parts to be added to the cylinder before I start work on the body. The rods and valve gear are all from Alan Gibson etchings adapted as necessary. To get the wheels of the pony trucks to go around those tight curves I've made the pony trucks from a narrow strip of brass with 1/16" top hat bearings soldered in place. The holes in the bearings are opened out slightly with broaches to allow the axles to move from side to side easily. There are also two pieces of copper clad sleeper strip soldered to the underside of the chassis spacer. This limits sideways movement of the brass strip. The result of all this is that the wheels stay on the track and at right angles to the rails so absolutely no derailments. Extensive testing has now taken place and the chassis now runs smoothly and slowly as well as pulling a substantial load. Now it just needs a few detail non-functional parts adding and then it will be onto the body which will be largely from card. Edited April 6, 2022 by steverabone 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steverabone Posted April 28, 2022 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted April 28, 2022 (edited) Construction of the body starts with this piece of thick grey board which is secured to the chassis with captive nuts trapped in side multiple layers of card. The circles show the position of the bolts. The side tanks and cab are in place. They are cut from print outs of a scale drawing of the BR86 using thin card glued to grey board to give sufficient rigidity. The motor has no gained a flywheel which improves running so that the loco can run at walking speed and couple up to stock without moving the vehicles. The boiler is a length of central heating plastic pipe covered with several layers of thin card wrapped around it - the underside is coated with two part epoxy resin which gives a very firm structure. The steps, headlamp and short length of footplate by the smoke box were fabricated from various pieces of brass strip, wire and tube. The wonky buffer casing will be sorted out before proceeding! German locos tend to have a lot of boiler fittings. The strange contraption across the smokebox top is a pre-heater and is simply a length of plastic tube fastened into a slot filed in the boiler. The stove pipe chimney is a length of brass tube which had four slots cut in the end at right angles to each other. The four quadrants were eased apart at the top and the holes filled with solder and filed smooth. The various domes and sandboxes are from the barrel of a Staedtler overhead projector pen cut to the correct length and filled with epoxy resin. After filing to the correct profile a pin was insert in the underside and locates the dome into the boiler top. A slight flat is filed in the top of the boiler for each dome and then some more epoxy fills any gaps between the domes and the boiler. The two photos below show all the pipework to be found on the boiler - all made from plastic rod or brass wire and secured in holes drilled in the boiler or domes. And below the finished model with a temporary number plate in place To see the model in action click on this link for a short film clip. https://www.steverabone.com/sscalewebsite/VID_20220617_152150.3gp Edited June 18, 2022 by steverabone 9 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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