LongRail Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) I started my layout as a current day time period but eventually realised that I would have more operating potential by setting the period in the late 80's to early 90's I finally set the time period as the early 90's and generally refer to 1992 as the actual layout date which makes it easier to define if something is valid or not. I can still deviate from this if I so choose. Having seen departmental train formations on various show layouts I decided it would be nice to have some such stock myself. I started by working on modifying the Hornby crane and then created a support coach. The crane is still on-going and I have attached a couple of images below. After starting the crane conversion I decided to increase the variety of stock on my layout "Longnaughton" unfortunately this decision was made was after “Modelzone” had gone bust, Sod's law I suppose. I have however managed to pick up a few items from eBay both in terms of loco's and coaches. Glad to see that Invicta models are going to resurrect some of the departmental offerings. In addition to the “Modelzone” products I have started to modify a few RTR stock to increase the variety further. These are in various stages of construction and will provide details in following postings Having obtained the extra stock I set about creating an extension to the layout so that I could stable the trains when not in use. Photo below. The depot shed utilises two Hornby depot kits which have been chopped to fit and which will receive further detailing. The internal images which are just visible through the windows are taken at Wembley Light maintenance depot, although these are the wrong period for my layout in think they convey the correct atmosphere when looking in from outside. Edited March 9, 2019 by LongRail 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Searching through RmWeb found a couple of people who had modelled the optical car and thought this would make a nice addition to my fleet. Based on the advice on "Newbryford's mostly Yellow workbench" I purchased a Bachmann VBA van and proceeded to cut it up. Not having any dimensions I found a photo on Flickr and using photoshop adjusted the image to give me a square on view and then printed this so that the overall dimensions matched the VBA van, I also added a few guidelines to help taking measurements. Centre Section cut out from coach body and Components to form new centre section laid out First section of new centre section minus curved top Next stage with the curved top ready to install, this was formed around a copper pipe. The plastic was fixed to the pipe using masking tape which was overlaid with string, this held it to shape while it was heated and whilst cooling down. The heat was applied using a hair dryer on its hottest setting and was left to cool naturally First stage of chassis and main body 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted February 19, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 19, 2014 Good to see another Optical car on the go. I like the idea of making the centre "vanes" with spacers to let the light out. Cheers, Mick 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 The optical car is certainly and unusual subject and given that it was developed and built between 1984-86 and is still in existence today makes it more amazing. I saw it at the the Railway Technical Centre at Derby last month. I also like the idea of running it in a darkened environment with the vehicle illuminated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Gary, the crane looks good, just need to motorise it!! I think the optical car is a good model, much prefer the serco red/ grey colour for the support stock and will look at getting one for my n gauge layout which is roughly set between 2000and 2004. How about one these http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/plassercrane Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted February 20, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 20, 2014 The optical car is certainly and unusual subject and given that it was developed and built between 1984-86 and is still in existence today makes it more amazing. I saw it at the the Railway Technical Centre at Derby last month. I also like the idea of running it in a darkened environment with the vehicle illuminated Sadly, it's now retired from active duty, as of late April 2013 and I believe the SGT Mk1 coaches 975081/975280 have been offered for sale. Now replaced with SGT2 977985 and it's laser "dustbin" bolted to the coach end RTOV 9708 has since reacquired it's corridor end and now works out with other test formations and the brake force runner 99666 is now coupled to 977985. Recent sighting have seen 9708 on the end of the SGT2/UTU formation . Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 Gary, the crane looks good, just need to motorise it!! I think the optical car is a good model, much prefer the serco red/ grey colour for the support stock and will look at getting one for my n gauge layout which is roughly set between 2000and 2004. How about one these http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/plassercrane Matt Matt I have attached a photo from the other side and a close up of the gears, although not motorised the winches can be operated from outside body using a screwdriver in the external bolt head, the gears mesh together. I have currently removed the thread which operates the winches as I am trying to get a more suitable material to represent the wire rope and whcih moves more easily aorund the pulleys. I have attached a few older photos showing the mechanism during construction. This includes the pulleys themselves are made from different size brass washers glued together around a spindle and then filed to create more of a vee grove. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Gary, Very impressive work there, great attention to detail. I can imagine that space is a little too restricted for a motor. Superb model. A static model could be motorised by hiding the motors between the bogie side frames! Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
angell328 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Hi Gary, Loving your work! Crane build is coming on amazingly well, looking forward to seeing progress. Have you got a copy of Peter Tatlow's Railway Breakdown Cranes volume 2? If not can highly recommend it as lots of close up pictures and blueprint drawings of the 75 ton crane in steam and diesel guise, plus many other railway cranes. Cheers Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 Hi Matt Yrs have a copy of Peter Tatlow's hook makes an excellent reference book have also been trawling the internet for crane pictures Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin_R Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Gary, the crane looks good, just need to motorise it!! I think the optical car is a good model, much prefer the serco red/ grey colour for the support stock and will look at getting one for my n gauge layout which is roughly set between 2000and 2004. How about one these http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/plassercrane Matt Do you mean one like this? See http://www.makeyourmarkmodels.com/ 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 Very impressive and well detailed kits but unfortunately Matt B models on N guage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Just picked up this months Rail Express only to see Oversetts models are releasing the Optical car () At least I am enjoying building my own model Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed a/c Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Very nice! I like what you did with the depot, great idea. (May have to pinch that one ) I see you have the railbus from hattons, what do you think to it? I am considering buying one myself as I cover roughly the same time frame as yourself, with a bit of creative licensing. Regards Scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Purchased the rail us via eBay before hattons re released it managed to get it cheaper. Great little coach runs really nice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobster Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 First class work - Really like the depot, look forward to more. Cheers. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Have spent a bit of time working on the optical car and have attached a few updated photos Suspension Components, the suspension on the actual vehicle was bespoke and very distinctive. View showing the suspension fitted, still requires the restraints on the ends. This image also shows the internal components for the illumination. On Off switch to the right this is operated via a thin piece of wire pushed through a 1mm diameter hole in the end of the end of the covering bodyworks. The lighting array is mounted on a vertical section of Plasticard and currently comprises 6 small LED’s. I planned to mount two more in the floor section and have provided wiring underneath, on the first test run there seemed to be plenty of illumination so may not include these yet. As my layout is operated by DC I have provided an onboard battery as a power soirce for the LED's, the batery is to the left of the photo and is partially obscured by the Plasticard which keeps it in position. View from opposite side where you can see the battery and the back of the LED lighting array The following photos show the LED’s illuminated. Final Photo showing the current status of the build as of today 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Gary, Very impressive work, I particularily like the suspension detail would be a challenge to replicate that in N gauge. Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 Updated photos of the crane below I tried a modified jib on the crane with an articulation at the base as per the full size versions to try and minimise the movement when running around the curves but at 00 scale the curvature is so tight it doesn’t make sufficient difference and results in the crane and jib being at opposing angles when returning to straight track The match wagon now has now had the main support trestle moved in very slightly to match the prototype. I have added the tool boxes below but there is only space for two. This wagon is much shorter than it should be due to the shorter jib length this appears to be the main compromise Hornby made to the model. The handrails at each end look to think in the photos so I will replace with thinner wire. I have incorporated the additional ballast weights which were added to the cranes when they were converted from steam operation, these have the added benefit of stabilising the crane body itself. I am planning to replace the moulded ladder on the weight relieving bogies, these can be seen on the right of the first photo. I have now added further detail to each side and have given the body a coat of yellow to identify any areas to be made good. On one side I didn’t get all the details in the correct place (bottom photo) but will accept that as a compromise. The wires and cables will be added after painting. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 In addition to the projects above I have also been working on motorising a Kibri Road Rail Excavator kit as shown by the photo below. Decided it didn’t really fit into this thread so have started a new one which can be found at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/84639-kibri-road-rail-excavator/ 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly9 Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Hi Gary. Absolutely superb model crane there. I have been doing my own version but have had a bit of a hiatus of late. I got some scale length jibs laser cut if you're interested. I could do with picking your brains on how you did some of the detailing on yours. Will pm you pal. cheers rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
87023Velocity Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Hi Gary, Nice work on the crane. The optical car is coming along nicely too. Those 15 ton crane kits look good, may need to invest in one. Cheers Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Hi Gary. Absolutely superb model crane there. I have been doing my own version but have had a bit of a hiatus of late. I got some scale length jibs laser cut if you're interested. I could do with picking your brains on how you did some of the detailing on yours. Will pm you pal. cheers rich Rich Send me a message and I will see if I can help Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 I have been working on the crane especially the rigging and the pulley wheels for the lifting hooks. I wanted the hook to have some weight so that it would hang properly. This was achieved by forming the hook itself from a piece of 2.5mm thick mild steel (section of weight from wagon used for optical car) and the remainder from brass sections. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted April 30, 2014 Author Share Posted April 30, 2014 Bit more of an update on progress Have started to add detail around the rear of the crane including the access doors and handles. The roof has received some work as well Crane Jib has the bracing to the underside Lifting Beam has been constructed, only in primer at present, I have painted the main crane hook but am not happy with finsih and will repaint The weight releiveing bogies have had the cast ladders removed and new ladders added, these were cut from a spare ladder from the depot builidng wwhich is shoown in post #1 The bogies have been repainted but are awaiting the addition of transfers for the stripes at the ends. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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