Lines of Character Models

[Nick_Burman]

 

 

Lines of Character models is my entry into the model railway field. The idea is to supply parts for modifying existing models and also "complete" models of odd or unusual types - mostly freelanced, but based on real models, usually of export types.

 

For the time being, Shapeways is the outlet of choice for printing service and delivery - please visit our shop at https://www.shapeways.com/shops/lines-of-character. I also have a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/LinesofCharacterModels/

 

The first release is for a kit of parts to improve the Minitrains (http://www.minitrains.eu/) Baldwin WW1 2-6-2T "trench engine". As it comes the model is a quite accurate model of its prototype, but lets face it, the real loco is rather strange as Baldwins go... so I decided to create a "beautification package" for it to turn it into something more "generic": https://www.shapeways.com/product/X4TWTPZSF/dress-up-kit-for-hoe-hon30-minitrains-wwi-2-6-2t?optionId=124563541&li=shops&fbclid=IwAR3arCrGyR28jAv4Hi-kLCIw2gmJVbFoG81deCxRyihGWDiuG5l1V6oVSyA

 

The kit contains a wood cab and bunker, two pilots (front and rear), Radley & Hunter ("balloon") stack and flanged cap (both force-fit onto the original stack), rear headlight and bracket and an insert to close the front pilot and allow the mounting of a "Greenwich" coupler (this can be omitted for Micro-Trains couplers). There are little holes on the cab side to permit adding handrails.

All going well the resulting loco should come out like the one in the photo - one of these days the builder must come round to it and finish the model... Apologise for the stains, these are the builder's fault, not Shapeways'.

 

(locomotive, track, cars and brass detail parts not included)

 

To complement the 2-6-2T kit I also released a wood/coal bunker with rails and an oil bunker:

 

Wood bunker: https://www.shapeways.com/product/RV7FE6HSQ/wood-bunker-for-dress-up-kit-for-minitrains-2-6-2t?optionId=188118373&li=shop-inventory

 

Oil bunker: https://www.shapeways.com/product/8CPVNDWFA/oil-bunker-for-minitrains-2-6-2t-dress-up-kit?optionId=188201556&li=shop-inventory

 

These are drop-ins into the bunker area.

 

I also have a few oddments already up - "cowcatchers" for the Tomytec "Railway Collection" railcars and a fuel oil tank for the Minitrains "Koppel". More items are coming, stay tuned.

 

 

Cheers Nicholas

 

[Nick_Burman]

 

Almost there, only need to finish writing instructions and set up the product. This is a kit to modernize the Minitrains Forney 0-4-4T and give crews better quality of life (larger doors and windows). It includes a new bunker/cab floor, cab, domes, rear truck, firebox insert, coupling (compatible with BEMO, Greenwich, etc) and smokebox door (the last two can't be seen because they were sprued inside the cab). As soon as I get to finish everything I'll post an official launch.

 

Cheers NB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nick_Burman]

 

OK, it's live! I've finished the instructions, loaded them to Shapeways, made new pictures...phew! But the Forney is up and available at http://shpws.me/SraQ. The picture shows my resin prototype - it works, but I think I'll have to buy my own kit... There are a few bits missing in the image and one or two things have changed to make it acceptable for Shapeways, but otherwise what you will receive with the kit are the parts which one sees in the photo (minus the whistle and locomotive, of course).

 

The best reasons to buy this kit is to get a locomotive which is a bit more "modern" (say 1900 - 1910) than the stock engine and to give crews some quality of life - with it crews will have windows the can actually lean out of and doors they can come in or out without risking getting stuck - handy in the event of a looming "cornfield meet" when engineer and fireman have to "join the birds" in a hurry. OSHA/HSE would approve... The resulting locomotive is a bit small as far as Forneys go, especially the Maine ones, but is far from "unprototypical" - for instance, H.K Porter listed a Forney in its catalog which had 6x10” cylinders, rode on 20” diameter drivers and weighed slightly under 8tons in working order. And at 17 feet 6 inches long it was smaller than the Minitrains locomotive!

 

Cheers Nicholas

 

[ColinK]

Some diesel cabs would be useful.

[Nick_Burman]

On 21/12/2020 at 19:22, ColinK said:

Some diesel cabs would be useful.

 

For what locomotives? Now that's something that did not occur...

 

Cheers NB