Powering Lincoln Locos bodies

[britishcolumbian]

11 minutes ago, luke_stevens said:

Trying desperately NOT to order anything until the 33 is finished! Don't want to get distracted :)

Failing at that endeavour led me to amassing enough kits to stock a small hobby shop back when I was building aircraft kits... in addition to 22 already built I had another 14 F-4 Phantom kits, and 11 MiG-29 kits additional to the 7 already built, out of over 100 unbuilt kits in total (not to mention aftermarket detail parts and decal sets...). I ended up selling the stash as a lot for $600 when I moved into my current (smaller) place... I'm sure the guy who bought them made a killing reselling them on ebay, there were some rarities amongst them. But it's a lot easier to keep things under control with railway modelling... at least, modelling NorAm, Hungarian, and now British outline in TT... 😆

[D9020 Nimbus]

33 minutes ago, britishcolumbian said:

I'll get one of those to see about powering it, and if that's successful I'll invest in a new Tillig equivalent.

There isn't a new Tillig equivalent. AFAIK the only firm producing RTR railcars at present is Kres Modelle. They do the pre-war VT70 and the post-war DR one. Cost €249 from MSL…

[britishcolumbian]

Just now, D9020 Nimbus said:

There isn't a new Tillig equivalent. AFAIK the only firm producing RTR railcars at present is Kres Modelle. They do the pre-war VT70 and the post-war DR one. Cost €249 from MSL…

Well then I meant Kres. :P I didn't realise Tillig had stopped, and from Kres was only conscious of their Uerdinger Schienenbus/DB VT98 (which I imagine could be used as a basis for a BR Uerdingen railbus...?)

[britishcolumbian]

But also MTB produce railcars at the moment, too, I'm dithering over getting the MÁV Bzmot in the era IV markings as available, or waiting for an era V version... I think Kühn are also planning on doing that Czech railbus that is called Bzmot in Hungary.

[Ravenser]

2 hours ago, britishcolumbian said:

It's all good, my 22 will be green. Fingers crossed, I should have time to get started tomorrow evening!

 

I'm already contemplating ordering an AC railcar shell. The DR railbus made by BTTB can be had for a dime a dozen, so I'll get one of those to see about powering it, and if that's successful I'll invest in a new Tillig equivalent.

 

The W&M railbuses were actually an adaptation of DB railbuses (there were about 5 suppliers of railbuses to BR, all in penny numbers).

 

A new resin body on those mechanisms should work. You just need to source speed whiskers transfers

[TT-Pete]

Progress on the Hymek has been glacial. First off one of the offspring brought the "Influenza A" bug to our Boxing Day family buffet and it has taken me and Madame nearly 3 weeks to recover from it. We both agreed that it was worse than having Covid, and she's had it twice.

 

Secondly when I did start looking at the loco again about a week ago, I'd lost the buffers. I remember putting them to one side for safekeeping before Xmas, but where?! I must have gone over my workbench at least 3 times in forensic detail, looking in and under every box and every ziplock baggie of assorted bits, but nothing. I even started rooting through boxes in the cupboard that had been, or might have been, in the vicinity of the workbench sometime in December, nothing.

 

This afternoon I decided to bite the bullet and start over again, locating my stash of Tri-ang A1A buffers in the cupboard and cutting new shank housings from styrene tube. Just as I had finished and was looking for the matt black 33 to paint them I noticed the tinlet of Precision Paints P134 pre-1985 signal yellow sitting in the open on the workbench all this time - with 4 buffers nestling in the lid as I knew I'd need the paint for the yellow loco ends and so had put them there so I'd know where they were. Hah.

 

Anyway, I'm loath to show the closeup photos as at this stage they merely serve to highlight my shonky paintjob, but here you go and a coat of matt varnish and subtle weathering will hopefully hide a multitude of sins;

 

 

It strikes me that I am going to need to add a few more "gubbins" to the bogie sideframes, cab steps, brake resevoirs, that kind of thing. I am talking to Fox transfers about re-sizing their Hymek numbers pack "FRH2007 - Hymek Livery Letters and D-Numbering" to 120 scale, but it's really expensive at around £45 so will have to wait until after next payday. Is anybody interested in going halves with me? You get number transfers sets for 2 locos in the pack and you get to choose the numbers. I've got some 3mm scale BR arrows transfers that are about the right size for the sides if not in the pack and I'll probably print the headcodes from the computer and stick them on, leaving "glue n' glaze" for the windows. Like I said before I'm holding off couplings until I've got Hornby rolling stock to make sure they match up ok.

 

@britishcolumbian expressed the concern that the 3mm scale buffers from the A1A might be too big for 120, but they look ok to me:

 

 

 

4 hours ago, luke_stevens said:

 

Trying desperately NOT to order anything until the 33 is finished! Don't want to get distracted :)

 

Luke

 

I must admit that my thoughts are already turning to a class 37 using the NOHAB or Br 232 "Ludmilla" co-co chassis...

 

[gc4946]

Great work on the Hymek, but it shows the smaller envelope for motors and transmission available for modelling British prototypes in 1:120 , which often means (former BTTB) motors having to be changed to suit the available space. I think it'll be a major deterrent for modelling.

If Lincoln Locos offer appropriate bogie sideframes and fuel tanks, it'll encourage more to model this scale.

[luke_stevens]

4 hours ago, TT-Pete said:

 I am talking to Fox transfers about re-sizing their Hymek numbers pack "FRH2007 - Hymek Livery Letters and D-Numbering" to 120 scale, but it's really expensive at around £45 so will have to wait until after next payday. Is anybody interested in going halves with me? You get number transfers sets for 2 locos in the pack and you get to choose the numbers.

 

Rail-Tec do the numbers for a Hymek. At the moment they only do them in 7mm, 4mm, 3mm and 3.5mm (!) so it worth be with asking if they could do them in TT120 too.

 

The pack that seems most useful is: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=10393 Complete loco: BR blue class 35 Hymek w/ your number

 

 

For headcodes I'd recommend getting in touch with Louise at Modern Transport Graphics (model.graphics@btinternet.com)

 

This is the pack for the Hymek (but in 4mm) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153899827128?hash=item23d524ffb8:g:hjEAAOSwoSxi4QWc

 

She reduced the 4mm set of SR late headocdes to TT120 for me for only a little more than the 4mm ones.

 

I too am thinking Glue-and-Glaze for windows, unfortunately both my bottles of Microscale Krystal Clear have become sludgy over time.

 

Luke

Edited January 25, 2023 by luke_stevens

[luke_stevens]

1 hour ago, TT-Pete said:

 

 

 

 

 

I think it looks great! If I can get my 33 to the same standard of paint job I'll be happy!

 

Luke

[luke_stevens]

3 minutes ago, gc4946 said:

Great work on the Hymek, but it shows the smaller envelope for motors and transmission available for modelling British prototypes in 1:120 , which often means (former BTTB) motors having to be changed to suit the available space. I think it'll be a major deterrent for modelling.

If Lincoln Locos offer appropriate bogie sideframes and fuel tanks, it'll encourage more to model this scale.

 

In terms of motors, I'm using an M.14/20 (~£23) from Branchlines (sales@branchlines.com) with Piko trucks, universals and flywheels. It a far better motor than the old BTTB one and compariable to the Piko motor supplied with the cannibalised model.

 

Luke

[luke_stevens]

1 hour ago, TT-Pete said:

I must admit that my thoughts are already turning to a class 37 using the NOHAB or Br 232 "Ludmilla" co-co chassis...

 

I decided to ignore the 37, 50 and 55 until the Hornby 50 has come out and I can cannibalise that.

 

But I'm considering (just considering mind you) using the same chassis for a Western...

 

Luke

[luke_stevens]

And now we have a Good News! Bad News story!

 

Good News! The wiring is tied up, shortened and soldered in place, which looks much better and more organised...

 

 

Bad News! The body no longer fits... 

 

 

Time for a re-plan! First thoughts: move the socket to the right, overhanging the flywheel (?) and the gear tower. This will mean the circuit board and decoder will be visible through the cab windows at one end... I'd always intended the loco to have a details buffer beam at one end, and now it is time to move on that. The printer circuit board strips along the mid-part of the chassis are actually the body supports as the "fit" against the roof support inside the body.

 

Not a derailment, more of a scenic diversion :)

 

Luke

[Keith Addenbrooke]

10 hours ago, gc4946 said:

Great work on the Hymek, but it shows the smaller envelope for motors and transmission available for modelling British prototypes in 1:120 , which often means (former BTTB) motors having to be changed to suit the available space. I think it'll be a major deterrent for modelling.

If Lincoln Locos offer appropriate bogie sideframes and fuel tanks, it'll encourage more to model this scale.

Good point.  I’m not an experienced loco builder, but my guess is that we’ll see greater use made of 12mm gauge motor bogies and components, or maybe N-Scale motors, ie: starting with something smaller because of the loading gauge.

 

The only two locos I’ve made were 009 resin bodies on the Kato N chassis they were designed for, but had the very obvious advantage of not needing re-gauging.  As @luke_stevens is showing us, patience and persistence is needed to modify TT products for UK bodies.

 

Coupled steam locos would bring the challenge up yet another level, I suspect.

 

As for the 33 @luke_stevens is working on: keep going, I’m sure you’ll get there soon enough, Keith.

[TT-Pete]

10 hours ago, luke_stevens said:

 

I decided to ignore the 37, 50 and 55 until the Hornby 50 has come out and I can cannibalise that.

 

But I'm considering (just considering mind you) using the same chassis for a Western...

 

Luke

 

Oooh, good point! I was so fixated on Tillig chassis that I overlooked the possibility of hacking Hornby chassis once they arrive! 😄

[railtec-models]

10 hours ago, luke_stevens said:

 

Rail-Tec do the numbers for a Hymek. At the moment they only do them in 7mm, 4mm, 3mm and 3.5mm (!) so it worth be with asking if they could do them in TT120 too.

 

The pack that seems most useful is: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=10393 Complete loco: BR blue class 35 Hymek w/ your number

 

 

 

 

Just seen this on my morning rounds and as it's literally just a couple of clicks, I've just mirrored this pack (as well as headcodes) in TT/120 for you:

 

TT-C3503

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=10683

 

Any ready-made customisable headcodes you like:

TT-9938

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=10681

 

 

These are made either face-on or reverse printed, so you can have the choice of whether to apply them directly to the outside of the loco (face-on), or to the inside of the glazing (reverse printed).

 

FWIW I've also mirrored C3502 which is the parallel pack for BR green.

 

 

 

[TT-Pete]

11 hours ago, gc4946 said:

 it shows the smaller envelope for motors and transmission available for modelling British prototypes in 1:120 , which often means (former BTTB) motors having to be changed to suit the available space. I think it'll be a major deterrent for modelling.

If Lincoln Locos offer appropriate bogie sideframes and fuel tanks, it'll encourage more to model this scale.

 

I think even before finding out about the space issue for old BTTB motors I would have discounted them as being too noisy and clunky, I am gradually working through my old BTTB loco stud and converting them to Faulhaber motors and re-gearing using a conversion kit from "DAS TT" https://www.modellbahn-elstertrebnitz.de/umbau/tt-loks/dieselloks/  

 

Agreed on Lincoln Locos, seems strange that they don't include buffers, fuel tanks, sideframes etc... or even tenders for steam locos!

[Ravenser]

13 hours ago, TT-Pete said:

 

 

I noticed the tinlet of Precision Paints P134 pre-1985 signal yellow sitting in the open on the workbench all this time - with 4 buffers nestling in the lid as I knew I'd need the paint for the yellow loco ends and so had put them there so I'd know where they were. Hah.

 

Anyway, I'm loath to show the closeup photos as at this stage they merely serve to highlight my shonky paintjob, but here you go and a coat of matt varnish and subtle weathering will hopefully hide a multitude of sins;

 

 

It strikes me that I am going to need to add a few more "gubbins" to the bogie sideframes, cab steps, brake resevoirs, that kind of thing. 

.............

 

13 hours ago, TT-Pete said:

 

@britishcolumbian expressed the concern that the 3mm scale buffers from the A1A might be too big for 120, but they look ok to me:

 

 

 

 

I must admit that my thoughts are already turning to a class 37 using the NOHAB or Br 232 "Ludmilla" co-co chassis...

 

 

 

Couple of things :

 

- I can understand your feeling that there's something not quite there on the paint job, but having read your post again , I think I can lay my finger on it . The yellow's too dark /rich. Signal yellow is a different colour from BR warning panel yellow , and Precision do two shades of the later - an early more orange version and a 1980s paler shade.  This is throwing out the balance between blue and yellow - the blue is looking slightly washed out/faded. A top coat of BR warning panel yellow over the signal shade should ease it back I think

 

- Agree that the bogie sideframes are a bit sparse and need enhancement

 

- A 37 is promised from Hornby in Phase 4 behind the 50 in Phase 3 , so doing one by another route may be unnecessary (Though it's good to prove to the knockers that it is actually possible to make things in this scale regardless of what's available from Hornby)

 

Good to see Railtec are on board in supporting this scale

[cctransuk]

38 minutes ago, Ravenser said:

Good to see Railtec are on board in supporting this scale

 

We at Cambridge Custom Transfers have always, for 24 years, offered our entire range in 3mm. scale.

 

Naturally, this will now apply to 2.5mm. scale as well.

 

John Isherwood.

[Ravenser]

3 minutes ago, cctransuk said:

 

We at Cambridge Custom Transfers have always, for 24 years, offered our entire range in 3mm. scale.

 

Naturally, this will now apply to 2.5mm. scale as well.

 

John Isherwood.

 

In all the circumstances , it's good to highlight the support being made advailable from the specialist trade for this new scale

 

Model-making and ingenuity have always been required in the pioneering phase of any scale or gauge

[TT-Pete]

3 hours ago, railtec-models said:

Just seen this on my morning rounds and as it's literally just a couple of clicks, I've just mirrored this pack (as well as headcodes) in TT/120 for you:

TT-C3503 https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=10683

Any ready-made customisable headcodes you like:

TT-9938 https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=10681

 

Order now placed, thanks! :^)

[TT-Pete]

7 hours ago, Ravenser said:

- I can understand your feeling that there's something not quite there on the paint job, but having read your post again , I think I can lay my finger on it . The yellow's too dark /rich. Signal yellow is a different colour from BR warning panel yellow , and Precision do two shades of the later - an early more orange version and a 1980s paler shade.  This is throwing out the balance between blue and yellow - the blue is looking slightly washed out/faded. A top coat of BR warning panel yellow over the signal shade should ease it back I think

 

Well done that man! Now, did anybody else spot my deliberate mistake? :^)

 

Going back to my paintbox I had another look and TaDaa! There is my jar of RailMatch W'PANEL YELLOW pre'84 - I think that is what I was looking for when I picked up the Precision Paints tinlet on the strength of the "pre 1985" description on the label. Heigh ho. Does this look any better now to you?

 

[Ravenser]

7 minutes ago, TT-Pete said:

 

Well done that man! Now, did anybody else spot my deliberate mistake? :^)

 

Going back to my paintbox I had another look and TaDaa! There is my jar of RailMatch W'PANEL YELLOW pre'84 - I think that is what I was looking for when I picked up the Precision Paints tinlet on the strength of the "pre 1985" description on the label. Heigh ho. Does this look any better now to you?

 

 

 

Yes. A much better yellow and somehow the blue looks a bit stronger too

[luke_stevens]

For those of us working on models I just saw this on the West Hill Wagons website.

 

https://www.westhillwagonworks.co.uk/hunt-couplings-c-2/coupling-accessories-c-25/009-narrow-gauge-nem-355-sockets-pack-of-16-p-343

 

They are under Narrow Gauge but are correct for TT... Not sure I have much room for the top of the bogies, but from underneath it may be possible...

 

Luke

[rekoboy]

It is the same pocket for N, TT and H0e/009. Roco's TT locos and freight vehicles are supplied with Fleischmann Profi N scale couplings as standard, not TT ones, so unless you have only Roco rolling stock on your TT layout a coupling change is needed. I am experimenting with left-over Profi couplings on my track maintenance vehicles and in semi-permanently coupled sets of carriages. They are quite complex but very robust - and unlike Tillig or Kühn couplings you can simply lift a vehicle out of a train without disturbing or derailing the adjacent vehicles.

[natterjack]

On 25/01/2023 at 10:52, cctransuk said:

We at Cambridge Custom Transfers have always, for 24 years, offered our entire range in 3mm. scale.

 

Naturally, this will now apply to 2.5mm. scale as well.

Now all we need is a 1/120 Blue Pullman kit.