letterspider Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 This topic is about my conversion of a Bachmann VDA into an Network Rail Optical Car like this: Hopefully I may stumble upon ideas which may make the conversion easier for other modellers and which haven't been mentioned elsewhere in RMWeb. I started off with a VDA as I had one spare but apparently other wagons have similar wheelbases. The first step (and probable mistake) is to cut along the door margins as shown then fill in the door handle recesses, file and cut back all the other detail The cut out section can then be used as a template for the central vanes which can be made up for the thinnest section of plastikard which you can manage, which in my case was 0.75mm but to scale would probably be much thinner (and flimsier) The tricky part is the central section. Having looked at the protoype it appears that the construction is flat steel plate welded to a semi-section of steel tube which gave me a similar idea. You can get overflow connector pipe from Wickes very cheaply and with a cross section of about 25mm, it is the simplest and easiest compromise to build up a perfectly round top section, which is also very strong. For the handrails I used .25mm piano wire glued into place Where I am now stuck is in the portals for the photocells - if anyone has found a simple and elegant solution I would be very grateful for your ideas! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 thats a pritty good way for doing it! and heres me giving it all the words under the sun trying to think of a way to make one useing plasticard =P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 also just an observation the end with out the corridor conector has no buffers and what looks like a drawbar or something along those lines in the picture you posted at the start of the thread Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted September 22, 2012 Author Share Posted September 22, 2012 (edited) Working on the portals for the photocells at the moment. Sorry about the bad picture. I cut up very short pieces of 3mm hollow section plastic tube and stuck into place onto the body, where I had drilled out marked holes. A drop of quick dry epoxy is used to fill the centre - this will dry and form the 'glass' When dry this is then filed down as low as possible - about 0.5mm in my case - although it should be possible to get down to near flush. Black marker pen is then used to colour the white tubing. I wanted to use brass tube, which had even narrower walls and modelling water to make the glass but the quality of my modelling didn't justify the cost The (very poor quality) photo shows this process at various stages Edited September 22, 2012 by letterspider Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted September 22, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 22, 2012 Good to see another Optical car on the go. Looking good. Your photo shows that post-2009 version with the rotary laser contained within the "dustbin" on the end. Have a look at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/53157-newbryfords-yellow-workbench/page__st__75&do=findComment&comment=781990 and the posts below. I hope they can help. Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Good to see another Optical car on the go. Looking good. Your photo shows that post-2009 version with the rotary laser contained within the "dustbin" on the end. Have a look at http://www.rmweb.co...._75#entry781990 and the posts below. I hope they can help. Cheers, Mick HI Mick yes I have seen your post before - it was and is an important reference. Really good attention to detail - but you have kept those portals secret from us - how did you do yours? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted September 23, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 23, 2012 HI Mick yes I have seen your post before - it was and is an important reference. Really good attention to detail - but you have kept those portals secret from us - how did you do yours? Something I omitted to mention in my build. I drilled 2mm holes and then opened them out with a series of broaches and round files to prevent the thin plastic being distorted by a large drill. The "glass" was formed by using Humbrol ClearFix. Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 (edited) Been going very slowly on this conversion due to a busy time at work but I finally found the battery charger for my digital camera - here is a better picture showing progress on the underframe details and the portals. The springs are actually spare screws which were ground down to size. The lateral suspension rods are made from H section filed, drilled through and threaded with hollow section (I think 2mm) aluminium tube, which is in turn threaded through with 1mm Aluminium wire. Edited September 30, 2012 by letterspider 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 (edited) Some photo updates since final painting. The can trail line isn't great as I only had 'normal' masking tape. Picture of Optical in formation with support coaches Decals applied and another test shot - before final varnish. A very cruel close up - all looking a bit shiny under the light as I have not applied a final coat of matt varnish. I think next time around I would pay extra for pre-cut 2mm strip, or try 1mm steel strip if they have that size. Edited October 8, 2012 by letterspider 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 cantrails are never fun to paint on im still trying to find a decent way to apply them! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted October 8, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 8, 2012 (edited) For straight cantrails, use either Fox, Replica or Hurst cantrail stripes. My current favourite is Replica. Curved cantrails can be done with care, patience and Microsol. Cheers, Mick Edited October 8, 2012 by newbryford Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 Project completed. I may try again but only if I think I can improve it. Thanks to all your advice and comments which will definite help in this area and others. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted March 11, 2018 Author Share Posted March 11, 2018 (edited) Now I am making another Structure Gauging Train Optical Car Same idea as before, using Wickes plastic tube connector to form the central curved roof. Marking out the approximate places of the photocell portals Edited March 11, 2018 by letterspider Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted March 11, 2018 Author Share Posted March 11, 2018 (edited) Thought I would play about a bit in Sketchup to see if I can 3D print some of the parts. The battery boxes, the hinged end hatch and the photocell portals did try to upload the stl file for others to use but apparently not allowed to do so for some reason Edited March 11, 2018 by letterspider Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) The 3D parts applied to the model. I made the battery boxes a couple of mm deeper so that they fix better to the underframe. The portholes look a bit overscale however I will wait until the primer coat before I decide Edited March 12, 2018 by letterspider 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) I didn't realise this project had been put on hold for so long. here is the progress the last few days Firstly the axle suspension springs need to be fabricated. My shortcut compromise is to cut up some spare bolts using a Dremel. I believe these are Yaw dampers. I am using the same method as before - 2mm Aluminium tubing this time threaded with 0.8mm piano wire and superglued into place There are suspension struts which fit to the axles but I don't believe I can fabricate them and be certain they won't be too fragile against knocks Life is too short to go that amount of trouble! Edited January 31, 2020 by letterspider 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) Some tidying up of the gaps and holes. Prime, sand, paint and sand again I have to admit I find the vanes a bit of a challenge. Edited January 31, 2020 by letterspider 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted February 5, 2020 Author Share Posted February 5, 2020 (edited) I just wasn't satisfied with the welded support struts holding the central vane. They looked too broad compared to the prototype. However it turns out that the super glue had fixed them very strongly and I had to resort to paring them thinner with a scalpel. Apart from the sanding, I think it looks better and I will cut the strips to the same width on the other side. I also had time to add some wire onto which I will be soldering pre-wired SMD's. The idea is then to install a Traintech motion triggered switch on the underside. I think this will be a lot easier and quicker than the DCC route. I have a busy period of work ahead so the project is on hold for a while - I also have to finally get the airbrush out of its wrapper (bought it 3 years ago!) Edited February 5, 2020 by letterspider 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 Time flies I should have finished this off during the lockdown but spent my time building an elevated section to my loft circuit Tottenham East. Traintech AL3 is the constant light set. It does look a bit bulky on the underframe but is barely visible at normal viewing distance. Of course I could also put is within the model... but I intend to permanently glue the top on I intended to use pre-wired SMD LEd but they are the devil's work. After destroying 4 in a row (the wires fell off very easily on mine) I decided to play around with these tower LED's I had lying around I may just reduce it all to one LED... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted October 3, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 3, 2020 I used a series of LEDs (9?) to create the ring of light. One LED won't do that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold zr2498 Posted July 29, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 29, 2023 On 30/09/2020 at 23:41, letterspider said: Time flies I should have finished this off during the lockdown but spent my time building an elevated section to my loft circuit Tottenham East. Traintech AL3 is the constant light set. It does look a bit bulky on the underframe but is barely visible at normal viewing distance. Of course I could also put is within the model... but I intend to permanently glue the top on I intended to use pre-wired SMD LEd but they are the devil's work. After destroying 4 in a row (the wires fell off very easily on mine) I decided to play around with these tower LED's I had lying around I may just reduce it all to one LED... Hello @letterspider I'm going to make up a Structure Gauging Train with the optical laser wagon included. I will have something to work off, as a 3D resin printed wagon is available on eBay. I should like to see some of the detail and lighting you included so I can upgrade / add so as to take the resin print further. Sadly all of your photos arelost to the great 'picture loss', but I would appreciate some pics of where you got to. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
letterspider Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 I fear I relied on the RMWeb server as my backup...I will take a look... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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