QRModeller

Spirit of the Outback (Brisbane to Longreach) awaiting the stick at Roma Street earlier today. Leading is 2331, of the 90ton 2300 class, followed by 1723D of the 60ton 1720 class. It may not look like there is a 'D' after the number but you can see it if you look closely (I'm not sure why it was removed). This D means this loco has been modified to 'Driver Only Operation', a re-fit that all 1720 class locos received beginning in the early 90's. Basically, the mods were to allow one-man crewing of shunt locos. 1723D is also a celebrity loco in a way, as in 1988, it received a special livery commemorating Australia's bicentenary. This livery was removed when the loco underwent conversion to DOO. Matt.

G'day Gary, Cheers for the tip for making the roof supports. As for using Evergreen sheet, I'm planning on using it for another building and comparing that and the goods shed once they're both finished, to see which construction method looks best. Matt.

Thanks mate. I love sketchup, it's so quick and easy to use. I've planned out a few buildings with it now, and if I'm honest, this is one of the more simpler/less detailed buildings I've drawn. Thanks Steve. I think because of the properties of the foam, it's very difficult to get a clean cut every time (there's a number of places on the model where the foam has been gouged by the scalpel). I also think that the card being there may have somthing to do with how clean the cut is. All I can say is I treat it like card and plastic when I'm cutting out i.e a number of light passes with the scalpel rather than one heavy cut. Matt.

Cheers mate! R.e. gaps, I'm guessing you're referring to the ones on the inside around the doors and windows. If yes, I'm going to wait until I've got the walls clad and the roof made but not stuck on to see how dark it is in there. That way, if I need to do something about them, I can. Matt.

G'day. Well if you were wondering, the answer to the equation in the title is hopefully this: You may remember in my last status update, I mentioned a goods shed and this is it. This is a 20 x 30' QR goods shed drawn to HO scale in SketchUp from plans for a full sized one I found on the net. Using the CAD model, I've been scratchbuilding it, out of foamcore, cardboard and plastic sheet and strip, for the last few weeks. Bearing in mind that this is only the third building I've scratchbuilt (first serious attempt), and the first time I've used plastic that isn't already moulded to the right shape, I think I'm doing pretty well. Here's my progress so far: Foamcore walls cut out and waiting final glueing together. Cutting out cardboard strips for wooden siding. Starting to clad one side. This side nearly finished. Plastic base stuck to walls. Cutting out parts for stairs. One set complete. Both stairs complete, standing up with friction. Making up the doors. Doors complete. One of the windows, with ruler for scale. Since taking the last photo, I've completed the second window, and have started cutting out the cladding for the rest of the bulding, as I needed the walls stuck onto the base before I could clad the rest of the shed. The dinky van I started building in my last entry hasn't progressed since then, as I really need to paint certain parts before continuing, but the nozzle has sheared off the airbrush (well, it is ancient!). Because of this, I'm holding off continuing with the dinky van, as well as painting the A wagon (which reminds me, I still need couplers for that!), so I'm not sure when they'll next get worked on. Well, that's me updated for now, see you next time. Comments and criticsm most welcome. Matt.

Statistically, six out of seven dwarfs are not happy. I know, hat on but it's too hot for a coat down here at the moment. Matt.

G'day, about time I added an update here methinks! Well, not a lot has happened between the last post and now. Wait, scratch that... [rant mode on/] Alright, firstly, during the holidays I had planned to finish the A wagon and get at least half way through another QR kit (more on this later) and begin/work on/complete a number of other things but instead, the universe had other ideas. It seemed that everytime I thought I would be able to go out and get a pack of couplers for the A wagon as well as paints for it and other kits, other engagements came up that I couldn't get out of. Next, my laptop died a few weeks before Christmas leaving me with the possibility of losing a heck of a lot of modelling files, pics etc. Luckily, they have all been saved. So, due to not having my own laptop to use, I had to use the family laptop to browse here but not post any pics. However, for some reason, the keyboard and touch pad stopped working on that one too! Not so bad, because I just used my own mouse, but using the on-screen keyboard was torture!!! I decided to just read RMweb and not post if not necessary. A few weeks after this, I got my own laptop back but we then lost power for about a week due to the recent QLD floods, so no RMweb at all untill a few days ago!! So, 2013 has not been the best for me so far (did I mention I got severely sunburnt on New Year's Day? My legs were a nice painfull shade of Midland Red from the knees down for two and a bit weeks after that!!). Not that I'm superstitious with this whole 'unlucky 13' thing, but the way things are going, I may well be wearing tin hats and talking about conspiricy theories by the end of the year! [rant mode off/] Ok, so by now you've probably guessed that I haven't finished the A wagon yet, but, while looking through one of my Aussie modelling mags, I came across a pic of someone else's model of an A. The panelling on the sides was different because it was modelled on a slightly different varient to mine, but it did give me a reference to where the footsteps and door handles were. So... To make these, I used the wire from inside twisty-ties. I can't remember where I got the idea from (probably on here but I seem to remember hearing it from an Aussie so possibly from another forum or at a show), but it is a very neat idea because the wire bends and cuts easily, and it can be sort of flattened using pliers (or anything similar) and then bent to shape, like what I did to make the footsteps. I mentioned earlier that I had started another wagon kit. This one is a PGC Scale Models QR 'Dinky Van'. 'Dinky Van' is what PGC call it but from what I can work out, it would actually be classed as a BLV (B=Second Class passenger compartment, L=Lavatory, V=Guards compartment), however, I can't find any info on it so might need to flick PGC an email and see what they know about it. I have only cleaned up all of the mouldings so far, but this is what comes in the kit: Left: Brass strips for running boards Middle (from top): Roof, Underframe, Sides, Ends Right (from top): Bogies, Buffers, Brass wire for handrails, Decals The pic of the second guards van here will give you an idea of what it will look like finished. In other news, I have been thinking about doing my own home etches for loco and rollingstock details and have started drawing a couple of parts for a QR DH class, but I'll jump off that bridge once I get there (like once I actually have a DH model ). That's all from me for now. Comments & criticsm welcome. Matt.

An attractive young woman was sitting on a plane next a man. All of a sudden, she turns to him and asks "Excuse me, but could you help me remove something from my breasts please?" Excited, the man replies "Yes, it would be my pleasure - what is it?" "Your eyes, moron!" Matt.

Come to think of it, what is the stuff from NSW? Matt.

Baby Magpie sheltering under our verandah during one of the recent storms we've had over the course of this weekend (7 so far!). Matt.

Cheers for the info dvdlcs! Matt.

Cheers Mikkel. Don't worry, I'm sure there's plenty more! Matt.

G'day, welcome to my blog! Here you can find what's been happening on my workbench. Basically, this workbench blog will contain any modelling project that I'm currently undertaking so you can expect to see a general mash-up of kitbuilds and scratchbuilds, conversions and painting, weathering and detailing projects in OO, N, HO and HOn3 1/2. This will include locos, rollingstock and various scenic items (i.e. mostly buildings). So, sit down (or stand if you prefer) and hold on tight becuase who knows where this thing is going. Alrighty, formalities over, let's get to the workbench! For this first entry, I thought I'd share another first. Over the past few days, I've been building my first QR wagon kit. For my first foray into the world of QR modelling, I decided to start simple with a Wuiske Models A Class wagon. QR had some peculiar classification methods for their stock. A class wagons were any small four wheeled box wagons, regardless of their size or use. These were one of the most numerous wagons used in Queensland, and they lasted in revenue earning service until December 1987, when all timber bodied wagons were being withdrawn. So, the kit. Upon opening, this is what I was presented with Top left: two brass wheels Middle left: Four buffers Bottom left: two coupler pocket covers Top center: two sideframes Middle center: brass wire Bottom center: brake lever Top right: one piece body Bottom right: One piece underframe After cleaning up the mouldings, I washed them in cold water (according to the instructions, it helps remove the mould release agent) Next, I had to source a suitable lump of metal from the shed to add some weight. I also drilled out the holes for the buffers at this point. Once the superglue for the weight had gone off, I glued the underframe to the body, making double sure I had them round the right way! The four cut-outs were added by me. They are for the buffer sprues as they are just a bit too big. Next, I trimmed the brass wire to make the rod thingies on the sideframes. If anyone knows what they are actually called, please, feel free to tell me! Then, I glued the sideframes on, followed by the buffers. I actually got ahead of myself as the instructions say to put the buffers on before the sideframes, but I had no trouble doing it the other way. After test fitting the wheels, I added the brake lever. I still need to get couplers for it and paint it but the main building aspect is now complete. Now just a shot of it on my still unfinished 2011 Challenge diorama. I should hopefully be able to get some Kadee's for it this week, but painting might have to wait because the airbrush is playing up. That's all for now. Next update may or may not feature the finished wagon but should feature a different project. Comments and criticism welcome. Matt.