rue_d_etropal

There is a new 2 part book(s) about the Reseau Breton coming out this year. First part takes story up to 1940s so probably does include any railcar detail. It is from the Loco Revue team, and the sample pages shown online suggest the drawings may be same as the ones published in Voie Libre over the years.

5.5mm/ft might be non standard to some, but it is getting more interest. Although EM/P4 might be closer to scale, I have been working on a project using 16.5mm gauge(a lot easier to find r2r chassis and track). Remember Pempoul was built using EM gauge but was to bigger scale of 1/50, and it still looks superb.

I had wondered about the J70 chassis, but how many locos are there with wheelbase 3ft 9in and 3ft 9in, and with 3ft 6in diameter wheels which is what it works out in HO,

I will need to do the narrow version of the Billiard as that was the version used on this line.

As my main interest has been smaller locos I had not checked the big ones. Certainly nothing over 9ft wide, which is 31.5mm in HO. On checking some of my HO locos which are continental, but could be used on a British layout(eg Liliput fireless loco) they are slightly wider over the cylinders, but it is not that obvious. I would suspect many r2r manufaturers would increase width across cylinders if that was only way to get a working model. It is a pity the old Rivarossi LMS Royal Sot was done to slightly bgger scale, maybe because that was only way to get it to work.

28-30mm is absolute maximum, and for most 28mm . 33m on the King which I presume is 4mm scale is 8ft 3in. Remember the cylinders on the Halls were out of gauge for some lines(eg ex GCR) and one on a tour in the 1960s had to be taken off train because it wa out of gauge. I suspect for r2r chassis only really suitable for insde cylinder locos(possibly similar reason to why Jack Nelson modelled LNWR which had mainly inside cylinder locos). Some continental HO locos might be OK. An obvious one would be the USATC loco. The Electrotren/Hornby low cost steam loco is too wide, mainly because it is a model of 5ft 6in (ish) gauge.

anything more than a scale 8ft would probably be too much,for width.

I seem to remember hearing that in the layout I was referring to, a new gear wheel , smaller was built . I was talking to one of the group involved in that layout(operating not building ), and he said it was one chap who built the roadway and only he knew the details. I am sure I read something about it in one of the magazines.

just got hold of a copy of book by Jim Horsford,at less than £10 including postage.Fascinating railway system. With ex LMS coaches, a GE44 ,a USATC tank loco and some USA wagons it would not be that difficult to build a model in HO scale, possibly not dead scale,but certainly inspired by the railways. There is a partial drawing of the Metro-Cammell railcars introduced in the 60s,enough to do a model I think.

someone at Blackburn club managed to get a cycle route with a very tight circle I seem to remember. I think they had to modify the links somehow.

Thanks Gareth, your ideas on internal fitting of wheels is exactly what I have been trying to tell people about.

there are 2 main problems when trying to find suitable chassis for British steam locos. Firstly for outside cylinder ones, the width of continental HO models across cylinders is too much, but in some cases could be modified(has anyone done this with the low cost Electrotren/Hornby loco?), and second problem is position and size of motor. Oddly the old way of having a separate weight which can be removed can makelife easier, but the current trend for r2r manufacturers to have weight as part of chassis makes conversion difficult.

just completed design for the Finnish Dm7 railcar, 3 versions . The original was based on the standard Swedish railcar, but there were differences(shorter), apart from track gauge. Firstly the passenger railcar, then a trailer car with a luggage/goods area, and then there were some goods only units which were conversions. I have also found a slightly different version of the trailer unit with bigger doors, but have not done that version, yet,as Ionly discovered it by chance with one photo and have not found any other info about it. I have also added anothe scale/gauge, 1/144 using 10.5mm gauge track as there are military models in that scale, and some N gauge scenery items could be adapted. I might consider doing the Swedish versions as I have drawings for those.

As I have a family connetion with Finland(one of my sons lives there), it was inevitable that I would eventually get interseted in the railways of Finland. When I visited last year I was very impressed with the railways and the trams in Helsinki. Unfortunately I did not have time to get to railway museum(opening times wew a bit odd), but I did start to do some research. Not so easy as Google searches in English only brought up limited reseources, so resorted to using both Finnish and Swedish and found a lot more. I did find this Swedish forum which possibly explains reasons for less interest in modelling Finnish railways. https://www.svensktmjforum.se/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=100qe80ancp58mons3pld89q86hug548&topic=12862.25 As Finnish gauge is 5ft , it might be a bit more difficult than European standard gauge, but that is part of the fun. I looked at the options. In HO the gauge works out at 17.5mm , so not that much different(less different than modelling some broad gauge lines), and my reducing scale down to 1/92, the gauge comes out correct, and soe HO accssories could still be used. Then I looked at other scales. 1/48th scale is an option as 32mm comes outvery close, and a lot of American steam engines were used on Finnish railways. There is also some simlarity in pine forrexsts/scenery etc beteeen Finland and America. It woul also be possible to model the 2ft 6in gauge usin some of the On30 models already available. Another scale that might work is 1/35th scale, as that works out near to 45mm gauge so could use G1 wheels and track. Also some Russian wagon kits available, and plenty of accessessories from kit manufacturers such as Miniart and ICM . I have made a start with some 3D printed designs startin with the first diesel railcar the Ds1. One is preserved. http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/3D-printing/3d_printed_finland-trains1.htm My next railcar will be the newer Dm7 , which is very similar to the classic Swedish Y6/7 railcars, one of which is preserved on the Nene Valley Railway. I found a drawing of the Dm7, but only side and end, so the front curviture would be tricky to work out, then by using a Swedish Google search I found a website(ist one I clicked on!!) with drawings if the Swedish versions. Most importantly the drawings had dimensions, and it showed that the Finnish versions were 80cm shorter . The front ends looked the same. There were more variants in the Swedish version, but both has control trailer variants, and it would be possible to work out what the Finnish one looked like(not just shorter, but someother minor differences). I shall probably build a small diorama style layout, but with so many projects , I am not sure when yet. Railcars don't need much railway to run on, but it would be nice to include some steam locos, maybe some narrow gauge.

If it is the same plastic as Railway Modeller are using, then it can be composted(biodegrable), but it should not be mixed with recycling. The old style plastic packaging can be recycled(as can most plastic), or reused for modelling(glazing) .

all small models can be done in finer plastic, just ask(politely!)

after completing the LYR coaches, I found book on the Garstang and Knott End Railway, with drawings of locos and stock. I know there might be some who pick out errors in the drawings but I have not seen any other drawings of the locos that ran on the line. The drawing of the coach seems to match parts that were in MRN in 1959.

I think the axles on the Triang TT locos are same thickness as OO, as I managed to fit OO Romford wheels many years ago.

Personally I prefer the 'continental' style coupling , on which the OO9 coupling is based , but with a simple wire hook, as was used on Rivarossi at one time. Metal couplings are always easier to 'fix' as they can be adjusted/fixed/bent to correct position. I have started to design my own version, which used thin wire(not that visible), and the 'blade of grass' uncoupling idea which Roger Nicholls designed, with a hook on one end and a loop on the other.

I am pretty certain that is correct. Seem to remember reading about its origins in magazine from 1950s. It would have been a Peco patent. Would be interesting to know how and why Hornby Dublo used it. With mentions about track above, it should be noted that all Peco OO track is actually HO, not just the gauge but also the sleeper size and spacing(7mm). Their market stretches beyond the Channel , and any major investment would be looking at worldwide market not just British. It would not stop anyone or any group paying for development of new items , in similar way to how Peco EM gauge track has been introduced. Interestingly Hornby Dublo 2 rail track had sleeper spacing set at 8mm so closer to 4mm scale. Also GEM , and Graham Farish OO track had 8mm spacing. I only found out by chance when I bought som S/H tack at an exhibition, thinking it looked like 016.5. I then decided to use it on a sall OO layout I am currently building, and keep an eye out for more. It is noticable especially when used with Peco points, but layout only has one point, and I will find a way to reduce the differerence.

the E1 has advantage with side tanks. I wonder if someone could come up with a smaller motor and cradle which could be used.

just found this , whilst searching for threads about railways in Finland. Having an interest in Finland as one of my sons lives in Finland. I visited him last year and despite only being in Helsinki area I did feel it was a much better enironment. The trees etc reminded me of northern Scotland, not surprising given its similar latitude. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to visit the railway museum, the opening times just did not fit in, but did vist the small tram museum, and used the trams as well. Interesting ,a model based around 1910 actually predates creation of Finland as an independent country,but then that railcar, one I would like to create myself, is from a later period. I have been searching for scale drawings of locos and rolling stock, found some of railcars and coaches but not wagons. The 5ft gauge is an interesting challenge, so wondered if other scales than HO might be possible. 1/48th scale is pretty close to 32mm gauge, and then 2ft 6in gauge nicely fits 16.5mm gauge 1/35th is near to 45mm gauge(there are some nice older Russian wagons available as plastic kits),and then 2ft gauge fits 16.5mm gauge. Changing the scale slightly from HO down to 1/92 scale brings the scale gauge nearer to being correct, with care 1/87 and 1/100(including wargaming 15mm) acessories could be used.

There are many ways to enjoy the hobby. At one time many would keep it quiet that they 'played with trains'. Now it is seen more, and with the two challenge programs, is possibly better known about, but still misunderstood by many. I have been to many job interviews over the years, and it is not unusual for outside interests to be something asked about, and the way you talk about your hobby, just might leed you to your dream job, or any job . It is always easier to follow the crowd, but I find it more fun to be different. I enjoy building layouts more than operating them, possibly why I have so many small layouts in many different scales and gauges. There ere somethings I don't like doing, or don't have the skills to do them, one being track building, and other being metal model building. In fact I am not that keen on kits,but will use them, often changing them or only using parts.

itmight sound easy, but if anyone asks I can send them drawings which show model from all sides. I think diffenent people have different ideas on chassis. Most industrial type locos would need a handbuilt chassis. The KESR loco is one of the bigger ones, and by chance wheelbase and diameter is same(or very near) to Terrier in OO. I only offer HO because I can, and it just might get someone interested. I would probably go for a bigger scale(1/32) for small industrial locos as I alreadty have a boxfile /lever arch file based mini layout using 45mm gauge track(have not decided whether to do British standard gauge in 1/32 or Irish 5ft 3in in 1/35 scale). For British HO I would probably use mainly railcars as they are easier to motorise. I have all the bits and have a couple of small layouts already. For industrial steam I have one of the superb Liliput fireless o-4-0 locos.

Sadly that is one of the things with the hobby. As far as I can tell it is the only modelling hobby that still uses enamel paints, when many others have switched to acyllic paints. Thee is more to being creatve than making things. Thinking up new ideas, some outside the box is being creative , and is good for mental health. I think the impression that most prefer to stick to the known path, is what some want people to think. From a traditional model company point of view that is how they want to market the hobby, as it suits them, but think about this. Which would look better on your CV(resumé) ,saying you just build kits or use r2r, or designing most of what you build, looking at solving design problems? Possibly a bit cruel in last statement, but I have nothing against those who choose to only model using r2r models, but I sometimes get the impression that they don't like people like me rocking the boat! I suggest people look at the wargamng market. I chose to start modelling 5.5mm/ft simply because I discovered the huge range of kits and accessories available for 28mm wargaming(which is now getting more scale 1/56, close enough to 1/55 (5.5mm/ft)). I had looked at using S scale for my metre gauge models, but the r2r chassis would not fit, and the range of S scale accessories was no where near that of the 28mm wargamers.