Two old books...

I have a thing about old books...
Especially those about narrow gauge railways. In recent times I've collected a few German language examples, mainly for their unique and specific Austrian content. However last week I stumbled upon a review for a book published in 1955, titled 'The End Of The Line', a lovely rambling, flamboyant and artfully written book about travelling across Europe sampling narrow gauge and light railways. I found a cheap copy at Batterdale Books, so ordered a copy. At the same time I found another interesting title 'Narrow Gauge Raillways Of Europe', another book with a conversational style about travelling and enjoying lines across the continent in the late 1950s (although perhaps a little more illustrated then 'The End Of The Line').

Both great reads for a relaxing afternoon in an armchair in the sunshine.

Going east...

My interest in Austrian and German narrow gauge extends to other Eastern European countries as well, and I've had a thing about the Romanian built Faur L45H diesel hydraulics for about 6 months. Toying with the idea of using one in HOe, I'd never considered scratchbuilding in G-scale.

However, I discovered that a German chap by the name of Rene has produced a kit!

The prototype were built in vast quantities from the late 1960s through to the mid 1980s. They were supplied to Romania and Poland, with a smaller number also finding their way to Hungary. A lot of them have been scrapped and sold following the widespread closures of these narrow gauge lines across Eastern Europe, a fact which has meant they have sprung up in Austria and Germany as the ideal diesel standby locomotive for a lot of 750/760mm narrow gauge lines.

The kit is a complete offering built around USA trains power bogies and is largely styrene that has been milled to represent the pressed steel doors along the bodyside of the original. At about £600 it's not cheap, but the quality looks fantastic.

Obviously I wondered how big the locomotive was in comparison to my Austrian LGB models so produced this mock up showing the relative size to the 2095 diesel. If I do take the plunge I'll be modelling an example in EJ&KLR colours, inspired by the Polish livery with a white (rather than yellow) stripe, but body coloured skirts. It would then be an interesting and unique engine that could be at home with my modern EJ&KLR train (bogie coach, modern van, steel bodied brake and the roll-wagen). Watch this space...

Plotting and scheming...

What a lovely day! The perfect weather to be in the garden...

So yes, a coffee, biscuit, book and a sketch book. Trouble is, from my wife's point of view, I also had a tape measure!

Yup, the book, Nick Trudgeon's inspiring volume had me sketching out a plan and visualising the line gently curving and twisting through a rockery style border.

Now I've got some more measurements I can knock up some track plans on my Mac Railsoft track planning software, ideally I want the longest loop I can fit on but there are some constraints. It would be good to get a pair of then in if possible, to maximise play value.

Just day dreaming at the moment mind... As I think 2012 will be the LGB Trainset and a German hand made kit, so no money for the track for this layout!

Schoema handrails black...

I made the decision that the cab side handrails on my repainted LGB Schoema should be black, inspired by the Zillertalbahn shunters, so quickly touched them in this evening...

Satin smooth...

I've applied the satin varnish to both the roll-wagen and the Schoema.

The roll-wagen is complete - and looks great, you can't see the transfer backing at all, they look printed on! I can't wait to run this on the EJ&KLR and other lines I visit this summer...

The Schoema is 99% complete, just now waiting the custom works plates. I can't decide whether the cab and hood handrails should be black or not, but thought I'd put the model away and look at it in a few weeks to decide.

Finally a shot to show both together, and to give those familiar with LGB an appreciation of the physical presence (or not - you decide) of the roll-wagen.

VL10 nears completion...

From toy to model? I've been working on the Schoema on and off all week and it's gone from primer through to top coat and tonight, transfers.

I'm particularly pleased with the chevrons on the buffer beams, and I've left space on each cab side for the etched nickel silver works plates that Steve at www.narrowplanet.co.uk is producing for me!

I'll get some satin varnish on the Schoema and the roll-wagen tomorrow if the weather stays dry enough for spray painting.

Roll-wagen transfers...

I've designed my own custom EK&KLR transfers for the roll-wagen and had John at www.precisionlabels.com print them for me. I applied the first side this week, and combined with the yellow wheel chocks and red lever they add the finishing touch to the project. Just hours left now, the second side and some satin varnish to protect them!

Back in black...

A very brief blog tonight to show how she looks after an undercoat of Matt black from a Halfords rattle can.

I couldn't resist posing the OBB open wagon on as well, it's really weird to see it in black after all this time.

I'm going to airbrush on some satin black as a finishing coat, and then detail paint the chocks (yellow) and hand wheels and levers (red).

Shades of grey again...

I've slowly been adding detail to the roll-wagen this week, the brake pipework and some additional levers. I'm happy with the representation, it should be reasonably robust but give enough of an atmosphere of a typical roll-wagen.

So this evening I broke out my old favourite, Halfords plastic primer. I always find this goes on smooth and fine and leaves an excellent surface to progress to finer top coats. I gave the roll-wagen a decent going over and my, what a transformation as all the different bits were suddenly tied together into a coherent whole.

Whilst I was set up for painting I also gave the Schoema a quick base coat of primer ready for spraying after the roll-wagen top coats are completed.