I hate wiring...

But I've started anyway, wiring up the LEDs for the Faur Lxd2...

Faur detailing...

Well I've now pretty much got everything I need to finish the Faur L45H Lxd2 kit, so I'm turning to finishing touches. I've fitted filled and filed the roof in shape, started on the handrails and then tweaked the horns (hollowing them out) and the light surrounds (rounding the edges) to lift the final finish.

Blauturm bodywork and bits...

Two exciting parcels arrived today, the first containing the Massoth XLS and Visaton speaker, excellent service from Garden Rail Outlet with some custom CV tweaks to the V51 sound chip and a very competive price. Still expensive, yes, but somehow the kit seemed to cry out for top quality sound...

Somewhat cheaper but again excellent service from Express Models for the 'warm white' LEDs sourced for the headlights.

Work on the Blauturm body has progressed substantially in the past few days as well. First up I sprayed the cab interior with primer, as this would have been quite difficult with the roof in place. Then the roof was glued on and the lights and top panels glued and shaped roughly with a needle file. Tonight I roughly shaped the top panels before filling all the gaps with Superfine Milliput. I'll smooth, sand and file it to shape tomorrow evening, and the whole model might be in primer by the weekend.

Watching from the warmth...

It got a bit chilly later on so I migrated indoors to the lounge and lay on the carpet by the window, reading a book and watching a train go round pondering whether to add some more detail to the buildings and considering getting some LEDs for lighting the shed and station?

Railbus between showers...

Shady weather today, but after 3 it has dried up enough to get a train running. I dug out the railbus to help me muse over it's potential narrow gauge transformation and relivery...

Schoema and roll-wagen film...

Getting the handle of it...

Sorry for the appalling pun, I've been very tired today so took a gentle detailing approach to modelling this evening and studied photos of the real Lxd2 locomotives to improve the look of the door handles. Some thin styrene with rounded corners was drilled for the brass 0.9mm handle that was filed to shape. The lock at the bottom is a sliver of styrene rod and the lock at the top just a few twists of the 0.9mm drill in the pin vice.

LGB are you listening?

The German 750mm lines have been represented in the LGB range for many years by the excellent and popular IVk mallet. With the forthcoming release of the Saxon IK in the range I wonder if we might see more models in the future?

If sales are strong then I think the Saxon VIIk 2-10-2t (and the VIk 0-10-0t it was based upon) would be an excellent choice.

Both models could share the same chassis, cab and detailing parts, and the 2-10-2t were also exported to Bulgaria for their mountain 750mm system, meaning there are plenty of livery variations for future releases.

Obviously not a simple locomotive to design but the continued success and presence of the Harz metre gauge items in the catalog show that expensive models do sell...

And what of the EJ&KLR? Yes, we'd definitely save up, I live the chunky looks and think that in the Bulgarian livery with the eastern European logo on the smoke box etc they are very distinctive and I could do a custom version, despite the lack of gradients or long trains on the line!

Liliput shunter thoughts...

I've been wondering whilst building the Blauturm kit in styrene, whether I could scratch build a more convincing European body for the Liliput 'Davenport' engine I own. I've already made some minor modifications but it still doesn't look right, the cab shape and overhang are ok but the windows are too square and too large and the bonnet is too wide and tall...

The alternative might be a new bonnet and some brass or thin styrene overlays on a modified cab?

Piko railbus makeover musing...

I found this picture of a VT98 railbus a few weeks ago, Greek I think, but can't definitely remember. The centre buffer and silver livery are quite appealing.

I wonder if I could do something similar, perhaps with a blue body side stripe and v on each end, a bit reminiscent of the Duro Dakovic diesel units on the Bosnian narrow gauge? A 'modern' EJ&KLR logo by each door might look very good indeed...

UPDATE: 
Thanks to Hans (4catsandme) from NGRM (http://www.ngrm-online.com) who has helped out by supplying some links to more photos of these VT98 units. He also clears up the location... Serbia apparently! Thanks Hans! 
http://forum.rail-server.de/viewtopic.php?t=18879 
http://forum.rail-server.de/viewtopic.php?t=18835

Cat's got the cream?

Smoky, my half British Blue 7 year old cat came over to inspect the Lxd2 and train of timber flats...

Also gives you a better idea of the size of the Lxd2, the wagons will become modern era EJ&KLR liveried examples, and the older Liliput ones will remain OBB exames.

Blauturm united...

Well progress on my excellent Blauturm (www.blauturm.de) Faur Lxd2 kit continues.

I've been making some modifications to the kit to better represent the Polish examples, so have hand fashioned some new grab irons on each end. This meant filling and smoothing the existing grab rod holes, which was done by fitting them, then cutting them off flush and using Milliput to fill any remaining gaps.

I also drilled out the bogie mounting holes so that the bogies could be trial fitted, shown here with the side frames on one side also screwed on. In the cab I've added the arm rests but not the fold down seats yet, tonight's job.

I've contacted Rene about remaking some flush glazing for me to which I've had a positive response and I've got a Massoth XLS and Visteon speaker on order with V51 sounds, which will need wiring up.

The last thing not sorted in my mind yet is the lighting arrangements but I've plenty of time as there is still some way to go on the body yet...

Out into the garden...

Well Ian Stock's book has me spending more time dreaming of the line in the garden here at home. The plot is available and permission is granted, I just want to do it justice and that means taking my time.

Ian talks about theatre and art and thinking not only about the track plan but also the scenery, the views, view blocks and I need to work with the gradient of the plot I think to make the mist of it. That means I'll need an embankment, bigger than the one on the original line. Although I probably will look at more European narrow gauge materials I did have a play building a wall put of the slate available in bucket loads on the existing plot!

Ian also talks about buildings should live outdoors all the time, to be part of the railway, and to seek perfection and modelling is not unrealistic in the garden. Inspiring...

Faur with timber flats...

I've been making slow progress on the Faur, this evening I have glued on the buffer beams with captive weights. I also added the handrail grab iron holders. I cut the ones on the side off flush, as these will be replaced with handrails as per the prototype. The cab detailing is just needing fold down seats and armrests...

The stake wagons look good but very plasticky, I don't think they're painted at all. I'm going to remove the DR and replace with EJ&KLR for now I think, thrn matt varnish although I did ponder about a full repaint in brown or grey. What do people think?

Father's day present...

I'm sat outside in this glorious weather doing a spot of reading whilst 3 week old Alex sleeps...

Elly bought me (via the wife) Ian Stock's book on Garden Railway Realism and I'm sat day dreaming about how I can work a line into the garden here at home. Time will tell, I think I'll save up and plan this summer and start work after Christmas in the garden.

The wife has also sanctioned the purchase of a second Stainz to supplement Elly's Big Train starter set one, for Alex.

LGB driver?

I found the ubiquitous LGB leaning driver in scrap box this morning, and wondered how he'd look in the cab of the Faur. I think he looks pretty good actually and might give me the option to have the drivers window open.

Control desk progress...

I'm getting there slowly with the Faur control desks. These are sctatchbuilt from off cuts of styrene, odd bits of styrene rod and other bits of sprue that happen to be the right shape or size. Nearly there with these, then I need to do the arm rests and seats and I can paint the cab.

More forestry rolling stock...

In common with it's Austrian inspired narrow gauge lines the EJ&KLR is heavily driven by forest products. Two ex DR stake cars were sourced through eBay for a very good price. These will be relettered for the EJ&KLR in due course...

Alex's first trains...

 I promised to post up some better photos from today's run on the EJ&KLR. Not a lot of variety but a relaxing afternoon with my 17 day old son and some good coffee and cakes :)



Here are the best of the photos...

EJ&KLR in June 2012

Playing trains again...

Well it's fine, dry if a little windy at the EJ&KLR today and trains are running! The U tank and Schoema are braving the blustery conditions and I'm relaxing with 17 day old Alex on my knee... More photos later from the good camera.

Standard gauge couplings...

A few months ago I finished my roll-wagen and modified a LGB open wagon as the load, by fitting larger diameter Bachmann wheels and regauging to 64mm. Well I have finally got around to fitting the Gauge 4 Williams Models screw couplings. I also added some extra rodding to the brakes to improve the appearance of the underframe.

Lxd2 cab detail started...

I'm still not quite sure how I'm going to paint the cab and fit the glazing as the roof makes access virtually impossible. The kit glazing is unfortunately not laser cut flush glazing panes either but instead four pieces that make up a box. Problem is they're even difficult to get in! So in the meantime I've started on the cab details.

So far the hand brake is fitted, this, like the prototype sits on a box with rounded edges. I've also knocked up the handrail around the large central box. I made some radiators for behind each cab door too, these are sections of 1mm strip plasticard cut from the kit sprue and then glued together with slices of 1mm diameter plastic-rod. I also started the first of the control boxes, although it still needs the dials adding.

So I think I'm going to need to paint, then seal and protect the cab before fitting the roof and finishing the body. That part is relatively easy. What to do about the glazing, that's the quandary! Anyone know anyone who can do laser cut pieces?