Baguley-Drewry E 10

Back during the Covid 19 period in 2021 I bought an Accucraft Baguley-Drewry 6 wheel loco in 32 mm gauge in a relatively good bargain on eBay. I wanted a Baguley-Drewry because a loco of that type worked in Denmark and ended its career at Nystrup Gravel. Now the model is on the worktable for conversion into the Nystrup Gravel version from the early 1950's.

The finished TU4 is ready to go on a shelf while the Baguley-Drewry will be 'living' on the workbench for some time.

The 150 hp Baguley-Drewry locos were built and marketed for e.g. sugar cane lines Africa, Australia and the Pacific area from 1948-1949. The locos did good service until they became too small for the longer and longer cane trains, some surviving a little longer in use as shunters at the mills. A single 150 hp Baguley-Drewry loco came to Denmark in 1949 working as E 10 at the sugar factory in Saxkøbing for a few years before being regauged and doing limited service on the Nystrup Gravel line.

Not the E 10, but one of Saxkøbing Sugar Factory's 16 ton 8-couplers from Frichs, Denmark. The Baguley-Drewry E 10 was painted in the same characteristic livery of light blue and ivory.

I began work on the model back in november 2021 with removing current collecting gear and test running the loco on battery power with an interim battery installation. Since then the loco has been standing in a cupboard. Now it's been taken out to be my current major project, and the list of planned modifications is quite substantial:

• removal of the original coupling gear and adding new scratchbuilt ones
• working headlight front and rear
• 3 red warning lights arranged in a triangle on each cab side
• new warning horn 
• new radiator cover
• hinges and handles on bonnet doors
• adding manufacturer's sign on bonnet front
• lid for sand box on bonnet top
• jack and brackets for mounting
• battery installation
• fitting LocoRemote Maxi control unit
• adding rudimentary cab interior and floor
• driver figure
• total repaint and custom designed decals

While the list is overwhelmingly long, only the installation of the 3 warning lights on each side of the loco will be a new challenge. I'm sure the wiring job will see me sweat, though! 

The old radiator cover has been cut out with the Proxxon's cutting disc. The remaining pieces will be removed with knife and sanding stick. On the top of the bonnet I have cut away the old handrails and horn. Sanding is in progress.

I have removed the old horn and handrails on the bonnet and cut away the old radiator cover, and I will be working my way slowly through designing and adding parts in the coming months. It's unthinkable that I shouldn't fall for the temptation to add in between-projects, and the Baguley-Drewry is probably destined to become a long drawn out project. I hope you will have the patience to follow the proces!

TU4 Finished

As usual it took far longer to get the TU4 model on the worktable and some work done. I last worked on the loco in August closing up the upper body and frame and getting a good fit with the lower frame part holding the bogies.

The tiny TU4-1135 is finished and photographed on a white background. 

One thing keeping me away from the task before me was probably the myriad of tiny etched metal parts to be fitted including steps, hand rails and door handles. During the Christmas holidays I bit the bullet and began drilling holes for the handrails, thinking that they were the largest parts and would provide me with some confidence if I succeedded with them. With some careful work I got the handrails removed from the etched fret and mounting them on the loco with AC glued went resonably trouble free. Footsteps under the cab doors were next and I finished off with the characteristic 'red banner' insignias on the bonnet tops. I decided to omit the door handles as they are probably a bit beyound my current abilities in H0 scale. 

The handrails were fitted in many different ways on TU4's during the years depending on model, owners' preferences and the wear and tear the locomotives were invariably victims of. Consequently there is no 'right' way of fitting e.g. the front handrails. Where I had drilled to mount the handrails I had to do some filling as my smallest drill was a bit oversize. This proces didn't work out to my full satisfaction and I'm getting a good supply of tiny drills for my next 1/87 scale project.  

Handrails are being installed - fiddly work that was seriously challenging my 1/19 scale accustomed eyes and fingers. No major disasters, but please don't look too closely on the finished model! 

K-Models has not included buffers in the kit, probably thinking that you'll fit some of your own choise. As my TU4 is going to be a static model I looked for some really good buffers of the standard Soviet type to fit. I found them in the RTM kit of the TU7. I plan to build the TU7 as an operating model and it will consequently have standard H0e couplings fitted, making its kit supplied buffers redundant. The buffers are 3D printed to a very high level of detail. Once I had removed the printing supports I was astonished to find that the chains actually worked! It's a testemony to the level that 3D printing has progressed to when you can have tiny coupling chains in 1/87 scale work directly out of the printer. The buffers were AC glued into holes drilled in the cut-outs in the loco's front.

Assembly of TU4 locos at Kambarka Engineering Works. The centre engine could be TU4-1851 judging by the chalked on number above the buffer. To the right possibly a TU5 (a slightly heavier and faster version of the TU4) during construction. Archive image.

When I had finished working on the body of the loco I added a scratch built centre mounted gearbox between the bogies. Two rectangular pieces of 2 mm thick plasticard and two circular shapes punched out of thinner plastic were glued together, sanded to shape and stuck on with AC-glue. It's nothing more than a coarse approximation built after prototype photos. I also added a few pipes for compressed air and hydraulic oil from thin wire. Not much of this will probably be viewable once the finished model is placed on an overgrown track on a future diorama.

Construction is finished and the model now awaits priming and painting.

After construction and sanding the worst glue marks, the window openings were masked and the loco primed with my usual 'Chaos Black' primer and painted green with red trim and orange handrails. I used Vallejo Air 71.134 'Imperial Japanese Army Medium Green' for the body's main green colour and 70.946 'Dark Red' for front skirts and frame trim. For the orange handrails I went with 70.910 'Orange Red' from Vallejo. From prototype images it seems that the roof is usually painted in the same colour as the body and so I left the roof in green and will rely on the weathering to make it stand out.

Halfway through air brushing the green I took this snapshot of the TU4 on my painting turntable from IKEA.

A few days later and details have been picked out in contrasting colours to convey a little of the characteristic colourfulness many TU4's locos displayed.

Before adding the kit supplied decals for TU4-1135 I gave the the decal locations a layer of gloss varnish to help the decals to lay down well on the surface. In 1/87 scale the decals are quite small and particularly the decal above the front coupling took some careful work to position more or less correctly. As usual I used Mr. Hobby decal solutions for best possible application of the small decals.

When the decals were in place I weathered the locomotive lightly. I'm building the TU4 as a non-operational loco that have been recently withdrawn from traffic. Hence no missing parts due to cannibalisation or heavy rust. I used my usual combination of oil washes, Vallejo weathering paints and dust spraying with the air brush. I restrained myself as much as possible as I figured I could easily overdo the weathering in this small scale. Once I was resonably satisfied with the weathering I added the kit glazing to the windows. As I had built a rudimentary instrument panel in the cab, the front glazing had to be slightly converted to fit. Fortunately I had done this in advance when access to the cab was easy. The side glazing had to be separated into two single pieces on both sides due to my way of fitting the cab handrails (the etchings were cut over length and protrudes into the cab), disturbing fitting of the original glazing. I glued the clear parts in place with 'Mikro Kristal Klear' that dries completly clear.  

Left side view of the TU4. Considering it has a length of roughly 9 cm I'm rather pleased with the result. This isn't exactly 1/19 large scale modelling!  

Right hand view of TU4 1135. The scratch built gearbox is just visible behind the air resevoirs.

With the TU4 finished I have reached the final milestone of an assembly process that I started in July 2024. I have been doing a lot of other modelling projects while working on the TU4. I have finished e.g. 3 skips and the Fowler loco in 1/19, completed basic landscaping on the layout as well as finishing a H0e MD54-2. Now I will turn my attention to a loco in 1/19 scale. No less daunting, but more in tune with what I usually model.

Most recently finished loco 'dumped' in the ballast with the next project on track! A rebuild of my Accucraft Baguley-Drewry is next on the list.

The 1/19 Baguley-Drewry locomotive is wider than the 1/87 TU4 is long. My eyes will be less tested on the Baguley project!

Track Panels in H0f

With the continued arrival of Soviet narrow gauge models, the practice of photographing them on the work table or in the garden has become annoying to me. The models will look much better in a more life-like setting and I have now decided to make a small diorama for photo purposes. I have a good supply of 9 mm gauge track and turnouts and have just taken delivery of some nice 6,5 mm track.

Auhagen H0f track with over head loading machine and mine tub.  

I have equipment in H0 scale in prototype gauges of 750 and 600 mm and the little diorama has to have both and I thus need both H0e (9 mm gauge) and H0f (6,5 mm gauge) track. For the 6,5 mm gauge track I decided to use the Auhagen set 41701 'Feldbahngleis - Attrappen' which is injection moulded plastic track panels on steel sleepers. As the track is all plastic it is non-operational in contrast to the Busch track in the same gauge. As I'm not planning any operation on the H0f track the all-plastic Auhagen track suits me fine.

The set includes much more track than I need and I suspect a lot of the contents will end up as a load for a 750 mm gauge platform wagon or a lorry model. The contents are as follows:

• 18 curved track panels 
• 18 long straight track panels 
• 12 short straight tracks 
• 1 left and 1 right turnout 
• 1 Y-turnout 
• 1 left and 1 right crossing for standard gauge
• 1 turntable 

The Auhagen track geometry explained on part of the instructions.

The track is moulded in a dark red-brown colour to look like rusty steel track panels and the parts are moulded with extra height to give strength and to facilitate easier ballasting when laying the track. The track panels are quite tiny and there are limits as to what detail can be fitted to track in this scale. Nevertheless the track looks good and I'm looking forward to lay track this small.

One long straight section of track and one curved panel. It's obvious how the rails have been moulded solidly and with an extra 'web' between the steel sleepers. Probably to obtain strength for handling and to ease the moulding proces.

Close up of the sprue with turnouts and standard gauge crossing.

Regular track panels - straight and curved.

I've already been cutting a basic structure for the diorama that will be a relatively flat area with industrial buildings, concrete plated road area as well as track in 3 gauges.

A Review of 2025

Another year has passed and for me it's time to review this year's progress on my little Nystrup Gravel layout and other railway modelling activities. The year has not been a great leap forward, but rather the usual determined strive for progress.  

The new Fowler in service pulling skips on the Nystrup Gravel layout. 'Finally' some would say!

In my main modelling scale 1/19 2025 became the year when my Fowler locomotive was finally finished with a new paint job, weathering, detailed cab as well as working lights. Seen in hindsight the loco came to play the role as the project that could always be set aside when something easier or more enjoyable came along. But now the long suffering loco is on track to be the main source of motive power on the line.

Rolling slowly toward the refueling site. The pump held only petrol and the diesel powered Fowler had to be fuelled from canisters.

Three more underground skips in 1/19 scale joined the finished rolling stock for Nystrup Gravel in 2025. Some among the readers may ask if I have finally covered Nystrup Gravel's need for skips. My answer must be a loud 'no'. On most Danish narrow gauge industrial railways skips were plentiful and the most normal piece of rolling stock. Thus skips should be the foundation of any model of a small Danish railway like Nystrup Gravel. Many (modellers and others) are drawn to subjects that are unique and colourful, but my model railway is supposed to look like the prototype did in the 1950's - dull, boring and normal. and with lots of skips! 

All 6 underground skips assembled in the Nystrup Gravel yard with loaded skips pulled by loco no. 3. The new ones (numbered 31, 34 and 36) are seen in the foreground.

With last year's addition of timber bogies I looked forward to the rhubarb season that usually includes running agricultural trains in the garden to bring in the first harvest of the year. I wasn't disappointed as with a set of timber bogies the traffic was definately easier to handle than ever before. Even if my tiny Lister R was only able to pull one set of loaded timber bogies it was great fun! Although I have no plans for a permanent model railway in the garden I'm always thrilled that my model trains are sturdy enough to run back and forth outside.

Usually not a big spender on modelling tools and fancy gadgets, 2025 saw me replace practically all my most expensive tools; mini drill, air brush and compressor. If there is one challenge 2026 is not going to present me it should be investments like that!

A recently received Soviet reefer wagon from Ukraine. 2025's last new model to be added to my H0e collection.

With plenty of 1/19 projects ready on my shelves I have been investing a little more in H0 scale narrow gauge. Not that it will ever be my main modelling theme, but the advantage of small, well detailed models of interesting prototypes is too much for me to resist. Consequently my H0e Soviet 750 mm gauge collection expanded during 20205. I have primarily picked up models from Ukrainian manufacturers and I enjoyed detailing and painting a tiny MD-54-2 loco as well as a small underground loading machine. In the other end of the scale spectrum I added a really large scale project to my modelling experience when I built two laser cut 1/10 scale kits from a Dutch manufacturer. They will never become part of a large collection, but they were wonderful models to assemble and paint, and they are great for display purposes.

Easily the largest models I have ever built: Two 1/10 scale laser cut standard skips. Here the finished versions photographed in the garden.

With my professional work increasingly involving projects in Norway, 2025 has been a year with a lot of travelling. Usually there is very little time to spare when working abroad, but I nevertheless managed a ride on the most northerly tram line on the planet in Trondheim. Fortunately I have also been able to visit full size narrow gauge railways in Germany and Hungary. The 33. Internationales Feldbahnertreffen was hosted by the Stumpfwaldbahn in Germany and provided opportunities for networking and trainspotting. As usual very usefull to learn from other enthusiasts' challenges and help them celebrate their succes. 

The year also saw me becoming part of a consortium owning and renovating a Swedish speeder. As a standard gauge speeder it has been regauged to 700 mm gauge, but with a technical setup giving the possibility of changing the gauge as needed. The speeder can thus accomodate gauges from 600 to 785 mm gauge. I already dream of a tour through Europe visiting narrow gauge friends and their railways!

As part of the Feldbahnertreffen I enjoyed climbing a disused standard gauge railway viaduct above the tree tops. Not for the faint hearted. Photo: Robert Sand.

In spring 2025 I visited Budapest again and had the pleasure of a full return ride on the 760 mm gauged childrens' railway. 

The Swedish speeder has arrived at the vintage narrow gauge railway in Denmark. Still in standard gauge condition. Currently the vehicle is under restoration.

2025 has seen the blog's page views rise considerably with an average of 11.000 views pr. month against the last few years' 3.500-4.500 views. I have no idea why and the statistics isn't giving a clear indication. Perhaps the developing multi-scale activity give H0 modellers more incentive visiting the blog? The rising number of visits is not caused by me being more productive as I have managed nothing but a quite moderate production of 41 posts. December (as usual) is the month with most posts - due to holidays, traditional modelling season and of course the 'extra' post of review of the year.

Let me say happy New Year with a short video of the Fowler returning from the lorry loading ramp - with working head lamp and all. Best of luck modelling to the best of your abilities in 2026!

New Cutting Mat

It's rare for me to get modelling related gifts for Christmas, but this year I got a new cutting mat. It was badly needed as the old was neither level nor particularly self healing due to paint and glue residue.

The new cutting mat with a tiny H0e TU-4.

Scratching a surface the first time is always difficult. Something so new and smooth - the first scratch/bend/cut seems like vandalism. I have made the first cut already and even the next 20! The mat is a tool on the way to good looking results. Consequently I had no feelings of sentimentality when the old one was disposed of. It has helped med create great models in several scales.

A last goodbye! Having served me for more than 15 years its retirement is well deserved.

New HOe Wagon Arrived

Ice cooled reefers on Soviet narrow gauge? Yes, particularly the narrow gauge lines located in the agricultural regions of the Soviet Union were equipped with isolated refrigerator wagons. The 1/87 scale model of a Soviet narrow gauge reefer is part of a larger order that will arrive piecemal with irregular intervals from Ukraine. I was so satisfied with the quality of the two platform wagons that arrived in September that I had to have more!

Fresh out of its box. Another item for the Soviet narrow gauge collection.

The model is handbuilt in Ukraine by 'Miniland', the organisation that operate Ukraine's largest 1/87 scale model railway in Kyiv. The reefer is supplied in a tailor made wooden box with a laser cut outline of the reefer on the top of the lid and foam lining cut to fit tightly around the model. 

The prototype 'isothermic' wagon was built by the East German manufacturer 'VEB Waggonbau Bautzen' in 1954. As the term 'isotermic' reveal the wagons weren't exclusively for keeping their contents cool but rather at a constant temperature. In fact, the wagons were equipped with a heating stove and could consequently also keep the freight from freezing. Bautzen called them 'Kühlwagen' and in Ukraine they were known as 'Льодовик' literally 'glacier', so I guess the main role of the wagon would be to keep meat, fruit and vegetable cool in the warmer months of the year. The wagon was insulated with a layer of 20 cm thick insulation material and could carry 2 tons of ice in compartements to keep the freight cold.

As everything on the Soviet narrow gauge railways the reefer wagons were quite large with a carrying capacity of 15 t. Via thermometers the temperature could be monitored from the outside. Ladders on the ends gave access to roof boards that were used when filling the ice compartments.

Works photograph from Bautzen showing a light coloured 'Kühlwagen' - cooling wagon. The wagons were seen in light grey (perhaps white?), green and brown colours. 

A preserved reefer in the railway museum in Anykščiai at the 'Aukštaitijos' 750 mm narrow gauge railway from Panevėžys to Rubikiai in Lithuania. The thickness of the doors are evident. The wagon has lost many fittings, including the end ladders.

The wagon is priced at 116 € and that is only a little more than a pretty standard H0 Danish passenger car  - and the reefer comes with a nice storage box rather than a flimsy one made from cardboard. Being very good quallity, a rare prototype and handbuilt by a craftsman/woman, I don't consider the price high.

Brake cylinder, back up air tank and piping. Hard to believe this is 1/87 scale and hand made. 

Good, clean decal application. Paint has been applied without faults. Nice work.

Roof running boards around one of the openings for filling the internal ice boxes. Notice the drain leading water over the wagon's end.

Delivery was swift and from ordering to delivery a mere 6 days passed. Quite hard to understand how that is doable from a country being the victim of a Russian invasion and suffering devastating air attacks on its cities almost every night. All the more reason to appreciate the careful work laid in the detailed model!

Ladas in H0

With a steady stream of Eastern European railway models in 1/87 scale arriving, I have begun collecting a few matching cars as well. I had no problem selecting the first type of car to buy: Lada. Rugged, practical, and iconic, it symbolised (well, kind of) national pride in the Soviet Union and will continue to outlive the USSR for many more years.

The Busch Lada 1200 loaded on a Soviet narrow gauge flat wagon. Not an unlikely load in a post-Soviet rural area even today.

There is a wide range of Lada models available but I chose two of the models from the Busch range. I decided to have a rather early model and one of the more recent that I remember myself - including a taxi ride in one on some very frozen streets of Leningrad.

The 1971 Lada 1200 is a finished model while the 1976 Lada 1600 is in kit form.

Instructions for the assembly of the Lada 1600. I think I can handle this level complexity...

The Lada 1200 (VAZ-2101 'Zhiguli') was a licence-built version of the Italian Fiat 124, that was heavily modified and tailored for the rough climate and road conditions across the Soviet Union.  The car was widely and successfully exported to the West under the Lada brand for more than two decades.

The Lada 1600 (VAZ-2106 'Zhiguli') was a modernised version of the original model and it became the Soviet contribution to top the Eastern Bloc charts for comfort and prestige during the communist period as the really expensive and luxurious GAZ and ZIL cars, intended for party members and various state officials, were completely out of reach for ordinary people. 

The Lada 1600 was in production 1976–2006 and after the fall and disintegration of the Soviet Union the model was produced by Russian IzhmashAvto in Izhevsk and RosLada in Syzran. There seems to have been a 'shadow production' in Ukraine, but it was most likely nothing but a tax evading assembly of parts imported from Russia.

I'm slowly beginning to settle for a 2000-themed Eastern European in the western, rural part of the area. Consequently the Ladas will be rather old cars and heavily weathered.