Holiday Modelling (1/35)

Before vacations there are always some last minute things to take care of at work. Nystrup Gravel is no different. The loco shed has been cleaned out and the floor swept thoroughly. Now the spoils are ready to be taken to the company's refuse dump in one of the old gravel pits.


With its engine idling the Sala loco no. 3 waits outside the shed. The Hudson skip has been loaded with floor sweepings and garbage. Now the little train only needs the workers to finish their beers before it can depart for the refuse dump. The workers at Nystrup Gravel enjoyed the luxury of a complete shut down of the company for two weeks, where all staff - blue as well as white collar - were given paid vacation.

As usual I will try not to miss out on the chance to do a little modelling while on vacation. The last few years I have begun special vacation projects - most of them taking a lot more time than the vacation could provide. This year I simply carry on the projects I have on my workbench.

The oil engine loco is slowly progressing. The basic shape of the body being built of 0.75 mm. plasticard will be covered with a 'skin' of thin plasticard. Thus the door opening will receive its proper (smaller) size. Hopefully the loco will develop further the next few weeks.

The body of a Frederikshavn-loco during shunting at HVB earlier this month. The frame is not original. The body's different panels have reacted different to the elements and would represent an interesting weathering task in model. My model will not be weathered to this extreme degree, I'll promise! 

Diversion in 1:1 Scale

Well, it is actually the 1:35 scale modelling that is a diversion from my railway building in 1:1, but never mind. Last week Hedelands Veteranbane (HVB) took delivery of more than 700 new sleepers from Sweden. They arrived by truck and were unloaded from the trailer by an almost heritage worthy fork lift. The sleepers were loaded on three pair of low transport bogies for transport to different sidings along the 5 km. long HVB. If you care to follow the work done on HVB by its volunteers check the members' blog - it is usually updated at least once a week.

No chance Nystrup Gravel will ever run trains like the one below. When replacing worn out sleepers, Nystrup Gravel usually used untreated fir or oak sleepers sawn locally. They weren't bought in large quantities, but in small batches when they were needed. Steel sleepers were used on straight, level sections of the line were the load on the track was low.

Sleepers being unloaded from the truck/trailer combo of 'Palms Åkeri' from Sweden.

Almost 600 sleepers being transported through the lush green of Hedeland. The sleepers came in 40 piece 'packs' wrapped with steel bands.

Progress on Ancient Motor Locomotive (1/35)

Work on Nystrup Gravel's first locomotive continues. Last post on the building can be found here. With the main dimensions established (through a combination of measurements taken from the preserved upper body, dimensions scaled from photographs and 'modeller's license') I began to cut plasticard for the 1:35 scale version.

Top and bottom in the upper body of the loco have been cut. Drawings and photos hang on the magnetic strip over the work area. I haven't made a 'proper' scale drawing, but rely on several sketches and my measurements from the full scale upper body. The BullAnt poses on the small box with further parts for the loco. 

Having made a start on the model I was pleasantly surprised when I received an e-mail filled with copies of manufacturer's drawings from the local historical archive in Frederikshavn. Not all relevant for the type of Frederikshavn-loco I'm building - the 'Alpha' E 10 - but very interesting and helping to clarify what certain gadgets on the loco do. The drawings made it clear to me, that particularly the interior on my model had to be redesigned. Fortunately the e-mail arrived before I had the chance to glue anything together. Now the model will feature a more or less full interior.

Front view of a 10 hp. Frederikshavn loco of the E 10 type. The loco is probably photographed in the factory yard immediately before delivery. The box held to the loco body by the two metal straps (one strangely out of level) is for oil, while the funnel above is for water for the cooling system. Notice how the funnel has a cut out that fits a bucket. It is probably the only concession to user-friendliness on the loco. A loco with no suspension, a cab filled with a huge one cylinder engine and a two stage open gearbox, nowhere to sit and tiny port holes for windows surely wouldn't please a health and safety inspector today! Photo: Image B 60650 from the local historical archive in Frederikshavn.

One of the first things I consider when building a locomotive model is how to fit the chassis. I have yet to take the plunge and construct a chassis from scratch, so any loco building at my workbench involves a chassis with motor and drive line built by someone else. That leaves me the task of either ordering a chassis that fits my model or making my model fit the chassis. Usually, however, I do a bit of both, as I try to select a chassis that I know will be able to fit the model I'm about to build within certain tolerances. Once the chassis arrives the initial fitting of the partly built model or placing on a scale drawing will show if I have to adjust my plans and the amount of detail I can show in a certain area.

BullAnt fitted to the first basic shapes that will eventually become the loco's frame. Parts for both frame and body are being worked on. 

With the newly gained knowledge of the loco's interior I have set out to hide the parts of the BullAnt that protrudes into the cab area. I will not make a fully detailed interior, just enough to give a busy impression when looking through the left door, half of which I will leave open. There is no need to model things that can't be seen on the finished model.

With the new knowledge from the drawings I had to reduce the asymmetrical position of the wheels under loco slightly. I simply added 6 mm. to the length at the front end. I also fitted a cardboard mock up to test height and clearance for the interior. The driver will have to be reduced in height to fit the cab. I'll probably chop off his feet as they can't be seen through the open half door.

Kits from Brazil (1/35)

Tomorrow the World Cup in football (or soccer to Americans) kicks off in Brazil. I probably won't see many of the matches as I'm more into cycling. I will probably be having a little Brazilian flavour to my summer anyway.

Last week I received a package from Brazil containing parts for two road vehicle projects I'm about to start. The resin parts are home cast by Fabio Melo whom I got in contact through Marcos Serra, a talented Brazilian military modeller with a fancy for odd and unusual military prototypes. No usual Panther tanks or half tracks from Marcos. Two of Marcos' projects caught my attention and fortunately Fabio was able to provide resin castings to get me started. The mouldings are rough and will need a lot of work with files and sanding sticks. But they will eventually make unique models to fit into the Nystrup universe.

Two resin castings from Brazil. The amount of flash is clearly visible. The Ford 3000 van is a complete kit with chassis and wheels, while the double cab is a replacement part for the ICM-kit of a Ford G917T.

Enjoy Marcos Serra's models of the two lorries here:
http://panzerserra.blogspot.dk/2014/03/ford-g917t-double-cabin-part-01.html

http://panzerserra.blogspot.dk/2012/08/ford-15-ton-panel-van-part-01.html

I understand that Brazilians play football very well and may even end up winning the tournament. I sure know they grow some good coffee. At work I drink my coffee from a classic enamel cup - decorated with the Simca brand.  A fitting companion to my recently finished Simca car.



My Simca cup. In the background you can see a cast iron gearbox lid from a Danish built Titan lathe that I use as a letter press. Not that there is much paper to be kept from flying around in Danish public administration anymore.