Two-Way Diversion

I have just finished 4 models in an entirely different scale than 1:19. I have been working in 1:87 scale, building two-way excavators as part of a project at my work. We have provided the client of one of our large scale station refurbishments with a H0 scale model of that particular railway station. On several of the station's tracks some of my tiny models will remind our client who did the work. See a short reference on the 1:1 project here.

Østerport Station in lasercut cardboard. The original was built in 1897 and a 1:87 twin now resides in the customer's headquarters. 

As available models of two-way excavators are rather limited, the basis of my modelling is the Kibri kit of a Liebherr A 922 (kit nr. 11264). The Kibri model is not of the exact same types of Liebherr machines we currently use in the company, and as far as I know there isn't a 1/87 model of one of the contemporary Liebherr two-way excavators.

Aarsleff Rail 70225, a Liebherr A 924 FD, levelling ballast. The machine is 'FD' - friction drive to avoid the rubber tires touching the rails. On sections with ERTMS signalling only the rail wheels are allowed to touch the rails.

User's manual for a Liebherr A 900 C ZWFD. Useful for getting aquainted with how a two-way excavator works.

I started with the ambition to at least provide the models with two-seater cabs, but as I could not find any resin or 3D aftermarket sets providing a fitting cab, I decided to build the kits straight out of the box. Despite being very small, the kits are quite detailed with a lot of parts. I assembled the excavator arms as per the instructions and managed to get all four of them workable. To ease painting I glued them in position after having positioned them. As the finished excavators will live glued to the tracks next to the station under an acrylic hood no one is likely to appreciate the arms being movable.

Work is progressing. 4 chassis assemblies and excavator arms painted and fitted with decals. Cab interiors to the far right.

Bodies and cab tops in orange ready for gloss varnish. Having recently changed from modelling in 1:35 to 1:19 scale I certainly found it a challenge to adjust to 1:87. 

One of the excavators ready for final assembly.

The Aarsleff Rail colours are rather characteristic and I feared it would be a challenge to find a good match in my preferred range of paints from Vallejo. It turned out that Vallejo 70.910 'Orange Red' and Vallejo Air 71.005 'Intermediate Blue' fitted the colours pretty closely. In my eyes, at least

I ordered decals from my usual supplier 'Skilteskoven'. It was fun ordering decals many times smaller than I usually order for use in banners, prints and logos for vehicles.

Now my work on some 'real' models can continue. On the other hand it's been great fun to be able to utilize my modelling network in my professional career.

Bird's eye view of the model. It's a lovely model built by a talented designer and builder. My small contribution of model excavators is not designed to draw away attention from the excusite building.

The model placed inside its prototype building with old photographs of Østerport Station on the wall. The model is equipped with hardwood edging, steel legs and acrylic hood.