Protective Box For Skips

While I was modelling Nystrup Gravel in 1:35 scale I faced the challenge of how to store my models safely and protected from the usual mishaps during storage and transport. In more traditional modelling scales (e.g. 1/87) most models comes in neat boxes that protect them and some boxes even doubles as fancy display cases. I have yet to buy a 1/19 ready to run-model in a box, so I need to find a way to store and transport my more or less home built models. 

Skips stored safely in a padded box.

Having been very satisfied with the wooden boxes I used in 1/35 scale I proceeded the same way with boxing my 1/19 scale models. Finding wooden boxes large enough isn't easy, though. But after a some searching, I found two nice boxes that should be able to protect a few of my models sufficiently. I bought them on a flea market from a guy that make the boxes himself.

Two wooden boxes ready to be fitted out as storage boxes for some of my 1/19 scale models. The front box measures 26,5 cm in length, 13 cm in width and 8 cm in height. The box in the background measures 23,5x13x11.

I may have shopped just a little too much foam for lining the boxes!

As I began planning what models to house in the boxes, I found that I had run out of soft foam. Specialised shops only sold either small amounts online or very large industrial quantities. I found the cheapest option was to visit a local home furnishing retailer and buy a foam mattress 80 cm x 200 x 3 for less than 25 €. That the amount of foam will last me a long time is an understatement!

I decided to make the long box (measuring 26,5 cm x 13 x 8) a home for 3 Hudson skips. With materials acquired I could begin to outfit the box for the skips. A very easy task only involving some very basic measuring, cutting and glueing of foamboard and soft foam. The process is shown in pictures below.

Strips of 18 mm wide foamboard of 5 mm thickness was cut and glued into the bottom of the box. The strips hold the skips in place and avoids them sliding in the box. Strips of foam 1 and 2 cm thick are PVA-glued to cushion and stop the skips rolling back and forth in the box.

A skip placed illustrative on its place in the box. 'No foam needed between the skips?' No, because when the last element is added the skips will be held securely by closing the lid.

A strip of foam 1 cm thick is glued in the lid. When the box is closed, the strip holds the skips in tension and put an effective stop to the moving in any direction inside the box. 

The next box is planned to contain the Lister RT and its battery charging equipment. And then the hunt for more nice wooden boxes is on again. I have more locomotives and rolling stock that needs safe storage and transport boxes. There is plenty of foam mattress left - 197 cm and some scraps.

I'm also considering a tube that can carry some Peco SM32 track panels. Combined with 3 skips and a Lister I could have a 'travelling kit' of a small railway to bring to the cottage or a location for some fun photography sessions.

'Planet' Progress

I now have a self-propelled model of a self-propelled skip. The 'Planet' is moving! A rare and extremely swift process during a few days of modelling in the last week of my 3 week summer vacation has seen the small Loco Remote 'Planet' evolve from naked 3D printed parts to a running semi-finished state.

Current status on Nystrup Gravel's self-propelled skip: Ready for fitting of the upper works after having gone through its first test runs.

Only a few days ago I had little hope of finishing the self-propelled skip anytime soon, but vacations works wonders and with time enough on my hands, a simple kit and Loco Remote's user friendly mobile phone control solution less than a week on I have a running model ready for the layout at home. Not a finished one yet, but another piece of machinery will soon join the production of gravel and sand.

In my last post on the 'Planet' I had begun sanding parts and test fitting them together. From there the first parts were glued, new details were fitted, the drive line was tested and control interface established on my mobile phone. 

Loco Remote has done a lot of work in advance. On/off swith and connecting wires supplied finished. Wires attached to motor/gear box. Loco Remote Mini B unit supplied with kit. I have bought and clipped on the small 3.7 V LiPo battery. These gadgets power the skip in combination with my mobile phone.

Detailing in progress. New front buffer from plasticard. Bolt heads from hexagonal plastic stock and old 1/35 scale etched brass parts to top off the axle boxes. I had to remove a good deal of plastic on the front of the frame to add the new buffer type. The rear buffer will be a piece of wood as no coupling is fitted in that end of the vehicle.

I had planned to divert from the instructions but it turned out that only a few things had to be added out of sequence to make me comfortable. I'm sure it is possible to assemble the model entirely after the supplied instructions.

I thought the top of the frame looked a little bare, so I built a haphazardly applied cover over what would have been a usual open skip chassis with brake hangers and chain transmission. One steel plate and a piece of steel with tread plate pattern make up the covering to ensure no lost gravel gets in the working parts of the 'Planet'. New springs were made from copper wire and AC-glued in place. With the trunnions to carry the skip body glued in place I was ready to prime the underside and sides of the model in preparation for fitting the drive line.

Ready for a coat of my usual primer 'Chaos Black' from Games Workshop.

Primed, wheel sets and O-rings fitted. Mini B-unit fastened between the axles, motor/gear box to the left and battery (still unattached) to the right.

As per the instructions I fitted the electrical components, wheel sets and O-rings. With the power switched 'on' and connection made on the mobile my little 'Planet' took off on my short test track. As the track was very short I soon dispensed with track and simply ran the model on the table. A clear advantage to battery powered railway models over rail powered!

The next task is getting the upper parts ready for priming and painting. The skip body needs sanding and fitting of a few details and the cab area is also in need of a little improvement to create my own personal version of a great kit from Loco Remote. 

Train Travelling Holidays

Relaxing travel. Great scenery. No problems with detours or getting used to the locals' traffic habits. That's what you avoid when you travel by train in Norway. Having been working from the Trondheim office for about a week my vacation began with wife and son joining me in Norway. Having enjoyed Trondheim for a few days we took the train for a beautiful 497 km long train ride to Oslo.

EL18 2261 waiting in front of 8 carriages in track 5 on Trondheim station. Splendid weather to help make a scenic ride even more unforgettable.

Being used to travel by train in Denmark and southern Sweden spectacular scenery isn't on the agenda. I have been visiting narrow gauge railways with great scenery, but usually they are rather short. On the ride from Trondheim to Oslo two thirds of the ride is first class views just waiting for you. And its cheap entertainment, too.

While the signal is still red, the hills in the background are promising a great day on the railway.

One of the many great views captured through the less than clean window. Not that it spoiled my enjoyment of the trip.

As part of our stay in Trondheim we spent a day in the hills south of the town. The narrow gauge tram terminus Lian is a great starting point for a hike in the mountains. Sevreral routes are clearly marked in the landscape or available on hiking apps. The tramway is the most northernly tramway on the planet, is doing well finacially and is currently having track and catenary modernised. The wooden catenary masts are probably on their way out which is sort of sad.

The loop on Lian station has received new steel catenary masts. Here trainset 93 is making its way back to the current northern terminus Ilevollen.

From Lian it's down hill to Trondheim. Here the wooden catenary masts are still going strong.

Arriving in Oslo there is no doubt that one is in a capital. Lots of people, more tourists and a much larger tram network transporting 55 mio passengers anually. All trainsets are SL18-types built by CAF in Spain - a type I have also met in Edinburgh and Budapest. Very efficient and cheap travel to all major locations in and around Oslo. Combined with local and regional trains and busses there is no reason to hire a car when visiting Oslo. A car will be like a ball in chain around your leg!

Henrik Ibsens Gate at the Nationaltheatret. Trainset 487 as line 15 toward Disen is moving down hill while trainset 464 towards Majorstuen is beginning the climb.

As a pleasent variety to all the blue trams the orange workscar 358 is seen here passing the pub in the old trading stalls at Kirkeristen with the Oslo cathedral in the background.

'Planet' Motorised Skip

Vacation. The time where one can relax and enjoy a hobby. I have begun to prepare for assembly and detailing the Loco Remote F. C. Hibberd & Co Ltd 'Planet' 6 hp self-propelled skip. A 3D printed kit that was marketed for a limited time frame in 2023-2024 and that I was instantly tempted by. A small, simple vehicle that would be very much at home on Nystrup Gravel's railway. 

A view of the main parts for the 'Planet' self-propelled skip. New table cloth in the cottage means a shift from the chequered cloth.

As readers that have followed the blog for a long time may remember I bought a 'Planet' in Feburary 2024 and examined it briefly. Since then it has been in storage. Now it's out of the cupboard and the first stage in its construction has begun. 

As I found out during my first look at the parts, some of the printing is a little coarse with the layers of the printing clearly visible. That is one of the things I will have to attend to during the build process. As usual I will also add and replace detail on the kit. 

A side frame part directly from the box. Lots of 'striping' from the printing process and springs in a condition I have to replace.

Some work done on one part with an original for comparison.

While sanding some of the main parts like side frames I have been making a list of what I plan to add or replace on the kit. As usual the list, I may be shorten or lengthen it depending on my mood as the build progresses. So far the list looks like this:

• Sanding away the worst traces from the printing process
• Replacing bolt heads
• Adding metal springs for the axle boxes
• Rebuilding floor under the skip body
• Rebuilding and detailing the driver's position
• New buffers
• Detailing skip body
• Modifying driver figure.

Not too different from what I usually do to my models. I hope to build the 'Planet' next to my Baguley-Drewry that should be in a an almost finished condition by Christmas. 

Test assembly with wheel sets inserted in axle boxes.

Holds together quite well withou glue!

There is a lot more sanding to do before parts will be glued together, and I have some reservations with Loco Remote's assembly sequence and will probably differ a bit along the way.