Welcome to my Current Projects page.This page shows just some of my projects that are still currently under construction or are nearly completed , As these projects are completed they'll be left on this page for a short while then they'll be removed from this page & placed in the respective page for that item.
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Here's where I do most of my work building all those " Bits & Pieces" , Although it's looking a bit messy , It does become quite crowded with so many projects on the go at any given time , but this gets cleaned up when I've completed a few projects.
I have Scratchbuilt & Kitbashed many loco's in many scales & I've also completed a few Lloyds/DJH kits in " HO " scale too ; I have also helped to build a "Garrett" loco in Garden scale for a friend ; You can make enquiries by e-mailing me to find out about scratchbuilding a loco or kitbashing a loco for yourself , or if you have any kits to be built - I will be happy to build it for you at a reasonable cost , This includes any " DJH " or "A&R" kits in "HO" or any " N-Trains " railway Kits or any other plastic model kits that you might have too!
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Thought for the Month : It is said that "People too weak to follow their own dreams , Will ALWAYS find a way to Discourage yours!" - or try & wreck it for you!!!
3 1/2" N.S.W.G.R C38 class loco
Back in Nov 2009 Myself & 2 friends went thirds each in this 3 1/2" C38 class loco which has already been partly restored , It's my "long term" project that I'll tackle in parts as & when possible & I hope to get it back to working order by the end of 2011 or 2012 if possible.
These next few pics will show how the loco looked when I bought it back in 2009 as some guide to what it should look like when it gets completed , I've got a video of it on You Tube having an "Air Test" for those who might be interested.
This pic shows the loco from the "Fireman's side" minus a lot of it fittings & such , ( as bought ).
This pic shows the loco from the "Drivers side" with some wooden track for looks.
Pic 3 shows my son Chris holding the tender of the loco.
Pic 4 is from a slightly different angle.
Pic 5 shows it with the "Smokebox" removed for clarity.
Pic 6 shows the loco sitting on my multi gauge track with the bolier , body & chassis all seperated for this series of pics.
Pic 7 shows the loco from the other side.
Pic 8 shows the loco from above , from this view you can see the Axle water pump in between the 1st & middle drive axle with the lubricating pump on the left hand side of the centre drive wheel & it's pipework going to the steam inlet near the cylinders.
Pic 9 shows it from a different angle , As you can see from this pic - this loco is sitting on my Multi-gauge track that can run 3 1/2" scale , 5" sale & 7 1/4" as well plus from here you can see all the other underneath details that not many people get to see when an engine like this is all complete & running.
Pic 10 shows the smoke box & bodywork that I'll end up re-building later on when the time is ready.
I hope to be able to place more pics here soon of this project as they become available.
Victorian Railways "H" class
This loco also was knonw as "Heavy Harry" in it's day & was a 3 cylindered loco with a 4-8-4 type wheel arrangement & used the Broad guage tracks ( 5Ft 3In ) within Victoria ; I've decided to make this model in "N" scale using a Bachmann brand American loco as you'll see below.
pic 1 shows the Bachmann "N" scale loco before starting this project.
pic 2 shows the front views of the loco & tender.
pic 3 shows the rear views of the loco & tender.
pic 4 shows the Left Hand side of the loco just after I began the mod's , you might notice that I've removed the American headlight , running boards , the top of the smoke box plus 1 of the 2 air coompressors ( on the front pilot beam ) along with a section in front of the cab.
pic 5 shows the Right Hand side of the loco with some of the mod's started.
This pic is of "H" 220 taken by A.J Hurst & comes via his website , this is the best pic of the loco that I can currently find on the net , Thanks John for taking this pic.
further pics can be seen via the link below -
pic 6 shows my 1st attempt at making the double chimney for this loco.
pic 7 shows the double chimney from above.
pic 8 shows it almost ready for gluing ( just before it dissappeared into oblivion & having to make a 2nd attempt. )
pic 9 shows my 2nd attempt sitting in place along with the Firebox being started on.
pic 10 shows the loco from the rear end.
pic 11 shows the body filler now placed into the empty space under the added piece of plastic ( fire box top ) in preperation for making the sides so that it'll look like a Belpaire type fire box.
Pic 12 shows the same thing but from a different angle.
pic 13 shows the comparison of my loco to a photo of the actual loco that I'm modelling so people can see what I'm aiming towards achieving.
Pic 14 shows the beginnings of the 2 "Side Valences" to which the 2 Running Boards will be glued to when completed.
Pic 15 shows how the loco looks before I test fit the side valances for size.
Pic 16 shows the side Valences being "sized up" against the loco so that I can be sure that they're correct when fitted later on.
Pic 17 shows the pair of Running Boards & Side Valences just after being glued in my "Squaring Board" jig.
Pic 18 is a "closer view" of them.
Pic 19 shows them "Test Fitted" onto the loco , At this point in progress - I still need to finish trimming off the lower section of the Boiler where I've been cutting the plastic.
Pic 20 shows it all trimmed off & tidied up ready for gluing with some cleaning up of the Smoke Box Door area , At this point of construction - I still have some work on the Fire Box end to be done along with the Cab Front Wall to be tidied up still.
Pic 21 shows it clearer but from a side angle.
Pic 22 shows the added "Bog" automotive filler now added to the fire box section & I've now added some extra filler to the Sand Box / Steam Dome area with more filler to be added on top soon , When all of this has cured enough - I'll be able to clear off any excess "bog fill" & tidy up the areas that are complete.
At this point , you might notice that I've begun the Valve Gear cover at the front of the loco.
Pic 23 shows the 2 Side Valences ( with Running Boards ) plus the Valve Gear cover awaiting gluing to their respective parts soon.
Pic 24 shows this closer & perhaps better.
Pics 25 shows the Valve Gear cover now glued in place just before I tackle the Boiler & "Bog Filler" at the Fire Box end.
With the Side Valences just sitting in place in Pic 26 & the cover now glued - I can illustrate the difference around the Fire Box end before cleaning up the filler in this pic & the difference in the next pic below.
Pic 27 shows the difference at the Fire Box end now that all of the cleaning up has been done & at this point in construction the Side Valences have now been glued in place with more work being needed to the "top side" of the loco before getting started on the Smoke Deflectors , Chimneys Head Light etc.
Simply put - This side view ( pic 28 ) shows the work done so far to the loco ; after this is done - there's the tender to get working on.
pic 29 shows the 2 Smoke Deflectors now cut out , the dashed lines indicate where I'll need to bend the brass sections , After this is done - I'll need to cut the slope shape into it.
Pic 30 shows 1 of the Deflectors "Test Fitted" to the loco with the other one in my tweesers showing the slope that was needed plus the bends that were also needed.
Pic 31 shows both Deflectors "Test Fitted" & the 1st of 2 water injector pipes also fitted.
Pic 32 shows a side profile of the loco as it is so far.
pic 33 shows the loco from the front view.
pic 34 shows the tender just after I'd disassembled it & cut 1 bogie for this pic to show the bogie modification needed.
pic 35 shows the cutting needed & left over parts that won't be required.
pic 36 shows the tender just "sitting together" & behind the loco to see how it will look in relation to the loco itself.
pic 37 shows the pair positioned just proir to gluing & strengthening the tender parts together.
pic 38 shows the pair from another angle.
pic 39 shows the loco's Steam Dome now just about complete & the Detailing work now ready to begin , The Tender is not far off being Done either.
pic 40 shows the Tender all strenghtened ( inside ) & glued together & ready for completion to begin.
pic 41 shows a "Top View" before all of the details were fitted.
Meanwhile - pic 42 shows the "Driver's Side" of the loco.
And pic 43 shows the loco from the "Fireman's Side".
In pic 44 you can now see some of the details on the loco & work HAS begun ( finally ) on the Tender's mod's.
pic 45 might not be too clear but - I have added about 3 layers of plastic on top of the original body after I had removed all of the old details & have now "Shaped" the top profile ready for final work to be done.
pic 46 shows the top section now done for shape & the "Bog" putty now shaved back.
pic 47 shows the original Tender Front end detail but this will be changed as you might notice in the next pic , sadly the camera flash has washed out the clarity of this pic.
pic 48 shows the detail slightly better than in the previous pic , you might notice the Front End detail has now been done.
pic 49 shows the rear end details so far.
pic 50 shows the Tender just positioned behind the loco mainly for sighting up.
pic 51 shows the new Rear End details now added along with the new Top End details being now done.
pic 52 shows the loco & tender placed together with the loco now in Etch Primer almost ready for painting.
pic 53 shows the Tender now in Etch Primer ( front End view ) as well after all of the details had been added.
pic 54 shows the Tender from the other side.
pic 55 shows the loco from the Front Driver's side now painted - Yi-Ha!!!
pic 56 shows the loco from the Rear Driver's side now painted.
pic 57 shows the loco from the Rear Fireman's side.
pic 58 shows the loco from the Front Fireman's side view ; This loco now has been "coaled up" & the Running lights have also been painted in , all I need now to do is add on the Decals & It's Done!!
Although now finished , I will leave these pics here for another month & hope to add something new for next month ; I thank you for your patience during the course of this project & hope that you'll keep on following with my projects in 2012.
Kevin.
Note: All these pics were taken by me unless otherwise stated.
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