Updates and info

Hi All,

I thought it's about time I gave you all an update on the coil wagon - they are almost ready for release. I'm waiting on a order from KD for the couplers. It has been almost two weeks since my last contact with them, so I emailed them again yesterday and have almost got everything sorted. I just sent my payment info so I hope to see something in the post this week.

The other set back has been the writing of the instructions. After a rather poor first effort in black and white, I decided to redo them in colour, with photos and 3D CAD drawings. This will make life a lot easier in assembling the kit.

The progress on the BBP box plough has been slow, with the coil wagon being my first priority. However, I have made the roof master but that's as far as I have gone.

I do have two surprise kits on the way - one is a bridge, and the other is a shipping container. If I get enough of these kits done, I will have samples to show at the Murwillumbah exhibition on August 11th-12th  next month.

Whilst there, I will also be doing a weathering demonstration on the use of Doctor Ben's weathering powders. This is the very same product used to weather the model below, as well as all the my other models on this blog. This is the best weathering product I have used! It bonds to the model well, and is so simple to apply with a soft but stiff brush ( I usually shorten the bristles). It's not ground chalk but an industrial pigment and it works!

At the exhibition, I will demonstrate how to weather bogies in just a few minutes and the result

will blow you away! I will also demonstrate Loco and rolling stock weathering, using the both wet and Dry pigments. I hope to see you there, and I will be glade to answer any questions you may have

Later,

Deano

      
 

Steam era models - X class and NSWGR 45 class locos

G'day all,

I have some new pictures to share. I have had a few camera problems and with some help from a mate we got it all sorted.

I finished the 45 a few months ago, but I just could not get a clear picture of the weathering job! The X Class is a project for a client, and both locos are fitted with DCC chips! The X class has extra pick-ups in the tender and an LED front light.

I will demonstrate weathering techniques at the Murwillumbah model railway and hobby exhibition on the 11th and 12th of August 2012. I do  hope to see you there!

Later,

Dean

New kit - the BBP ballast wagon

Hi all,

I have some photos of my next kit - the BBP wagon. This kit has been in the pipeline for about two years, however it stalled when it came to the roof vents. I had contacted two manufacturers who made them in brass, and asked if a bulk buy could be arranged. One said they would get back to me, and the other said they would be able to make them in white metal. I did not hear back from either of them again and so I moved on to other projects but, I had made a promise to a number of people that I would do this kit and I was not about to let them down.

After seeing the outstanding casting work of John Dersch at Ornamental castings on my other projects, combined with his very fast turnaround, I gave him a call. I asked if I could send a master of the Flettner vents down for casting. The rest is history! The Flettner vents arrived and I got a move on with the masters and the casting. The photos show what I have done thus far.

The model will be made in such away that you can model it with the doors open or closed! Peter Boorman made the brass etch steps for me. You may not see it in the photos but that's checker plate on the walk ways! I used a new US brand of polyurethane for the castings with some great results. The fine details like bolts and rivets are there you just may not see them in the photos.

The kit will also include K.D's and bogie's.  It is some way off yet, but I thought I would share the progress. 

Cheers Dean

P.S. The early bird price is $55, however as things move along it may increase. 
If your after a kit please email me on railsinscale@gmail.com

Thanks John,

http://www.orncastings.com/ 

Thanks Peter,

http://www.peterboormansworkshop.com.au/index.htm

NSWGR Pay Bus number 8

Hi all,

It's been a busy few weeks! The weather has finally dried up allowing me to do some casting and get a move on with the coil wagon! In between I have been keeping my sanity by doing some modelling.

The subject is the NSWGR pay bus - FP8, based on the unit stored at the old Casino station. The model went together nicely, the only problem I encountered was the decals were not printed very well! I used a set of L7 logos I had in my decal collection.

I fitted DCC and fibre optic lights behind the clear lenses. I had to replace the headlight mounts with a set from Detail Associates as the castings on the bus were way to large.

Now to the coil wagon - I hear you say! I have started the casting and will soon be sending out the orders already taken. I will also have the coil sets for sale. They are $8 for a set of three, enough for each wagon. Those of you with unpaid orders will receive an email when you kits are ready.

Cheers Dean

Finished coil wagon sample

Hi All,

At last I have a sample to show!

This model has been built of castings from the masters and is what you will be getting in kit form. The signage is the only part that will be reworked with some extra details on the number board and a clean up of the L7 logo. I will now set about making new production molds that will let me cast parts at more than one at a time with so many small detail parts this will speed up production. I hope to have it all sorted in a few weeks.

I regret to say the price has gone up. The lost wax brass castings were not the only change made to the kit, I have made a number of new parts in white metal instead of polyurethane. This has brought up the empty weight of the model and also replaces some of the polyurethane brackets  that were so small they were prone to breakage.

All orders already taken will stay at the original  announced price however from this point in time all kits are $60 each.

Price on coils will be announced soon.

Cheers Dean

Coils for coil wagons

Hi all,

I have just finished some test castings for the coils. They are a two piece casting that is glued together not unlike the large plastic Auscision silver coil also in the photos. I have cast one in two colours so you can get an idea of the two parts. The other is finished with  the straps added.

At first I thought they were a little too fine however fine was what I was aiming for and after many attempts on the lathe with different speeds and tools I decided on this one! Not too fine or course, (some were so fine they would have passed as N scale).

They will be available as an extra for the coil wagon or the small Auscision or Walthers coils will also fit.

Cheers Dean 

 

Coil wagon steps

Hi all,

The coil wagon kit is ever so close, I now have the lost wax brass steps.  I know It caused a set back but the detail has been worth the wait! It will make the model look really great (much better than bent wire). I must thank John Dersch at Ornamental castings. Without Johns help, the steps would not have been possible (see link below).

The other good news is they make a great replacement set for a lot of NSWGR rolling stock. I just fitted a set to my Auscision NLKY Louvered vans (see pics). I will list them on my Rails In Scale E-bay store "Loco-Alco" in the next day or so.  I have poured more molds today.

I will give a few days for them to set. I'll post another blog with pics of the coil wagon and a surprise kit I have been working on. 

Until then...

Deano  

http://www.orncastings.com/

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Rails-in-Scale