G scale class 25

[rjr]

Work has now started on my latest scratch built plasti-card loco

Based on a OO model I have, it is still in the early stages, but it is taking shape now. I have always thought it would be nice to have a BO BO diesel but couldn't work out how to hide the very "steam" based playmobil motor blocks, till now !

Here with its inspiration in OO, sat next to N gauge tracks !

Very basic but the next bit is where it starts to take shape, 4 side frames like this..

Once mounted with additional detailing

Still lots of challanges to work out yet but I'll get there   At just under 2' long its a bit of a monster !!!

John

 

[Phill Dyson]

:shock: That's very impressive so far John ...........it almost seems a shame to use the playmobil bogies as your scratch build looks so good

Cheers Phill

 

[Simon]

Fantastic!

I was wondering how long it would take you to turn your ingenuity and talents in the direction of big standard gauge stuff

At the risk of being a pedantic/boring git, I am going to say that I hope you are building it to 1/32 scale.

I expect that you have started on 1/29 as this matches the "G" type standard gauge/narrow gauge scale (I know this is elastic too) but if you develop an interest in this area then at 1/29 you will be out on a limb, also the correct scale for 45mm gauge is 1/32.

I wouldn't worry about the Playmobil chassis/wheels, you can always replace running gear and undergubbins, but the beautiful body that I suspect you are about to wow us with cannot be "shrunk", so I repeat my plea for the use of 1/32 scale

Sorry to put a potential fly in your superbly concocted ointment

 

[lancer1027]

WOW Very good, i like it Cant wait to see the next installment. Mmmmmmm
:scratch: wonder if i could scratch build a G scale WESTERN :scratch:
Rob :wave:

 

[Phill Dyson]

:scratch: wonder if i could scratch build a G scale WESTERN :scratch:
Rob :wave:

Oh go on .........you know it makes sense

Phill :wave:

 

[rjr]

Thanks for all the comments, sorry to say Simon its 1:24   Its the scale I have bodged all my other stuff too, and yes it means I have a slight narrow gauge rat but as its running on plastic playmo track in the garden that is the least of my problems !


Tonight ... you might as well tackle the hard bits first ! and boy are those simple looking ends full of curves !

The front sides were the starting point

Then the nose itself, the long side is clamped on just to help me visualise were I am going !

John

 

[Simon]

Thanks for all the comments, sorry to say Simon its 1:24 Its the scale I have bodged all my other stuff too, and yes it means I have a slight narrow gauge rat but as its running on plastic playmo track in the garden that is the least of my problems !


Tonight ... you might as well tackle the hard bits first ! and boy are those simple looking ends full of curves !


John

Hi John

Excellent, at 1/24 you are well bigger than Gauge One and as you say it will fit in perfectly to your environment. Also, continuing to look on the bright side, you are going to have one helluva big Sulzer :laugh:

In all seriousness though, I am certain that I am going to find this project of yours highly inspiring.

The work you have already done looks like the loco I remember and I love this sort of modelling where things are made from raw materials, which you are very good at I think Also, I love the ambition of the whole thing - go for it and thanks for sharing!

Simon

(suddenly wondering where he can get a scale drawing of a "bubble car" unit in 1/32 :scratch: )

 

[28ten]

(suddenly wondering where he can get a scale drawing of a "bubble car" unit in 1/32 :scratch: )

If you find one let me know

 

[Phill Dyson]

Those cabs are already looking really nice

Phill

 

[lancer1027]

Yes ,i agree those cabs look EXELLENT . If someone knows where to get 1/32 scale plans of a western i would be VERY interested

Rob :wave:

 

[rjr]

Try here

http://www.pdhdrawings.co.uk/shop/page/1?shop_param=

for scale drawings, not used them, not connected just came across it while researching

John

 

[rjr]

Okay chaps, here is tonight's update. The other end now is at the same stage. I have added steps to the bogies and the starts of the buffer beams are taking shape.

In these pictures I have clamped the side piece on to help visualise where I am going.

Looking at the pictures I realise I have marked out the grilles wrong at both ends they need making a bit bigger to take them up to the top of the cab window line.

I realise at this point, some compromises are going to have to be made. For example I am going to have to mount the fuel tanks central rather than off set to one end due to the constraints / size of the playmo blocks,  They are oriented to have the battery holders inboard. Although I have just this second realised that one is a dummy so needs no batteries, this may be able to be shortened at the fuel tank end ?? Will have to check that out.

Things may slow down now as I struggle to work out the best way measure and mark out the roof cross section.

 

[lancer1027]

WOW the bogies are fantastic.
Exellent stuff. Is it the usual plastikard sheets you are using ?. What is the main thickness of the body ?
Again sorry for all the questions
Will you be using any plastic sections of various shapes or will the build be from sheets ?

The bodyside looks to be relatively thin sheet (this might just be because of the picture) but will you be laminating it and what will you use as mesh for the grills ? :scratch:
This build i find amazing, i scratchbuild quite a few things in O gauge and enjoy it very much, so to build something of this size is just brilliant

Rob :wave:

 

[rjr]

Rob,

Yes its standard slaters plasticard sheets. So far I have used 60though for everything. The base plate is 2 pieces laminated together.

I use solvent weld for adhesive.

The side that is clamped on is 30thou, the model shop had no 60 left yesterday, some muppet had cleared them out at weekend to build a 1:24 class 25 !

I plan to laminate 2 30thou to make up the sides. For strength I use triangle of cuts in corners, it also helps to keep things square. Along he main body I also plan to cut a series of full width profile formers complete with roof profile, to make bulkheads along the length. These should stiffen up the body sides.

Grills, not sure I have previously used a fine mesh sold at motor spares shops used to incorporate into body repairs.

As you may have now have realised from the answers, I am making all this up as I go along. I work better solving problems as I go than planning the complete operation before hand.

I generally avoid plastic sections as it makes the build expensive (I know I'm a cheapskate) but on something this size one plastic section goes no where, so I tend to fabricate sections up as required from sheet. The exception may be an odd length of tube.

 

[lancer1027]

Hi rjr, thanks for the answers to my stupid questions.. I will look forward to the next lot of pics

 

[Neil]

I'm hugely impressed by your drive, ambition, the speed and standard of your workmanship, but (and I've agonised over mentioning this) if you're basing the model on the Bachmann 4mm job then I should point out that it does have some issues with the overall shape of the cabs which may well be emphasised by the larger scale you're using. The body shape of the older Hornby 25 captures the character better and would be a better pattern to copy from. Sorry i've got a thing about 24s and 25s.

However you decide to proceed it's still going to be one mightily impressive model and I'm really looking forward to seeing the build progress.

 

[rjr]

Thanks neil, observations dont always have to be positive, any advice and help is accepted and considered valuable. So no more agonising !

On another forum someone pointed out the same issues re the bachmann model. At this point I will be happy to get it looking like a 25 when spotted at the bottom of the garden ! anything better is a bonus. Due to using playmobil motor blocks and trackwork I am having to make several compromises and "my" 25 will always be an inspired by rather than fine scale model. I am looking at several proto pictures too.

The roof shape is proving a difficulty at the moment finding a successfull way of marking out the profile if any one could point me in the direction of proto head on and side views that would be helpfull, most photographers seem to like the angled front quarter view which isnt helping me at the moment

John

 

[lancer1027]

Try flickr , and type in class 25 diesel sulzer. There are quite a few on there with a class 24,25,26,27 type 2 link with loads . Hope this is some help

 

[Neil]

Oodles of snaps at the Derby Sulzer web site. Enjoy, but be prepared to set aside an afternoon or so.

 

[Phill Dyson]

I have a couple of books with 4mm scale drawings that I could scan if you need them ?

Phill :wave: