Last night I posted a photo as a test, which led to SMR Chris asking to know more about the subject. So I started this thread. The photo showed the mechanism I've built for a little steeplecab electric. Intended only as a mockup, the mech worked well, so I decided to leave it as is. The powered bogies are Stanton drives made by North West Short Line. The frame is just 60thou styrene sheet reinforced with Peco code 100 rail. It's crude and ugly, but it works,, and once the loco body goes on top,no-one sees it. The body is a kitbash based on the Model Railroad Warehouse kit for a GE 50-ton steeplecab. The kit was designed to be powered by a Bachmann GE 44-tonner mechanism, so I had to build a new footplate to accomodate the home-made mech. The pantograph is from a Japanese manufacturer, the bogie frames are from PSC, and the rest is just assorted bits of styrene, wire and bits from the scrap box. It's not quite finished, but it's ready for the paint shop, then the remainder of the bits - like number plates and window glazing - can go on. Cheers, Mark.
Looks good Mark, nice build indeed. Looking forward to seeing it after it has visited the paint shop. Can I ask what you used for the rivet detail ?? Are they Archer transfers ?? Cheers, Gary.
G'day, Gary, The rivets on the steeplecab loco are moulded as part of the kit. The only fastenings I added were the bolts that secure the handrails, for which I used Grandt Line nut, bolt and washer castings. I have a sheet of MicroMark rivet decals which I'm about to use on another project, so I'll post some photos and text about that as I make some progress. Cheers, Mark.
Another electric loco project I have going is this boxcab, which is based on some locos that were operated by Osaka Cement. One of these locos is now preserved and running on the wonderful Oigawa Railway near Tokyo. I made its mechanism from a collection of LifeLike Proto2000 parts I bought at a swapmeet for $10. It may be cheap and cheerful, but it runs beautifully. The body is a cutdown plastic kit from Japan, which I'd had in my spares box for years. I think it was originally meant to be an EF15. The pantographs are from Models Imon, and cost way more than the mech and the body put together! The rest is just sheet styrene to deepen the sides of the body and build the end platforms with. All the best, Mark.
