A 1;20 experiment.Now done!

[Riograndad]

I have been messing around with this project for some time, building some 1;20 passenger cars but finding out the size of the AMS cars as an example and mainly for storage problems (no space left) I came up with what could be called a short haul "shorty" car. I actually ordered a chassis for the first build but alas it never arrived and at the moment have no idea where it went so on with plan 2, I started with some trucks from Cambrian Models and these were heavily modified to take the wheels from the scrap box,then built a simple chassis /frame(still to finish) and a push test for wheel clearance on the truck swing outside on the railroad and on 8fts worked fine,next came the body sides,each window frame made up on the back side and the every 2 windows 60x60 strip glued in to take the glaze and then the internal sides made up with some detail thus leaving a gap to slide the glass panels in and so no glue,the ends made up using an inside and outer door panel so glaze will slide in too,
The interior detail required two rows of seats and a stove and these knocked up to fit inside from plastic strip and sheet and a toilet compartment made for one end.All the interior fittings so far are first coat painted and need finishing off as does the outer sides and no problem as all the glass can be removed for painting.I used brass rod for the handrails and Cambrian handrail knobs and brakewheels on the end platforms and of course a number of rivets and bolt heads.Since the pics were taken the handrails have been properly set and the ends have been first coat painted,I have also started on the roof clerestory section,Spectrum body mount couplings on order to fit,the pics are a little dark and the car looks like a wreck at present but coming together,if all turns out well a combine to match will be the next one(not so many seats to make)S

 

[Rhinochugger]

You can get away with almost anything on the 1:20 narrow gauge. From what I've read, Carter Bros would arrive at the site of a new railroad and build everything from the timber available on the spot. So, while many items of rolling stock would mirror what they'd built before, who's to say what variations evolved?

 

[Riograndad]

Yes agreed, there is a video on U tube where a crew build a flat car on site using the Carter Bros build methods,they source lumber locally and get local metal workers to make up the metalwork for them, if memory serves its in California and a very interesting video but for the life of me I can`t find it, ages since I saw it.
Oh the joys of freelancing as we can do what we like and get away with it ?

 

[Fred2179G]

a short haul "shorty" car.

The Sierra RR was famous for its short passenger equipment. Phil Dippel made a run of them a few years ago, and his website has good photos:
Short Passenger Cars

Then there's the Georgia RR Museum which made a short coach for tourist service - it had to fit on the turntable along with a small diesel!

 

[Riograndad]

The Sierra RR was famous for its short passenger equipment. Phil Dippel made a run of them a few years ago, and his website has good photos:
Short Passenger Cars

Then there's the Georgia RR Museum which made a short coach for tourist service - it had to fit on the turntable along with a small diesel!

Thanks for the info Fred,had a little look and very interesting,thanks again

 

[Riograndad]

Two weeks holiday and slow progress but I can say its done at least as it just needs a varnish coat to seal the lettering,I had to ponder how I was going to do the roof section and so I took a leaf out of the book of those who model with wood and ply,,,I scored some 40thou styrene sheet in 5mm sections,smeared some poly glue in the scores after bending to the shape of the roof supports and when dry each section had a good sanding down and the 20 thou sheet over the top to finish and worked well,the Bachmann conductor was repainted and given a watch chain, I left the interior very basic as it was never intended to put lights or passengers inside although a passenger or two may end up in the combine which has now been started and a pic at the end on that cars progress,this one running on LGB trucks as Cambrian has sold out of the trucks I used on the passenger car,I may have to change the steps and underframe as the wheelbase is longer and so a wider arc on the turn but no doubt will get around it somehow !! As normal I`m making it up as I go

 

[Riograndad]

Slow progress but the combine is now taking shape,the problem I had with the truck swing and the steps was easily solved by moving the trucks inwards under the car and so allowed the same steps to be used on both cars,the first body paint now on,end platforms steps and handrails now on,the interior started with the seating in and the stove I knocked up before work tonight but needs painting,the internal panels,wc compartment now with colour and some of the underside detail added including safety chains(to be added to the passenger car later too),still to do jobs include the roof,second coat paint,coupling boxes to finish,more underside detail,baggage end interior to do,glaze to be cut and fitted and the passenger needs a repaint before he goes in.

 

[ge_rik]

Corrr..... They look very good indeed!

Rik

 

[Riograndad]

This is getting to be a pick it up and put it down project but quite a lot more done and almost there now, the combine roof nearly done apart from a few finishing touch ups with paint ,a couple of racks knocked up with a few items of freight and some more to go in when I get around to making it ,stove and passenger fitted ,underside end platform roof sections in place, some more underside chassis bits added so once all the painting done and dusted I can get the lettering on and a coat of varnish to protect them(passenger car needs also)talking the passenger car, it still needs safety chains added and a few little tweeks to finish, I tried a push without a loco the other day and run fine for clearances so at least the roof sections don`t hit each other!!! Next project already ready for the bench,,,,another stock car.

 

[Riograndad]

Finally finished the combine,am I doing another one? No thats it for my passenger cars.