My ÖBB 399 / NÖLB Mh

bensch_55

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Hello everyone,
as you might know from my new members post, I am currently working on a model of the ÖBB 399 (NÖLB "Mh"). I want to document and share some of my progress here with you.

The major objective of this project is to make everything 3D print-friendly as well as easy to assemble, similar to LGB models. In the long run I would also consider offering this as a full set to purchase, should there be any demand for it.

Then there are the targets this model has to fullfill:
  1. Min. Radii R1
  2. Sound
  3. Smoke (incl. cylinder smoke)
  4. Utilizing already existing LGB running gear
  5. Lights (incl. cabin)
I started designing in beginning of March '24 and was already able to produce a working chassis and get most of the electronics sorted.

This is the current status in CAD:

1721120727984.png
(Some off the shelf parts are depicted as placeholders or not in the model at all)

As you can see, the major components are mostly finished. The main focus right now is on the valve gear which is still missing some details.

If you have any questions or see some room for improvements, please let me know :)

Wish you all a great day,
Ben
 
Looking forward to seeing this progress !!
 
Hi Ben. I am very interested in the project. What are you using as the base chassis?
Regards
Henrik
 
Hello Trainman58 Trainman58 , the base is from the LGB Ruegens (28001 - 28005), primarily because it is capable to ride through the R1 curves. The overall wheelbase is very close to the 399, however the axles aren't evenly distributed on the prototype. You can see a comparison of the chassis here:

1721509689063.png

You can mainly tell by the offset of axle #3, it is quite noticable.
 
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That is really neat. I have often thought of using the Rugen chassis although the axle spacing is slightly different. I used one to build a 699 class “type” loco. I used the boiler shell so it looks vastly different with the highest boiler so I named it a 599 class. I don’t have a printer but think what you have done is spot on. Start from the chassis up. Really nice job.
Henrik
 
Thank you for the kind words!
As said, the spacing is slightly off - but it isn't too noticable on track. The real loco also has no driveflanges on the 3rd axle, this could be achieved by turning the existing ones down. If the project is succesfull I might consider developing a whole custom chassis as well but for now I wanted a proven chassis that is readily avaliable. Since LGB announced the Ruegens again, all major parts should be easy to come by now.
 
I would be more than happy to purchase a full kit since I spent all my vacations in the early 80's in the Waldviertel area (getting up without breakfast, riding with a rented ÖBB-bike to Weitra to photograph the freight train at 6 a.m. etc.)
1721645865687.jpeg

My question is how you solved the tight space between tender and firebox, and the overlapping roof section when the loco and the tender move "against each other".

1721645951165.jpeg 1721646046117.png 1721646167525.png
 
I would be more than happy to purchase a full kit
Well, I hope I can make it reality! Those are great pictures, espacially the ones on freight duty. Also a funny coincident, my model is mostly relying on the 399.04.

Now to your question:
My question is how you solved the tight space between tender and firebox
It is quite simple actually and is pretty much the same solution as Regner used on their model from 2009. The coupling is simplified so there is a fixed pivot on the loco chassis on which the tender simply revolves around:

1721649083927.png

I hope I could show it good enough!
 
Looking forward to the kit!!!
 
Hi. I don’t think the flangeless wheel will matter with the Rugen chassis as it is already made to do the R1 curves. I have modelled Austrian ng railways for 50 years. I started in HOe and now do G Scale. My favourite railway is the Steyrtalbahn, followed by Bregenzerwaldbahn, SKGLB and the Gurktalbahn. I try to have a little bit of each of them on my railway. The Steyrtalbahn has a 399 class loco on the line, 399.05. I saw it last time I was over there a few years ago. Are you doing this for a model on your own railway or to sell as kits? I have had some of the more “classic” narrow gauge wagons now not running in Austria.
Regards
Henrik
 

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I don’t think the flangeless wheel will matter with the Rugen chassis
Exactly - if anything, the chassis would benefit from it.
The Steyrtalbahn has a 399 class loco on the line, 399.05.
I'm not sure of the current status of 399.05, the last thing I heard was that it has been transitioned to the Steyrtalbahn but still in severe condition.
Are you doing this for a model on your own railway or to sell as kits
This model primarily built for our own railway. But like I mentioned, if there is enough demand for it I would also offer the 3D printed parts.

So to everyone who would be interested, please let me know. I also encourage you to comment here what you would expect from such a kit (price, which parts should be included, how detailed does it need to be, what functions need to be included, etc...)

Maybe also important for potential buyers: Right now the whole design is optimized to use the ESU Loksound 5XL, ESU Dual Smoke Unit and Visaton BF45 Speaker. Those components have been picked by the guys over at LeoSoundLab who also made the sound project for the class 399.
 
Very interested ,I do have my own printer
 
I do have my own printer
On that matter, the offer would be on physical parts only - and there's a few reasons for that:
  • All parts are created with my printers, materials and print environment in mind - I don't want to have to troubleshoot someone else's setup
  • Some parts of the valve gear as well as other details are so delicate a resin printer is needed
  • Selling STL files comes with the high chance they will be shared with others
The last point might come off as somewhat greedy but please keep the effort it took to get the model where it is now in mind. I'm essentially doing the work a design engineer at LGB or Märklin would do on a paid basis but in my free time. I hope this is understandable.
 
Exactly - if anything, the chassis would benefit from it.

I'm not sure of the current status of 399.05, the last thing I heard was that it has been transitioned to the Steyrtalbahn but still in severe condition.

This model primarily built for our own railway. But like I mentioned, if there is enough demand for it I would also offer the 3D printed parts.

So to everyone who would be interested, please let me know. I also encourage you to comment here what you would expect from such a kit (price, which parts should be included, how detailed does it need to be, what functions need to be included, etc...)

Maybe also important for potential buyers: Right now the whole design is optimized to use the ESU Loksound 5XL, ESU Dual Smoke Unit and Visaton BF45 Speaker. Those components have been picked by the guys over at LeoSoundLab who also made the sound project for the class 399.
Yes they do have the 05. They have recently acquired another one in parts from PLB I think. The biggest problem they had was the bridge at Waldneukirchen but that has been sorted now. The lok is privately owned I think.

I am very interested in a set of parts, not sure of a price. Personally I think a lot of the boiler detail can be added by the person purchasing it. I like the Loksound option.
 
On that matter, the offer would be on physical parts only - and there's a few reasons for that:
  • All parts are created with my printers, materials and print environment in mind - I don't want to have to troubleshoot someone else's setup
  • Some parts of the valve gear as well as other details are so delicate a resin printer is needed
  • Selling STL files comes with the high chance they will be shared with others
The last point might come off as somewhat greedy but please keep the effort it took to get the model where it is now in mind. I'm essentially doing the work a design engineer at LGB or Märklin would do on a paid basis but in my free time. I hope this is understandable.
Of course it is .
 
So, yesterday was a big day, the first test of our prototype on track. We mainly tested the chassis, electronics and smoke generator. Please keep in mind this is more or less a bare chassis with parts printed in a fast setting. Thankfully everything went well, our next milestone will be the completion of the valvegear and the rest of the detailing.


 
Although I do speak english for quite a while, I never heard (or read) that expression before - I assume you mean it looks good?
I think it's a typo. It should read runs well, which it certainly does....
 
Although I do speak english for quite a while, I never heard (or read) that expression before - I assume you mean it looks good?
Yes sorry ‘runs sweat’ was what my head said but my fingers had other ideas!
 
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