0 Gauge Class 33 Scratch Build - Part 7

Well that was satisfying - my idea for head code display and cab interior lit by one clear LED works. But first, about window glass.

There are two concerns about fitting DIY flush glazing. Firstly, obtaining an accurate fit and second keeping the glass clear of scratches, debris and glue.

Accuracy was surprisingly easily achieved. The width and height of the window frame was measured and drawn onto a sheet of paper. The transparent acetate was laid over and the lines on the paper scribed onto acetate with a scalpel blade. The 'glass' was then cut from the acetate with scissors following the scribes. A little trimming was necessary to give a perfect fit.

The cab side windows on the prototype are held within the metal frame. On the model a thin layer of Superglue was laid inside the window frame and the glass placed into the frame (1st photo). The process of fixing the glass was troublesome with evidence of debris, glue overspill and scratches causing most to be reworked several times to get a reasonable finish. Even so close inspection still reveals some imperfections here and there.

On the prototype the cab front windows are held in place with a black rubber grommet. For the model a black plastic frame slightly large than the window aperture was 3D printed and glued to the glass before gluing the assembly in place (2nd photo). Needless to say with two gluing processes involved, instead of one, overspill was even more problematical causing several reworks.

And so to the head code display unit. The front of the display unit is transposable to facilitate either red bars, white bars or, alphanumeric characters.

The frame was 3D printed with an open base, top and front. (In the cab a clear LED located in the base of the display housing illuminates the display panel and throws light onto the ceiling of the cab illuminating the cab too).

The front panel was 'drawn' in my graphic editing application. Two with blanks and one with alphanumeric head code. These were printed onto sticky back paper, The parts cut out and stuck to thin black card. The bars and characters were then cut out and the panels stuck to their respective 3D printed frame.

Red transparent acetate was stuck to the rear of one front panel.

Clear actetate was cutout and stuck to the front for the appearance of glass and over this a black 'grommit' was glued, as for the front windows.

I now have three removable panels. Each can be placed into and removed from the middle window of the cabs.

The next photo shows the lighting effect  The glare from the display panel  upset the camera. The bars are much sharper than shown and the red more intense. Strangely, the blue light is not as intense as shown. I think it is reflecting pigments in the 'grey' painted interior.

The alphanumeric characters (not pictured here) indicate the freight train route within the region. Choosing which code to use posed a dilemma since the layout I shall build later will be fictitious, albeit following Southern practise. The layout will be a shunting yard alongside a waterway. On perusing the list of actual codes (linked to in Part 6) I noted that SW destinations with a wharf or harbour carried the letter E. But, this is no means exclusive and the whole code could be replicated across different routes n practise. Therefore, I had no issue choosing the number one to give a head code of 1E, which was also used for Lymington Pier and Southampton E. docks among others.

To Part 8.

To Part 1 of this series.