Project 20 - 0 Gauge Layout - Part 22

4mm version

Regular readers may remember the Crewkerne crane I modelled in 4mm scale (shown right. Click here for details). I like the style of it so decided to upscale it for this 7mm layout.

This should be simple. In theory all I had to do was scale up the .stl parts in my slicer program before 3D printing them. That is true for some of the parts. The trouble is that others are simplistic designs of the prototype for 4mm scale since the lack of detail is not obvious to the eye. In 7mm scale it is more obvious. I had to redesign several parts. Of note are the gear housings, which included solid gears in the 4mm version. In the 7 mm version I designed and integrated the correct spoked gears. However, the cogs were a step too far. Even in 7mm scale they are small and thought to be too small for my 3D printer to form.

I noted in the 4mm crane Blog posting that the ratchet locking mechanism was not modelled (because available photographs did not show the details). Sorry to say that is still the case so it has been omitted again in the 7mm version.

7mm version

Like the 4mm version it is a static model except it can be rotated on its plinth. The model was sprayed with Halfords grey primer and then lightly sponge dabbed with a dirty rust mix of enamel paints.

The plinth is card with decorative overlays in the manner described earlier for the office building and the railing posts 3D printed with galvanised wire threaded through.

The platform is larger than I estimated. Unfortunately, it has to be placed right on the edge of the quay wall to allow trains to pass by without interference.

I needed to obtain a chain for the hoist. I spent some time searching ebay and whilst there were many available very few suppliers gave full dimensions of the links. In fact only one did and that was slightly too wide for the pulley I had designed. I wondered how difficult it would be to make one. I Googled it and came up with a video tutorial that showed how to make a chain from twisted wire. The trick is to open out the loops with a scalpel to give a fair representation of chain links.

To Part 23.

To Part 1.  

Project 20 - 0 Gauge Layout - Part 21

One side of the baseboard is decorated as the quay wall. The wall surface is a photo of the actual quayside at Padstow. The colour and texture would be difficult to model any other way. I had already used this same decoration on my 4mm Padstow box file layout. The only adjustment I made was to scale up the top row of stone blocks.

The pilings/ fenders are knocked up from wood, dyed and then pastel scrapes applied to mirror the algae layer of the wall.

The quay road surface is given a slight texture that was created from the ash of winter hearth fires.

First I mixed up a dark grey home paint from what I had available. Painted this onto the road areas and whilst still wet sprinkled over the ash from a herb bottle with fine nylon mesh cover.

A piece of A4 paper was then wafted over the surface to spread the ash evenly. Next, any loose ash was lightly brushed and vacuumed away. This actually removed quite a lot to the point where it looked like all was removed. But that is not the case. The ash is so fine it is not discernable but, gives a roughness to the touch like fine emery paper.

To Part 22.

To Part 1.  

Project 20 - 0 Gauge Layout - Part 20

The siding to the left of the paper mill is in practice a dead end that needs a buffer stop. However, if this were a real railway the siding would continue further along the quay side. I wanted to depict this but how?

 

The answer was to deploy a fixed wagon as the buffer stop. Not a complete wagon but a cut down version. I choose a cut down wagon because it gives more room in this short siding for train movements.

I find this approach quite amusing and enjoyed building the buffer-stop-wagon. In the photo above a 'vanwide' wagon is shown alongside. This I designed and 3D printed as a kit some time ago. It was a simple case of cutting the same parts in CAD, print and assemble. The buffer-stop-wagon is fully detailed, like its parent. It is fixed to the baseboard with a large flat head nail through its floor.

To Part 21.

To Part 1.

Project 20 - 0 Gauge Layout - Part 19

Back in December 2019 I bought a loco crew from the Guildford Gauge 0 guild trade show held in Reading, Berkshire for my Terrier locomotive . After sitting on the shelf for five months I was finally in the right frame of mind to paint them up and fit them to the loco.

They are from the Phoenix 43 Scale Miniatures range available from S and D Models. The guy on the left is supplied with separate head and arms and the guy on the right with separate head and shovel. Not sure why because there is only one suitable pose to apply.

The guy on the left was sold to me as a Driver but having assembled him he has a rather odd pose for a driver, don't you think.

 

Considering these are not 3D printed (noted for high definition) the definition is remarkable good with individual fingers clearly defined and well detailed facial features. They are moulded in pewter.

To Part 20.

To Part 1.