An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - 5.5mm and 7/8th narrow gauge modelling

While conducting research on both 18 inch narrow gauge railways and obtaining information and inspiration for my planned narrow gauge shelf layout or 'micro layout' I have come across a number of interesting sites and pieces of information that I will be using as part of this long-term project.

Firstly, my chosen scale of 1:27.7 or 11mm = 1 foot is exactly twice as big as the recognised narrow gauge scale of 5.5mm = 1 foot for details see this link. It is almost exactly half as big as another modelling scale - 7/8th = 1 foot and for details of this combination see this link. 7/8th is just over 22mm = 1 foot.

I also spotted this 1/25th scale narrow gauge layout running on 16.5mm track on this site. see Castle Works Shed. Which reinforces my belief that the 11mm = 1 foot option is a goer as well as giving me the push to produce a 'tuning fork' layout (a simple layout with just one turnout or switch) for more information see this link.

Then earlier this week I found a video link/interview that talked to Carl Arendt the founder of a railway modelling group that concentrates on Micro Layouts. For details see this You Tube link.

So the plans are firming up. A 1:27.7th scale narrow gauge layout with scratch built terrain and scenery as well as modified or scratch built engines and rolling stock running on 16.5mm Peco 'crazy track', all compounded into a micro layout about 4 feet square.

If only there were eight days in a week or 25 hours to a day!

Stay tuned for future updates.

Tony

Aircraft of the Fighting Powers - a charity shop find

Sue and I had a morning at Avoncroft Museum yesterday and after we had browsed the display buildings and exhibitions we drove into Bromsgrove where Sue found this second hand marvel - Aircraft of the Fighting Powers volume V from 1944.

It was for sale at just £1.99 in a charity shop.

Over 70 fully illustrated and beautifully drawn scale plans with accompanying details - a real bargain. Here are just a few of the scale drawings included in this book.

Tony

Von Mohnblume Line - part three

I added Milliput to the 2p coins to blend in the metal bases. As you can see I have added small Milliput stones to the groundwork as well as a tiny piece of customisation - Milliput buttons to the Pugs uniform cuffs.

Tony

Von Mohnblume Line - part two

Part one - The miniatures needed very little cleaning up so I sanded the base bottoms smooth and mounted them on to 2p coins with superglue and accelerator. This is my preferred basing style and my only concern was should I have used a 1p coin (as the little Pugs are not that tall). I choose to stay with the more usual 2p.

The figures were sculpted by Rob Alderman  of Hysterical Games and are available in various configurations from Alternative Armies. I choose the Skirmish Pack of 10 random miniatures.

The next step is to detail the bases.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - test #8 - the first driver figure

The Feldbahn featured in this earlier post needed a driver, a 1:27.7 scale miniature that would fit into the cab and look like he was actually driving the engine. I used a 1/35th scale tanker that I had seen in Military Modelling as inspiration for the pose and started the sculpt.

Image Two - The converted miniature showing the original cream plastic, Milliput and Green Stuff that was used in the conversion.

Image Three - The mini at the same stage of construction, shown from the rear. This figure is clothed in a one-piece boiler suit, rather than dungarees (as seen on the earlier figures see this post for more details).

Image Four - The nearly completed figure alongside the original 1:24th scale plastic figure that was bought from e-bay.

Image Five - The finished driver. Note the long sleeves and the flat cap now undercoated in grey acrylic paint.

Image Six - Engine Driver No.1 fully painted, although, I'm not happy with the gloss sheen. I think I will have to 'matt it' down.

Image Seven - And the final image, the driver figure doing his job. The figure is NOT glued into the cab, but just placed there so that I can A - still modify the Feldbahn (narrow gauge engine) if needed, B - re-paint him with matt varnish and/or C - Have him cast in resin by Rob Alderman at Hysterical Games. Should any reader be interested in purchasing this or the earlier three 1:27.7 scale figures, please contact me at;
dampfpanzerwagon@yahoo.co.uk

Tony

The Von Mohnblume Pugs

My latest purchase from Alternative Armies has arrived. The Von Mohnblume Pugs sculpted by Rob Alderman. For full details of this new regiment see this link.

I picked up the ten miniature Skirmish Pack on pre-release special offer. The cute little miniatures are full of character and I'll be basing them very soon.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - test #7 - painting the loco

With the construction finished, I sprayed the whole engine with Makes Paint Stick (a clear lacquer that is designed for undercoating plastic garden furniture) then undercoated with Halfords grey primer, an undercoat that I believe to be one of the very best available. Remember to buy the plastic primer!!!!!

The bulk of the painting was done with a small portion of sponge, the sponge that is used as packing material for miniatures. I break off a piece and then holding it in a pair of tweezers, I dab on progressively lighter colours - a bit like drybrushing, but using a sponge. I find that this gives a much better transition than using a brush.

The red buffers were painted with an enamel base or undercoat - I find that enamel red is so much better than acrylic red and then highlight with acrylic paint and washes.

The cab interior was painted with two or three coats of watered-down white acrylic paint and then washed with a light grey wash to dirty it up a little.

Weathering was done with some drybrushing, but mainly washes and the rust colours were mixed from various browns and oranges and applied with a No. 2 detailing brush.

When the painting was finished, I spray painted on another light coat of Matt varnish and after painting the areas where the SPA CO LTD would go with Future (Klear in the US) I used White Letraset to add the lettering.

The model was once again matt varnished before final weathering was applied. This was once again done with washes, remembering to drag the washes in a downward direction to mimic rain water streaks. Then I brushed on some rust powders to the rust areas to help define some of the detailing.

In this final image - showing the sculpted driver (more on this figure later), I have used a 7B pencil to add some graphite to the lower running area.

I still need to add the clear plastic card windows, but this can wait until later.

The Feldbahn engine was great fun to both model and paint. I would like to say that it is a great runner, but the Horby 'Smokey Joe' 0-4-0 mechanism is damaged and I will need to buy and modify a second, before I can get it running on some test track.

For more details and posts about this 1:27.7 (or 11mm = 1 foot) Narrow Gauge Adventure please use the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony