Darryls comments last on polishing excreta got me thinking about dressing up other things to make them look more correct. The first case is the good old peco 15' underframe. We as a scale have been using these for 38 years now, and I'm still surprised that nothing better has come along. Fresh out of the box they don't look too bad.
(as an aside, does anyone know who made these? The more I looking at them, The more I'm starting to think that they are John Rappards work, especially the writing on the wagons which does look like his style)Unfortunately they look nothing like the standard 13' underframe. Folks, it's polishing time. The subject of the modifications is a Kp made and painted (very nicely I might add) by Darryl which I acquired during his last visit. he had helpfully removes all the brake levers etc, just leaving the brake shoes by the wheels. This is not a trivial job and you should be very careful about removing the castings as they are quite thick, and its not hard to cut an axlebox off as well. you have been warned...
Many moons ago I made up a master for the headstocks, brake cylinder, brake lever and brake hanger for my Lc's. These are a bugger to cast in resin as they are just so fine ( and I'm sorry that I can't sell them as they are just to delicate). However you should be able to make up your own from plastic or brass strip. Remember that we are only trying to give the impression of what is there, not a detailed representation. Its sort of like the difference between a painting in watercolours or oils vs a photograph. However I think it makes a vast improvement for what we are trying to model, and its worth the extra effort.
(as an aside, does anyone know who made these? The more I looking at them, The more I'm starting to think that they are John Rappards work, especially the writing on the wagons which does look like his style)
3 comments:
"Remember that we are only trying to give the impression of what is there, not a detailed representation."
The photo of the Kp shows this emphatically. At normal viewing distances and angles, most of it is hidden in shadow. Nice painting, BTW....
doing the brake gear as part of a cast chassis would be the go methinks.
How did trackside make up there chassis?
Our nz120 kits are made up of a flat floor with 2 sideframes and brake cylinder and lever, as basic detail. Not difficult to put together as a subassembly. Made a couple with one sideframe, then painted everything before putting second sideframe on with wheels. Not forgeting to clear out bearing holes(which I drilled deeper).
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