I see there's been yet another enquiry about a De model in the comments on Darryl's DFT build. For those of you not on the yahoo group this has been cropping up since 2005, when someone was busy collecting drawings and was just doing the masters. Now personally I can't see the fascination with the loco; the photo's in the Railfan articles showed a loco that was not overly pretty from some angles and only really worked as a shunter. I'll admit it did look nice in the fruit salad scheme.
The main problem with building a model of a De is that there is no powered bogie I'm aware of that is remotely close. If anyone knows of anything usable ( The Minitrix H12-44 and the Farish class 20 are wrong sorry) the following criteria need to be met; bogie wheelbase of 20mm, and a bogie pivot spacing of 41mm (this one is negotiable).
Finally (again) we have the normal question; So whats everyone else doing. send us some pictures and we'll publish them, if only to give Darryl a break from slaving away at the modeling bench so he can enjoy the Long Island summer.
UPDATE; doing a bit of searching last night, and it seems to my Mk1 eyeball that the Dapol Hymek might have the right bogie wheelbase for donation. I'd like some confirmation though about either the models bogie wheelbase or the real things bogie wheelbase.
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8 comments:
Unfortunately, you only seem to have to mention "DE" and the rabid hordes descend again, and the air is turned blue with "I WANT AN AB!", "I WANT A DX!".....and eventually it dies down again and nothing has happened. I concur with KiwiBonds, the only way its going to happen is if somene does it out of the kindness of their heart, pays the 1-2K for the RP costs and expects to make a loss.
I was waiting for some one to say "De". Had to happen I suppose. No sooner had we finished reading a very fine bit of blogging on loco construction, when it had to be ruined by a De raising it's ugly head. Here's a challenge - if anyone wants one, then MAKE ONE !
If I can find a suitable chassis I would build two (one powered, one dummy)as I wish to model the 1954 Royal train. Can anybody please advise (noted re the previously suggested likely, but unsuitable chassis).
From memory there were about 20 registrations of interest in this ugly duckling about 18 months ago.
2 x Hollywood Foundry Bullant Gozunders - $120 for correct wheelbase and wheel diameter - and an etched shell for $100. Correct RP bogie frames might set one back $50 per set. The only thing stopping it happening until now is my lack of time, but redundancy has its uses ;-)
Excellent....so we can expect to see one by December?
Certainly dont understand the De thing - ugly suckers!
IMHO someone just needs to man up, shell out the moolah and RP a DA, DB, DBR, DF, DC, DX.....
Cost?? Meh... its a hobby. There are those amongst us who think nothing of spending $30k erecting a ned shed for the sole purpose of housing a model railroad, so why not spend $30k investing in RP-ing some masters that will benefit many??
:)
Perhaps I am too much of an idealist??
Drew
Hmm, to spend that much money I think I would have to take the lady of the house to Hawaii for 2 weeks or on a shoe shopping spree to Hong Kong (she has small feet)
The fullsize hymek was:
Bogie wheelbase 10' 6"
Bogies centred at 25' 6"
Wheels 3' 9"
Hope that helps - it also assumes that Marsden and fenn BR Main Line Diesel locos is correct which can be a stretch at times.
Kev
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