All Critters Great And Small

6/26/2014
ALL CRITTERS GREAT AND SMALL
(SOME NOT SO BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL!)
Phil Gliebe
NMRA National Convention
Cleveland, Ohio
With Apologies to James Herriot !
July 14th, 2014
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
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Motivation
Scales and Gauges
HOn30 Critters
On30 Critters
Some “big” Critters
Parting Thoughts
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MOTIVATION
Inspired by narrow gauge logging, mining, quarry
applications
 Provide motive power for a narrow gauge branch
line to existing standard gauge layout
 Build models that aren’t available off the shelf
 Personalize for your railroad
 Make reliability and maintainability important
features – choose smooth running mechanisms,
design them to easily be easily taken apart for
maintenance
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6/26/2014
SCALES AND GAUGES
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HOn30 – HO scale (1/87) narrow gauge with a
“scaled” 30 inch track gauge
N-gauge track is approximately 30 inches in full
scale when using an HO scale factor – 87:1
On30 – O scale (1/48) narrow gauge with a
“scaled” 30 inch track gauge
HO-gauge track is approximately 30 inches in full
scale when using an O-scale factor – 48:1
It’s great fun to dream up narrow gauge locomotive
concepts in HO scale using N-scale locomotive
drive mechanisms, or in O scale using HO-scale
mechanisms – That’s what this clinic is all about!
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HON30 CRITTERS I’VE BUILT
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Need locomotive designs for narrow gauge applications – industrial, quarry,
mining, and logging, for example.
Five designs developed:
 0-4-0 Plymouth Diesel Critter
 0-6-0 Caterpillar Diesel Critter
 0-6-0 Plymouth Twin Diesel Critters
 British “Hybrid” Diesel Critter
 “Down & Dirty” Diesel Critter
 4-axle Center Cab “Big” Critter
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DIESEL “CRITTER” 0-4-0 LOCOMOTIVE
Uses an N-Scale Bachmann 0-4-0 Docksider
Steam Locomotive Mechanism
 Chassis/Frame built using Styrene Strip
 Added a Funero & Camerlengo Plymouth
Switcher “Flat Car Load” kit for superstructure
and miscellaneous parts
 My first attempt at kit-bashing a locomotive,
but not the best-running locomotive !
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HON30 CRITTER – STARTING POINT
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Bachmann N-scale
“Docksider” Chassis
F&C dummy Plymouth
switcher kit
Styrene strip
Microtrains N-scale
couplers
F&C frame trimmed, styrene strip added to allow tight fit of
Bachmann chassis into frame. New end beam assemblies made
from styrene strip with coupler pockets to hold MT couplers.
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HON30 CRITTER – CHASSIS DETAILS
Note – pistons, drive rods and side
rods were removed from Bachmann
Chassis, and lead weight added to
nose of F&C cab.
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HON30 CRITTER - ASSEMBLY DETAILS
Hole for motor
shaft clearance
All assembly done with drilled and tapped holes for 2-56 machine screws
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HON30 CRITTER - ASSEMBLY DETAILS,
CONT’D.
Details added from
“scrap box” – headlight, muffler,
air tank, tool box, etc.
Final locomotive can be
disassembled easily for
maintenance and repair
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DIESEL CRITTER LESSONS LEARNED….
Don’t use a Bachmann N-scale 0-4-0
mechanism! This mechanism runs well at two
speeds: zero and fast – not a good switch
engine!
 Find a mechanism that has smooth, slowrunning characteristics
 Make sure the locomotive is adequately
weighted
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HON30 0-6-0 DIESEL SWITCHER
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Chassis Starting Point – Lifelike 0-6-0T N scale
Locomotive – much better running mechanism!
Used an N-Scale Life
Like 0-6-0T mechanism
and build a styrene
frame around it. Side
rods retained per some
prototype “critters”
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Funero & Camerlengo “Caterpillar” Diesel Flat Car
Load used for cab/hood, end beams and end
steps, etc.
See article in Railroad Model Craftsman, March
2011, for details
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6/26/2014
THE 0-6-0 DIESEL SWITCHER, CONT’D.
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Modified Funero & Camerlengo Diesel Switcher
Dummy Kit to fit the new Chassis
Added Microtrains N-scale 1023 couplers
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0-6-0 DIESEL SWITCHER LOCOMOTIVE
SUB-ASSEMBLIES
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0-6-0 SWITCHER COMPLETED LOCOMOTIVE
• Added handrails
• Added Bell and
horn
• Added headlight
• Glazed windows
• Painted MILW
Orange
• Light weathering
• Added figures
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6/26/2014
0-6-0 SWITCHER COMPLETED
LOCOMOTIVE, CONT’D.
Decorated as a “could-have-been”
modernized power unit for the
Milwaukee Road Narrow Gauge
Line, formerly the Bellevue and
Cascade Railroad
Mechanism runs well, has good
slow-running performance
needed for switching operations
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TWIN PLYMOUTHS
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Inspired to build a twin Plymouth locomotive set for
“could-have-been” replacement of Forneys on a
Maine 2-ft. railroad (for the Great Lakes HOn30
modular Layout)
Bachmann MDT Plymouth N-Scale mechanism has
good running properties, compact, would be a good
replacement for the Bachmann 0-4-0 mechanism
Funero & Camerlengo Plymouth “flat car load”
shells chosen as basis for bodies
See article in Railroad Model Craftsman, February
2014, for details
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TWIN PLYMOUTH CHASSIS & BODY
Chassis built of
styrene, press fit
over mechanism
Body cab cut away
to clear motor
Cab extension built
from sheet styrene
to cover motor
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6/26/2014
THE COMPLETED MODELS
“BERT & ERNIE”
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Painted Pullman Green, lightly weathered
Numbered 5 and 6 for “Bert” and “Ernie,” respectively
Hand rails made from 0.015 bronze wire
Added rear tool box, window glazing, horns, bells and
headlights
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BERT & ERNIE ON THE JOB!
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BRITISH “HYBRID” CRITTER
Inspired by an article in Railway Modeller
Magazine, March 2013, published by Peco in
England
 Utilizes the Bachmann MDT 0-6-0 N Scale
Plymouth as basis
 New cab, end beams, radiator, muffler and
exhaust were made of styrene
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RM CRITTER – THE BEGINNINGS
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RM CRITTER NEW CAB BUILD
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Styrene cab made from 0.020” sheet styrene
Has both inner and outer side walls to provide door and window
Existing body cab was cut off above the window line
Cab fits over existing body casting
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RM CRITTER – ADDED DETAILS
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Side rails made from styrene I-beam stock
New end beams made from styrene
NBW castings added to end beams
New radiator made from styrene strip and sheet stock
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RM CRITTER FINAL DETAILS
• Sprayed with primer undercoat
• Brush-painted using acrylic
craft paints – green, red, black,
yellow
• Weathered using dry-brushing
and thin washes
• Added a Driver
• Exhaust made from styrene
tubing and sprue leftovers
• Added headlight and horn
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THE COMPLETED “BRITISH HYBRID”
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A “DOWN & DIRTY” CRITTER
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A partially built body, somewhat warped and distorted,
that originally came as a kit by Mocalova Model Works,
no longer in business, and given to me as a “gift”???
(Okay, smarty, let’s see if you can do anything with this!”)
I discovered that it fits on a Bachmann MDT Plymouth
0-6-0 N scale mechanism!
Became a “guinea pig” for practicing “old, beat-up look”
weathering!
Had to remove existing end beams and fabricate new
ones from strip styrene, unwarp the poorly assembled
body.
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6/26/2014
0-6-0 “DOWN & DIRTY” CRITTER
• Added new exhaust stack from styrene tubing
• Added hand rails made from Phosphor-Bronze wire
• Added cab steps from scrap ladder stock, new end beams from
styrene, and cab horn from scrap box
• Weathered look applied using thinned washes and dry-brushing
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A “BIG” LITTLE CRITTER
Decided to try a 4-axle HOn30 locomotive
center-cab diesel
 Mechanism: Atlas GP-9 N-scale chassis
 Body: Two F&C Caterpillar switcher shells
 Scratch-built styrene frame
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CONCEPT BEGINNINGS
N-scale GP-9 shell removed, cab from one shell cut off,
frame and deck to be built from styrene sheet and strip
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CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Frame and deck made of 0.040” styrene sheet, framed
and stiffened with strip, side rails made of I-beam strip.
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CONSTRUCTION DETAILS, CONT’D.
Body shell and extra hood mated,
new windows made in rear of cab to
match front, assembly mated to
frame and chassis
Hand rails made from bronze wire,
steps from brass ladder stock. F&C
end beams installed, end steps
made from styrene strip.
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HON30 (“ALMOST”) COMPLETED MODEL
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6/26/2014
ON30 CRITTERS I’VE BUILT
Motivated by a fascination with On30 and the
availability of conversion kits for locomotives
and rolling stock.
 So far, I’ve built the following:
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2-Axle end cab critter
4-axle center cab “big” critter
British hybrid diesel critter
Steam Dummy Critter
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ON30 2-AXLE END CAB CRITTER
Mechanism – Bachmann HO 44 Ton switcher
power truck (older version with two motors)
 Body – Boulder Valley Models “Mega Midget”
conversion kit
 Added features – exhaust pipe, bell, horns,
headlight, engineer, radiator, tool box, etc.
 Pretty much built per BVM instructions, but
forgot to take pictures of intermediate steps!
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ON30 2-AXLE END CAB CRITTER – FINISHED MODEL
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6/26/2014
ON30 2-AXLE CRITTER COMPLETED MODEL, CONT’D.
First attempt at a
detailed interior
 O scale is BIG!
 I can actually see all
the details I added!
 Very pleased with
Boulder Valley model
kits, had to try more,
so……
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ON30 4-AXLE CENTER CAB “BIG” CRITTER
Mechanism – Bachmann HO 44 Ton Switcher
(later model with single motor)
 Body – Boulder Valley Models Center Cab
Critter conversion kit
 Added features – hand rails, radiators, exhaust
pipes, headlights, horns, bell, engineer &
conductor, tool boxes, re-railers, coils of rope,
shovels, etc.
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ON30 4-AXLE CENTERCAB CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Remove cab, end beams,
skirts, etc. – build new
deck
Add BVM end
beams, styrene,
I-beam side rails
BVM cab, styrene
radiators & headlight
housings
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6/26/2014
ON30 4-AXLE CENTER CAB FINISHED MODEL
• Exhausts from styrene tubing
• Handrails made from Phosphorbronze wire
• Horns & Bell from BVM detail parts
• Added tool boxes and tools,
coils of wire, rerailers, etc.
• Added engineer & conductor
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BRITISH “HYBRID” ON30 CRITTER
Since Bachmann makes the MDT Plymouth in
both N and HO scale, it stands to reason that
the Railway Modeller article critter for HOn30
could also be made in On30, right?
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RM ON30 CRITTER CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
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Mechanism – Bachmann HO MDT Plymouth Chassis
Body – kit bash using scratch-built cab, frame, end
beams, radiator, etc.
Added features – exhaust pipe & muffler, engineer,
tool box, hand rails, horn, bell, etc.
Disassembly was easier, cab
snaps off, no need to saw it
off as was the case for the
HOn30 conversion.
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CONSTRUCTION DETAILS, CONT’D.
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Drew cab parts on
a sheet of 0.040”
styrene, scaled to
O-scale size. Cut
out windows and
door openings
before cutting
“parts apart.”
Tip: I found it easier to score along the outline of
an opening, but then cut diagonals across the
opening, and then snap out the resulting triangles.
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CONSTRUCTION DETAILS, CONT’D.
 Added styrene I-beam
strip stock to frame sides
 Framed all window and
door openings with
0.030” strip styrene
 Fabricated new end
beams from styrene strip
and sheet material, added
NBW castings
 Note that cab has inner and outer side walls that simulate recessed
doors
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COMPONENT ASSEMBLY DETAILS
 Cab shell assembled to hood
casting
 End beams and end steps
installed
 Cab side outer walls installed
 New Radiator fabricated from
styrene strip, tubing and sheet
in place
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COMPONENT DETAILS
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RM ON30 CRITTER “ALMOST” FINISHED MODEL
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A STEAM DUMMY CRITTER
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Inspired by old photos of steam dummies, a steam
locomotive in “Horse Trolley Clothes!”
Decided to make one by kit-bashing a Banta Model
Works “Crew Speeder” kit
Uses a Bachmann On30 Davenport Gas-Mechanical
locomotive mechanism
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6/26/2014
PROTOTYPE EXAMPLES
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STEAM DUMMY BEGINNINGS
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CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Body Shell built per instructions, except rear doors were cut out
to have them in the open position, corner gussets added at top
to square assembly and provide mounting for removable roof.
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6/26/2014
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS, CONT’D.
Original motor cover was replaced with
a simulated boiler/saddle-tank made
from styrene, added steam dome and
smoke stack castings, as well as
smoke box door and back-head
castings.
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FINAL CONSTRUCTION & ASSEMBLY
 Body shell bolted to
mechanism chassis
with 2-56 screws,
drilled and tapped
 Boiler/Saddle-tank
assembly snaps into
place
 Doors glued in place
 Engineer “installed”
 Roof assembly held
down by 0-80
screws to corner
gussets
Body shell painted dark green with red trim using craft
acrylic paints, lightly weathered using dry-brushing and
diluted black washes
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COMPLETED STEAM DUMMY MODEL
Added details: Whistle (scratch built
from styrene), bell & cord, hand rails
from bronze wire, front & rear pilots,
sign boards, decals, coal bin, etc.
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6/26/2014
TURTLE CREEK STEAM DUMMY HARD AT WORK!
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ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
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N-gauge and HO-gauge Mechanisms come and go –
need to be flexible in designing a kit-bash around a
given mechanism
Look for mechanisms with smooth, slow-running
behavior
When kit-bashing, “Cut and Try” works best for me –
take one step at a time. If proceeding to the next step
looks daunting, set the project aside and let it “cook”
for a while – ideas will come!
Make the locomotive mechanism easily removable and
replaceable – I usually drill and tap and fasten things
together with miniature machine screws.
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ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS, CONT’D.
 You don’t have to build an entire narrow gauge
layout. You can build a narrow gauge branch line
to your existing standard gauge layout:
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Logging Railway – Logs, Pulpwood, etc.
Quarry tram – Slate, Marble, Gravel, etc.
Ore tram – Gold, Silver, Copper, etc.
Mining tram – Coal, etc.
 On the other hand, if you have an N-scale or HO
scale st’d. gauge layout and are thinking of
changing to something else, try an HOn30 or On30
locomotive or two and a few cars on it to see if
you might like switching to narrow gauge!
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6/26/2014
The End
Phil Gliebe
July 2014
SUGGESTIONS AND QUESTIONS
ARE WELCOME!
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