Greetings All, I haven't posted here in ages for no particular reason, just regular life getting in the way of more important things, like trains. I'm a rubber gauger, I work in standard and narrow gauge in HO and N scale, a little On3 & On30 (and some British OO9 & O14 for good measure). Anyway, here's a little Battery mine locomotive pulling 14 skips. It was cobbled together from an unpowered Scale Structures Ltd. kit and a power truck from an N scale Kato Portatram It runs pretty good and I was surprised it could pull this many skips. All credit goes to Kato for the mechanism, it's a gem. I'll update this thread as I go, any questions or criticism is welcome. -Cody
Thanks guys, The only credit I can take is noticing that two things might fit together. I think this is the smallest critter in my collection. I do love these tiny engines! More soon, -Cody
Another project in the works is converting a Bachmann cable car into an HOn3 crew car / combine sort of thing. It was the powered version that I bought to steal the power truck from and thought the shell would make an interesting project. I was going to make it standard gauge but was having clearance problems on the underside so decided narrow gauge was the way to go. Lots more to do with it but I like the proportions. It looks good behind my GE 23 ton boxcab. Thanks for looking! -Cody
Howdy All, Here's a little HOn30 speeder I've been working on lately: It's scratchbuilt over a tiny Japanese four wheel mechanism using as many bits from my parts bins as possible. The radiator is from a 1/72 scale armour kit, a Miniatures by Eric horn, Detail Associates steps and a white metal visor from a truck kit so far. Not to mention a handful of Grandt Line NBWs. The side door is made of paper. There's still much to be added, a bell and roof freight rack, a headlight, probably some canvas curtains in the doorway to keep the weather out (a windshield will be needed for that purpose as well), and whatever else I find in scrap bin that might fit. Eventually it'll get a coat of light yellow and be put into service. As always comments and criticism is welcome! -Cody
Kitbashing at it's finest right there-this looks awesome! What a cool little speeder, has it's own personality! I'm really into logging railroads here in the Pacific Northwest, and this looks just like something that'd be used on one of those lines. Probably need a matching flat tool car with tools, a couple ties, chains and all for working on the line.
Oskar, Like the mine car and love the little speeder! Nice scratch build and nice details. I love the little critters as well, and have been contemplating Nn3. Scott
Thanks everyone! Kurt, I like the Pacific Northwest logging stuff too. I have a few bits and pieces for eventually building a standard gauge logging line based (loosely) on the Oregon Lumber Company. Scott, I've dabbled in Nn3 but not really accomplished much, though I do really like the tinyness of it. I have a few pieces of rolling stock still that I haven't been able to get rid of ... -Cody
Here's a little diesel boxcab I built a while back. It's scribed styrene sheet with mostly Grandt Line and Detail Associates detail parts. It runs on an old Joeuf mechanism, that runs pretty good for its age. It'll get a final paint, lettering and weathering one of these days. -Cody
Cody, I really like this one. I was my favorite of your critters in the "Critter" thread on the Rail Line forum. Scott
Thanks Scott, it was a fun one to build, and the benefit of boxcabs is you can really fill them with weight so they tend to run and pull pretty good. I've added a few bits to my logging speeder, a bell and a light and got a start on the roof freight rack: Also started a trailer, which will be for ambulance service. I'll need a couple stretchers and first aid kits, and it'll get some red cross markings. Comments and criticism always welcome! -Cody
