7mm Narrow Gauge O-16.5

With Latton Street now having dust covers put on as it's been far too cold in the garage since mid November, thought I'd have a go at something new.

I've been thinking for months I'd quite like to do something in narrow gauge, and although I briefly dabbled in 009 many many years ago, it was seeing a picture of a 009 loco balance on somebody's finger that made me think it really is to small for me now.

Inspired by Ron's On30 tread and various 7mm Narrow Gauge layouts I've seen around the web I thought I'd have a go at a few kits in O-16.5, something I can do indoors for the next few months until it's warm enough to get back out in the garage.



While waiting for the loco body kit to be delivered, I built a scaled up version of the Scaelscenes Small Goods Store, just to get some idea of size.

Bit of a bodge job as I don't think I've used the right thickness of card and I'm not very good at card building kits. There are plenty of far far better examples pictured around the web, but at least I now know this stuff is BIG.

Comparison.



Just finished one of the Peco wagon kits and decided buffers was the way to go.



Not painted yet and I've messed up a bit as I've removed the lowest two rivets on the left hand side of the body, not realising the hand brake went on the other end

Working on one of the the two Smallbrook Studio loco kits I've bought, ‘AURA'.



I bought this one as an afterthought after already ordering ‘ECHO' which is a full body kit, but thought I'd do this first as it's only really a new cab and chimney.

More as it happens.

Ed

 

Been filing/sanding off the moulded on hand rails etc. and have just glued the cab to the chassis (it was loose in the picture).

Now got to get the chimney on ........................................... straight

Ed

 

From what I've read Ron, the Talyllyn is one of the few NG railways to use buffers and chains like standard gauge. A lot use a centre buffer/coupling, think they're called Norwegian or Chopper.

I was thinking Kadee, but they don't really look right to me on four wheeled wagons and would be a pain to fit to the Hornby chassis, so I think I'll stick with small tension lock whick look a bit like chopper couplings anyway.

I've fitted the funnel and put some filler along the side of the tanks where they meet the spectacle plate.





The bottom of the spectacle plate and the back of the firebox attached to it inside the cab has to be sanded/filed to accommodate the motor housing. Anyone with a Hornby pug will know what I mean.

Unfortunately I was a bit over zealous with the file and there is a gap where the top of the boiler meets the spectacle plate, behind the dome in the next picture.



It's the dark bit (I've actually put pencil on it).

Plan to cut a rectangle piece of styrene to go right across the front of the spectacle plate about 5mm high to hide it.

Now waiting for the filler to dry.

Ed

PS I am enjoying it Pete, there's something rather satisfying in hacking a Hornby 0-4-0 body about and making it into something totally different

 

Slow progress....





I'd forgotten that to do any spraying with rattle cans, I'd have to go out in the garage and we seem to have had more dark, cold, wet and windy January days than over the last few years....

......... or perhaps I'm just getting old

Ed

 

Thanks Ron.

Cab roof isn't stuck on yet as I'm waiting to add a driver, but he's only half painted.

Ed

 

Have done some track laying.

Just thinking about raising the standard gauge line a bit and having a chute to load the narrow gauge wagons.

 

Glad to be back Toto.

New forum looks good, if a little different

I'm sure everybody will soon get used to it.

 

Just DC for the moment Ian.

I have managed to get N gauge decoders in Hornby pugs before, but with the changes to the bodywork I think it would be very difficult to find space for a decoder in this one.

 

Just building the next two wagon kits and got to the point of drilling hole for the buffers.

(Wagon floors are in the foreground below)

I've decided to go without buffers and removed them from the wagon I had already built and the loco.

Don't know why but the loco looks better to me without buffers, sort of cries out 'Narrow Gauge'.


Ed