Here is a quick video about what happened in 2017 and whats in store for 2018
Enjoy, Scott
Saturday, December 30, 2017
2017 in review and whats in store for 2018 for the Barcoola site
Hi All
Here is a quick video about what happened in 2017 and whats in store for 2018
Enjoy, Scott
Here is a quick video about what happened in 2017 and whats in store for 2018
Enjoy, Scott
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Top 10 things that make Australian Model Railways what they are today
Hi All
I usually do a round up of the year, Aussie modeling wise, but this year I decided to do something a little different. So here is my top 10 things that make Australian Model railways what they are today.
Sorry about my ugly mug.
Scott
I usually do a round up of the year, Aussie modeling wise, but this year I decided to do something a little different. So here is my top 10 things that make Australian Model railways what they are today.
Sorry about my ugly mug.
Scott
Saturday, December 23, 2017
A list of Australian outline HO scale models produced in 2017
Hi All
I thought that I would list out the HO scale models that were produced this year for the Australian Modelling public. This means that they are new products not re-runs or repaints.
Austrains
VR J concrete wagon.
Auscision.
Car carrying wagons, NSW VIC SA
SCT Fuel gins
NQYY
CP guards van
NSW V class double deck interurban EMU sets
NCOF coil steel wagons.
Bergs Hobbies.
NSW S sets double deck suburban EMUs
Haskell - Weskie models.
1720 class locomotive.
On Track Models
PTC V/line sprinter DMUs
SDS models
SAR SOC AN AOQF Ore wagons.
Railex, Brambles 40ft containers.
NSW ARX NGUX Cement wagons.
NSW S open wagons.
NSW JHG Guards van.
VR FX bulk flour wagons.
VQFX with rails flat wagons
RQTY container flat wagons.
Southern Rail Models
XGAY grain hoppers.
10 class steam engine
So it's nineteen new HO Scale models for this year.
It's interesting to note that it's seems that SDS models is the most prolific for this year, with eight new models this year. well done SDS!
I feel a little sorry for Auscision, they are a fair few models short this year. However they did do a number of reruns.
Below is an extract From their February 2017 post.
As of today, these models didn't make it in 2017.
Current Projects
48/830 Class
As mentioned above we have been having a little trouble obtaining workers for the production line - this project is currently our biggest project ever! We need as much production capability as possible to finish the many different versions, liveries, and road numbers for each model. Our factory advises 3rd Quarter 2017 for delivery and are trying their best to pull this in. Because we now have a little bit of extra time up our sleeves Auscision is going to offer everyone that has pre-ordered 48/830 Class models the opportunity to add factory fitted DC/DCC ESU Sound to their models for an additional $100.00. We will be sending out letters to everyone that has 48/830 Class models on order and offering this as a once only chance to add it to your model. It will be important that you read the conditions outlined in the letter as you will only have one chance at adding sound to your order, and once the cut-off date has passed you will no longer be able to add sound to models on your order. Letters will go out in April - please wait until you receive this letter before requesting the sound option.
442 Class
The 442 Class is now expected 3rd Quarter 2017. This has unfortunately been pushed back a little as outlined above.
RUB Cars
RUB Car painted samples are also expected soon with production now expected around 3rd Quarter 2017.
Fishbelly Underframe Wagons
The factory is currently working on painted samples which we should receive soon. Production is expected late in 2017.
XGAY Hopper
We are still waiting on tooling samples for the XGAY hopper. A few modifications had to be made so it has pushed it back a little. Delivery now expected 3rd Quarter 2017.
Tangara
Due to the above complex projects 48/830 & 442 Classes the Tangara has been pushed back until late 2017. Once again we appreciate everyone’s patience with this project. It is definitely still coming and will be a great model when it arrives.
Let's see what 2018 has in store for us.
Enjoy, Scott
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Proposed small layout Andoom QLD Comalco Rio Tinto Buxite mining railway.
Hi All
While giving some thought to other small layouts to go with my airline transport concept.
The current foot print established and to fit in my current train room is, an L shaped layout, 17ft by 14" wide and a 8ft by 7" visible staging area.
One such concept is Andoom QLD, Andoom is the mine end of the Weipa based Comalco now Rio Tintos Bauxite hauling mining railway.
I found some videos on youtube, that might be of interest.
The first video is a promo of the operation in the mid to late 1970s, all in original livery.
This is more current operations with R.1005 and R.1006
There are good images and lots of modeling info on the Comalco railway operations in Weipa at:
David Heads railpage with shots of trains around 1983.
Toad Montgomerys page around 1995.
So here is an image of the loader.
here is an image of the mine road over the line and the heavy equipment roll on roll off end loading siding.
Just down the road there is this smaller bridge. I find that a bridge is a perfect visual block for a short yard.
An example of the bridge construction.
Operations at Andoom are fairly simple, a indexing arm issued to position empty cars under the loader, the entire train is loaded by the indexing arm. When a empty train arrives, it positions the empty rake for the indexing arm, cuts off and pushes the loaded rake clear, up the dead end, throws the switch back to the mainline and runs around the empty rake and the loader.
From David Heads webpage there is a track diagram of Andoom.
While the indexing arm is a great feature, I am not sure it needs to be modeled working. Faithfully modeling the railway operations this way would require two rakes of wagons, thus double the amount of rolling stock. however you, could model it with the Autojacks being repaired, and introduce a more traditional loading pattern.
Having said that, here is a video of the "auto jacks" in action.
However there is another operational feature, the transportation of mining equipment from Andoom to Lorim Point, this seems to happen on a fairly regular basis. Now this would be interesting if you added the ore operations as well.
Here are some other pictures of haul packs around the mine.
Here is some pictures of the two basic wagons types, from Toads page.
To keep the air up, some wagons are fitted with compressors and high capacity main reservoirs,
Another interesting feature is that you could model different eras, without the need to change the rolling stock, as the same ore wagons have been in operation since it started.
R.1001, to R.1003, in the blue.
R.1001, to R.1003, in the Orange.
R.1001, R.1004 in the yellow.
R.1005 and R.1006 in the yellow.
Time has not changed much around Andoom so you could easily get away with a quick era change.
Modelling points:
Triangles are not used for loading or dumping thus saves valuable modeling realestate.
One or two locomotives is all you need to model this operation.
Bridge just east of Andoom could be kit bashed from sections of the BLMA bridge.
Ore wagons could be kit bashed from an Auscision Coal hopper. By removing the centre cell.
Locomotives, R.1001 and R.1002.
Both Haskell and SRM make a model of the GT26C, however Haskell offer an undecorated model, and the Haskell model is 80 AUD cheaper, than the SRM.
You will also need a C class body, and Austrains has had this model in production for a long time, so you should be able to find this on Ebay no dramas.
R.1003 from a Kato model. Retired model but you can still get them on Ebay no dramas.
R.1004, this again will be a kit bashing job, and an Auscision N class is a good start, again retired model at this time, but I am sure you can snaffle one, I published a post awhile back how to kit-bash one using an N class, parts from an SD50 - SD60 and the long hood from a On Track Models 82 class long hood, you can view that here.
R.1005 and R.1006, I have not contemplated it but it would be a fairly heavy kit bash of an On Track Models 82 class, noted this model is also listed as retired, but they are contemplating a re-run.
Anyhow, I hope this gives you a little inspiration to look at modeling a small slice of Northern Queensland.
Scott
While giving some thought to other small layouts to go with my airline transport concept.
The current foot print established and to fit in my current train room is, an L shaped layout, 17ft by 14" wide and a 8ft by 7" visible staging area.
One such concept is Andoom QLD, Andoom is the mine end of the Weipa based Comalco now Rio Tintos Bauxite hauling mining railway.
I found some videos on youtube, that might be of interest.
The first video is a promo of the operation in the mid to late 1970s, all in original livery.
This is more current operations with R.1005 and R.1006
There are good images and lots of modeling info on the Comalco railway operations in Weipa at:
David Heads railpage with shots of trains around 1983.
Toad Montgomerys page around 1995.
So here is an image of the loader.
here is a close up of the loader, from David heads site.
here is an image of the mine road over the line and the heavy equipment roll on roll off end loading siding.
Just down the road there is this smaller bridge. I find that a bridge is a perfect visual block for a short yard.
An example of the bridge construction.
Operations at Andoom are fairly simple, a indexing arm issued to position empty cars under the loader, the entire train is loaded by the indexing arm. When a empty train arrives, it positions the empty rake for the indexing arm, cuts off and pushes the loaded rake clear, up the dead end, throws the switch back to the mainline and runs around the empty rake and the loader.
From David Heads webpage there is a track diagram of Andoom.
While the indexing arm is a great feature, I am not sure it needs to be modeled working. Faithfully modeling the railway operations this way would require two rakes of wagons, thus double the amount of rolling stock. however you, could model it with the Autojacks being repaired, and introduce a more traditional loading pattern.
Having said that, here is a video of the "auto jacks" in action.
However there is another operational feature, the transportation of mining equipment from Andoom to Lorim Point, this seems to happen on a fairly regular basis. Now this would be interesting if you added the ore operations as well.
Here are some other pictures of haul packs around the mine.
Here is some pictures of the two basic wagons types, from Toads page.
To keep the air up, some wagons are fitted with compressors and high capacity main reservoirs,
R.1001, to R.1003, in the blue.
R.1001, to R.1003, in the Orange.
R.1001, R.1004 in the yellow.
R.1005 and R.1006 in the yellow.
Time has not changed much around Andoom so you could easily get away with a quick era change.
Modelling points:
Triangles are not used for loading or dumping thus saves valuable modeling realestate.
One or two locomotives is all you need to model this operation.
Bridge just east of Andoom could be kit bashed from sections of the BLMA bridge.
Ore wagons could be kit bashed from an Auscision Coal hopper. By removing the centre cell.
Locomotives, R.1001 and R.1002.
Both Haskell and SRM make a model of the GT26C, however Haskell offer an undecorated model, and the Haskell model is 80 AUD cheaper, than the SRM.
You will also need a C class body, and Austrains has had this model in production for a long time, so you should be able to find this on Ebay no dramas.
R.1003 from a Kato model. Retired model but you can still get them on Ebay no dramas.
R.1004, this again will be a kit bashing job, and an Auscision N class is a good start, again retired model at this time, but I am sure you can snaffle one, I published a post awhile back how to kit-bash one using an N class, parts from an SD50 - SD60 and the long hood from a On Track Models 82 class long hood, you can view that here.
R.1005 and R.1006, I have not contemplated it but it would be a fairly heavy kit bash of an On Track Models 82 class, noted this model is also listed as retired, but they are contemplating a re-run.
Anyhow, I hope this gives you a little inspiration to look at modeling a small slice of Northern Queensland.
Scott
Friday, December 1, 2017
Proposed future layout Kanandah NSW
Hi All
With Murray River Bridge on the home straight, my thoughts have turned to the next big layout.
Concept: Kanandah NSW, AN Broken Hill line.
This is based around the west end of Broken Hill, from Gypsum Street overpass to half way through Kanandah, the first SAR built crossing loop west of Broken Hill.
Named Kanandah in 1974, serves a multiple functions,and there are two industrial "branches"
1. An Oil branch with Mobil, Shell, BP and Caltex all served.
2. Sheep and Cattle sidings.
3. AN and SRA used this location for locomotive fueling.
Silverton Tramways: South mine.
Thanks to SDS releasing the AOQF we can now effectively model Broken Hills South Mine.
The load out has some great trackage, and operationally its very labour intensive.
rakes of wagons have to be shuffled between the yard and the mine.
The layout would use the fiddle yard I built for Murray River Bridge, and would have the same foot print as Murray River bridge with the addition of three more boards for the South Mine.
In the layout room this would still be walk in, and also allow the aircraft delivered layout set up without any interference.
Here is an image from lionel Noble Kanandah is highlighted in yellow. The train is heading east.
here is a proposed track plan of Kanandah and the South Mine.
Click on the link for the operational instructions for Kanandah and track diagram, on Lionels site.
here is a view of the Mobil depot.
Here is a shadow view of the proposed model area.
With Murray River Bridge on the home straight, my thoughts have turned to the next big layout.
Concept: Kanandah NSW, AN Broken Hill line.
This is based around the west end of Broken Hill, from Gypsum Street overpass to half way through Kanandah, the first SAR built crossing loop west of Broken Hill.
Named Kanandah in 1974, serves a multiple functions,and there are two industrial "branches"
1. An Oil branch with Mobil, Shell, BP and Caltex all served.
2. Sheep and Cattle sidings.
3. AN and SRA used this location for locomotive fueling.
Silverton Tramways: South mine.
Thanks to SDS releasing the AOQF we can now effectively model Broken Hills South Mine.
The load out has some great trackage, and operationally its very labour intensive.
rakes of wagons have to be shuffled between the yard and the mine.
The layout would use the fiddle yard I built for Murray River Bridge, and would have the same foot print as Murray River bridge with the addition of three more boards for the South Mine.
In the layout room this would still be walk in, and also allow the aircraft delivered layout set up without any interference.
Here is an image from lionel Noble Kanandah is highlighted in yellow. The train is heading east.
here is a proposed track plan of Kanandah and the South Mine.
Click on the link for the operational instructions for Kanandah and track diagram, on Lionels site.
here is a view of the Mobil depot.
Here is a shadow view of the proposed model area.
I find it challenging designing layouts to fit a location without smothering it with track and making it easy to access.
operationally you could have three crews working this layout.
AN crews, moving wagons back and forth between Kanandah industrial sidings.
AN crews working mainline trains and the SRA locomotives for fueling.
STC crews working between Broken Hill yard and the south mine.
Thanks to SDS this is now a modelling contender.
here is some video footage in the PN era
Enjoy Scott.
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