Quote from: norfolkguy83 on April 27, 2016, 08:14:20 PM
Heya ppl.
Just Wondering if anyone has ever made scratch built locomotives from things around the house.. If so what.
And has anyone got any advice on how to make them..
Im a novice at scratch built and would like to have a go at it.
Thank all
Andy
There are some really great scratch builders on here. I'm in the process of trying to get started with it myself. There is a great thread on here (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=27835.new;topicseen#new (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=27835.new;topicseen#new)) by Simon Bolton, who has also written an excellent book looking at the steps and skills involved in scratchbuilding a locomotive. The book is called 'Scratch-Building Model Railway Locomotives.' The book is geared towards OO but the process is more or less the same and with Simon's thread on here as a supplement, I've found it incredibly useful.
For my first few builds I'm going to use a motorized chassis from another loco, but if you are very adventurous then the 2mmSA sells wheels (including drivers) and other necessities for getting the chassis running. Did you have a locomotive in mind?
As far as using stuff from around the house, I have done some mock-ups with aluminum sheet I had spare (can't solder it though, so epoxy is the only option) and have bought some different sizes of sheet brass to use primarily. Simon's book has a blurb about using plasticard instead of metal and there is of course the option of making something out of wood (if you're very skilled with wood; I'm not). Yesterday at work I made half of a locomotive (footplate up) using a credit card receipt roll as the boiler and some scrap from around the shop for fittings. It takes some imagination but you can make a model out of anything. That said, if you're making an
n gauge model, I'd probably stick to brass or nickel silver for the actual body work, and purchase brass castings for fittings like the chimney, dome and safety valve.
I think you will be spoilt for choice on here for people who produce some truly awesome locomotives.
My advise is for your first attempts pick a simple prototype (parallel boilers etc) and if possible use a RTR chassis, and just take your time.
Thanks... il have a look 2moro..