Custom Models

[J70Toby]

I spent the weekend working on my first scratch built model. It's the oversized van from A Close Shave. Many will know that the model from the show was a modified large scale narrow gauge kit, which is why it towered over the other trucks. This is also why I really had no hope of finding an HO kit to build the van from, which is why I decided to scratch build him. He's built from plastic card and some parts from an underframe kit. I based the dimensions off of Bachmann's cattle truck because that is what is coupled directly to it during A Close Shave, so it was the easiest to work with when reviewing footage and pictures when planning the model. You will probably notice that the ends aren't as low as on the original, but that was to avoid having to cut a hole for the coupling like Toby, Mavis, Bill, and Ben. The only thing that I think it really loses because of this is that the face looks larger than the TV model. The TV model made the large van faces look small even though they took up nearly the entire end of other van types.  For reference, the size of the face is based on how that type of face looked on a cattle truck (not Bachmann's Troublesome Truck 3, which has a smaller square face which were used on both vans and open trucks in the show).

When reviewing the footage, I noticed that A Close Shave seemed to be filmed with two different models of the van. The beginning has a black van with a raised bufferbeam, but after crossing the viaduct, it is replaced with a brown van with a bufferbeam that nearly touches the rails.  I wonder if the black van had extra weight or something to help film the chase.






Under Construction

[Rodimus Supreme]

I spent the weekend working on my first scratch built model. It's the oversized van from A Close Shave. Many will know that the model from the show was a modified large scale narrow gauge kit, which is why it towered over the other trucks. This is also why I really had no hope of finding an HO kit to build the van from, which is why I decided to scratch build him. He's built from plastic card and some parts from an underframe kit. I based the dimensions off of Bachmann's cattle truck because that is what is coupled directly to it during A Close Shave, so it was the easiest to work with when reviewing footage and pictures when planning the model. You will probably notice that the ends aren't as low as on the original, but that was to avoid having to cut a hole for the coupling like Toby, Mavis, Bill, and Ben. The only thing that I think it really loses because of this is that the face looks larger than the TV model. The TV model made the large van faces look small even though they took up nearly the entire end of other van types.  For reference, the size of the face is based on how that type of face looked on a cattle truck (not Bachmann's Troublesome Truck 3, which has a smaller square face which were used on both vans and open trucks in the show).

When reviewing the footage, I noticed that A Close Shave seemed to be filmed with two different models of the van. The beginning has a black van with a raised bufferbeam, but after crossing the viaduct, it is replaced with a brown van with a bufferbeam that nearly touches the rails.  I wonder if the black van had extra weight or something to help film the chase.






Under Construction

Pretty nice. If you ever want to make more vans like this, or continue practicing and upgrade existing vans, then I’d suggest checking out Sudrian Railway Modeller on Twitter. He’s constantly making rolling stock and modifications to existing Bachmann Thomas and Friends locomotives that look like they came right out of the show. Here is a tweet showing off his custom of that same van, and the thread tells what model kit he used to make it and where you can get it too.
https://mobile.twitter.com/SodorRyModeler/status/1044982243637235712

[JLK2707]

Have you ever wanted to buy a Lionel troublesome truck 1 in o scale and just use the face off of that? Not trying to be mean, but I am just saying that it is easier than making your own faces. Well, at least for me, anyway.

[Rodimus Supreme]

Have you ever wanted to buy a Lionel troublesome truck 1 in o scale and just use the face off of that? Not trying to be mean, but I am just saying that it is easier than making your own faces. Well, at least for me, anyway.

Or just use @Seth24dav’s Troublesome Truck faces.

[JLK2707]

Great idea!

[JLK2707]

I am just wondering how the Bachmann Thomas and Percy can be modified to look like their rws counterparts in book 26. How can this be done?

[Sodor Engineer]

Im planing to make a Stanley this summer and i've started with Thomas' chassis[with moving eyes ].

[Sodor Engineer]

Progress on Stanley:
     I painted the wheels red last night and they look ok.

[J70Toby]

I just wanted to share some new pictures. The first is my take on the what the wiki calls the "LNWR Van." There seems to be some disagreement in the fandom as to whether this van had a real prototype or was a freelance design by the show's modelling team because its wiki profile changed several times between my planning the model and making it.  There are some claims it was bought second hand for use in the show. This van was around since the first season and its main features are that it is tall, but squat horizontally, has a very slight curve to its roof, a curious lack of any undercarriage detail, and a windowpane like design for the door. It also looks like it was rebuilt/refurbished several times as the detailing changes between seasons. It would have to have been at least partially rebuilt at some point as it was the van that Percy broke in Percy, James, and the Fruitful Day.





The next is of a kit of Talyllyn coach number 4 built as Lucy. I've posted some other Talyllyn rolling stock in the narrow guage thread, but I'm waiting to buy some more parts so I can make the other coaches and still felt liky showing this one.

[Toad139]

I really like that LNWR Van. It's probably one of your best customs.

[J70Toby]

Thank you, Toad. I'm happy with the way that he came out.

[Chaz]

Well after finally receiving some N scale commissions recently done in the mail I’m happy to share them with you all. 







Two Lima vans that I had in my collection finally painted in more TV accurate colors and of course two Tomix tankers painted in the classic Tidmouth Milk tanker livery and decals!  Huge thank you to Plow Bender for painted these and getting them ready for me.

Now time for me to start thinking about my next and probably final N scale project... Gordon.

[Sodor Engineer]

WOW that looks great I can't wait to see Gordon.

[J70Toby]

So it's been quite awhile since I posted anything, but I have still been modeling.  Here's what I've been up to since the last time I posted.


Classic Series Windmill


Caroline on a Flatbed.  The Flatbed is a "Sodor Style," made from a Southern Railway brakevan kit without the cab.


Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, and Lucy.  I can't find a suitable kit for Beatrice in stock anywhere.  Agnes, Ruth, and Jemima were made from brass kits and Skarloey struggles with them, but Rheneas pulls them fine.


Millicent. I have the kit for Gertrude (Tallylin #10), but I haven't built her yet.


Testing Millicent's chassis.

This next one was kind of a joke... Super Mario fans will get it.




It's Toadette!

Various Trucks and Wagons I've built or customized, mostly from pre-owned models I got for cheap:

[J70Toby]

This was a quick project for making tarped loads where I covered some cut foam with tissue paper and added weathering.




From this point on, I've upped my face making game by making a set of master copies out of higher quality clay and then made silicon molds to reproduce the faces out of resin.


Faces master copies.




These were the first to receive the new resin faces.





Some China Clay Wagons.  I made two fitted with hoods and two unfitted.


And a China Clay Co. Brakevan.


A passenger stock milk wagon painted to match my "Old Coaches."


And my first go at adapting N gauge wagons for narrow gauge use, pictured with Rusty and Cora.