Does Anyone Model/Run European Trains?

RailRide posted:

I would like to scratchbuild an adaptation of the European rolling-highway (Rollende Landstrasse or RoLa) trains used to ferry tractor-trailers and their drivers:

Of course these are not available in 'O'. They do exist in HO scale, and I have on more than one occasion thought about acquiring a set of the HO cars in order to clone them in O from sheet styrene. The biggest problem however is the oddball four-axle trucks these extra-low flatcars ride on:

Making the sideframes would be a challenge, but the wheelsets could be a show-stopper...the best information I can get my hands on suggests they max out at about 13"-15" in diameter. Anyone know how to make (slightly more than) quarter-inch diameter wheelsets for 3-rail track? I suspect a lathe may be necessary, but I don't have access to or anyplace to put one, much less operate it.

But if those issues could be overcome, getting tractor-trailers to put in them would be the easy part.

---PCJ

Well if you visually disect that truck, it appears to be a superliner truck with an extended bolster to accommodate the steel rotating joint.

Miketg posted:

Hello everyone, just thought I would add some video of a Bavariain locomotive I pickrd up some time ago. She did not run, but by cleaning the gears well and realigning the motor mounts, she runs pretty well. The question is should I add a decoder and sound?

Miketg

 

That thing is pretty cute.  Go for it!

RailRide posted:

I would like to scratchbuild an adaptation of the European rolling-highway (Rollende Landstrasse or RoLa) trains used to ferry tractor-trailers and their drivers:

Of course these are not available in 'O'. They do exist in HO scale, and I have on more than one occasion thought about acquiring a set of the HO cars in order to clone them in O from sheet styrene. The biggest problem however is the oddball four-axle trucks these extra-low flatcars ride on:

Making the sideframes would be a challenge, but the wheelsets could be a show-stopper...the best information I can get my hands on suggests they max out at about 13"-15" in diameter. Anyone know how to make (slightly more than) quarter-inch diameter wheelsets for 3-rail track? I suspect a lathe may be necessary, but I don't have access to or anyplace to put one, much less operate it.

But if those issues could be overcome, getting tractor-trailers to put in them would be the easy part.

---PCJ

Might look at older Marklin HO wheels and mount them on a O gauge axle.

? steam pilot wheels ? 

Or trailing truck wheels for spokes

That you dont need

Stone Rhino posted:

BetaNuSigmaPhi posted:

Myself I apply three different manufacturing techniques separately or combined: tinplate coating, 3D printing and laser cutting. All processing machines I use, are low budget DIY products. Injection molding, brass etching, die casting and tampon printing are not in my budget unfortunately. Here is one of my own European projects, the German experimental electric locomotive E03 in rapid raw 3D print and handpainted and decorated bodyshell (without pantographs so far), firstly for Scale 1 (1:32), later also O gauge (1:45) and S scale (1:64)...[by the way, Piko (G scale) and Märklin (scale 1) are making only the series version Baureihe 103]...

PS: If someone is not happy with my low standard results, then he should show us here right now his own high standard results, it's very simple.

I am completely onboard with this idea and have considered it my self. Especially for fabricating parts. Even what I see here with the E03 is more than impressive enough to consider doing this for my O scale.

Light sanding the surface could remove some of the noticeable printing ridges.

Also, there is a paint that will fill in those printing defects and make it smooth. I will look to see if I can find it.

The depicted poor 3D-printing results are due to my cheap DIY 3D printer for 150 USD. Learning by doing I have managed to improve the printer settings which reflected on the better surface quality. But still cannot compete against expensive 3D printers like https://www.3dhubs.com/3d-printers/ultimaker-2 . If I compare to Märklin's scale 1 E03 model, which is over my budget and to Piko's G scale, which is in squeezed length, then I thing a scratch-built E03 or DB BR 103 could be a realistic alternative in any bigger scale (S, O,1,G).

I am surprised to see this discussion here, this being O scale land. 

I have a collection of mostly 60's-70's european models in HO scale. I have enough track and trains to build a layout with it in fact, but have not had the time. But the european stuff is a weakness, especially models like the Rivarossi articulated steam locos.

Still need to find a model of one of these. I was able to get some shots of it in Slovenia last year.

My true weakness has always been the smaller locos in both steam and diesel.

 I have the Kof that is shown and also a Italian 214 switcher.

Adriatic posted:

Or trailing truck wheels for spokes

I was thinking of the freight car wheels.  The older cars had a larger flange which should work on O gauge track.  

That's what the "that you don't need" post was about.  I had just realised you'd be looking for non-spoked..  You could fill any dishing I'd think.

   I have some large flange AHM; but don't know the code, just that it's not so hot on tube track. (great on Super-O)

I have not posted in a while so thought I would add some pictures of interiors I have been working on for a signal tower andcsingle family home. Miketg

Milepost48 posted:

MTH SNCF 150X

Very nice, was this available in their American catalog?  looks like 1 gauge to me?

In ho I have an mrce engine by piko with esu sound. It needs some friends. I'm getting to it... very slowly.

Well, time to post some new photos. I bought the buffet/combo car aready with a basic interior but then said it is time for more detail. Miketg

And one more photo, could not resist. Miketg

You did a great job on that interior!

Regards

Fred

May I politely suggest...Raising the Bar? (pun intended)

Or, lowering the stools.

Here is my Croc and poster that I got at The Semmering Museum in Austria.

It is a small (toy and model train) world; fredlubb on Yahoo is the same Fred (that is me) as sncf231e on this forum, so thank you   for pointing to my video!

Regards

Fred

John23 posted:

Adriatic posted:

Or trailing truck wheels for spokes

I was thinking of the freight car wheels.  The older cars had a larger flange which should work on O gauge track.  

Assuming one could locate older Marklin wheelsets, what axles would one use to adapt them to 'O' track? I'm assuming the HO wheels would have smaller-diameter axles to start with, and anything suitable for O would potentially need to be turned down to fit through them

---PCJ

Well, I decided to create a diorama for my greenhouse that someday will be added to an extension on Georgenstadt. Still a work in progress, but I am happy with the start.

Miketg

One more photo to add. Still have to fill in the flower beds with earth, maybe add some vine growth to the side and back of the greenhouse and hide the base of the tree.

Miketg

Nice work.  Hand made or a kit?

Very nice job Mike!

Hi Severn, the greenhouse is a laser cut kit, but I added the stonework to the lower walls plus some extra trim. Miketg

Just adding the last three photos of what is pretty much the finished product minus vehicles. Miketg

          very nice Mike !     looks great !!

can you go over the steps a little that you took to make it?

Hello everyone,

A small project for a cloudy weekend. The kit is from Spur 0 Magazin, 0 Scale Magazine of Germany. The diorama board is blue foam, the plants HO from Busch and the paints from Polyscale. The old Polyscale paints are super for structures.

Miketg

Something I have always wanted, a German "Drehorgel" or hand operated hurdy-gurdy. All the parts are from my cratchbuilding bins. I already have the Viessmann sound module installed on my layout.

Miketg

Glad to see this thread is still alive; here are some (more) photos.

First off is a Lima O scale model of a French engine:

Since it's a Lima, it's pretty cheaply made, yet it runs well (enough) and surprisingly has directional lighting.

Next up is a "family portrait" so to speak:

I realized I have at least one example of the classic V215 in O,HO,N and Z! Left to right are: Marklin in Z, (2) Rocos in N, (2) Rocos (different releases) in HO and Rivarossi in O. 

Finally, a Roco V200 in HO. I've been active in this hobby since 1970, and have had many, many locomotives, both good and bad, in numerous scales. This model runs as good (if not slightly better) than any engine I've ever owned, including Kato:

Whisper quiet, heavy and capable; and although the photo doesn't do it justice, very highly detailed and just...awesome. 

I might mention here that all of the HO scale Rocos have the same big can motor that they used in the Atlas O scale line, so they run great at all speeds and are very powerful. 

Okay, somebody else's turn...

Mark in Oregon

I have a huge HO collection in storage, but I also collect O scale European stuff, mostly MTH, Lenz and Brawa...

Tom

Has MTH ever made the Kriegslok War Locomotive (DRB 52 I think it was)? I saw it on PBS and it was one awesome looking steamer.

Paul Kallus posted:

Has MTH ever made the Kriegslok War Locomotive (DRB 52 I think it was)? I saw it on PBS and it was one awesome looking steamer

Actually I have seen one made by Lionel, believe it or not. Maybe mis-listed. It was on eBay for some crazy price. Now I cannot find it...

Tom

I have a kit of a BR52 still waiting to be built. It was made by EMA, a small producer of kits in Germany back in the early 90s. Mostly white metal with some brass details and plastic frame parts. I have read it is a tough kit to get running well. Hopefully, I will get to it in a year or two as I have other projects lined up ahead of it.

Miketg

Krieglok posted:

Paul Kallus posted:

Has MTH ever made the Kriegslok War Locomotive (DRB 52 I think it was)? I saw it on PBS and it was one awesome looking steamer

 

Actually I have seen one made by Lionel, believe it or not. Maybe mis-listed. It was on eBay for some crazy price. Now I cannot find it...

Tom

I think I remember that too...it was listed as a "Smithsonian" model, or something like that...(?)

Mark in Oregon

Strummer posted:

Krieglok posted:

Paul Kallus posted:

Has MTH ever made the Kriegslok War Locomotive (DRB 52 I think it was)? I saw it on PBS and it was one awesome looking steamer

 

Actually I have seen one made by Lionel, believe it or not. Maybe mis-listed. It was on eBay for some crazy price. Now I cannot find it...

Tom

I think I remember that too...it was listed as a "Smithsonian" model, or something like that...(?)

Mark in Oregon

That’s it! I knew it was something odd. It was in the New Jersey and it seems like it needed repairs...

it is still on eBay....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lione...4:g:ayoAAOSwglJdL3M5

Tom

Strummer posted:

Krieglok posted:

Paul Kallus posted:

Has MTH ever made the Kriegslok War Locomotive (DRB 52 I think it was)? I saw it on PBS and it was one awesome looking steamer

 

Actually I have seen one made by Lionel, believe it or not. Maybe mis-listed. It was on eBay for some crazy price. Now I cannot find it...

Tom

I think I remember that too...it was listed as a "Smithsonian" model, or something like that...(?)

Mark in Oregon

Lionel briefly did a line of hand built 2 rail brass locos and cars, sold as their Smithsonian collection.  As I recall, there was a complete 20th Century Limited pulled by a Dreyfus Hudson; and the German type 50 2-10-0.  Very few were built.  I remember reading that there were only 25 built in each (2?) paint variation.  All beautifully made.  I'm surprised that one came up on Ebay.

At a couple thousand bucks, it will probably stay there. 
it is missing the cross head wrist pin on one side...

I wouldn’t mind having it though...lol

Tom

Here's my outside layout, now up and running.  I run Maerklin Maxi, gauge 1 and LGB. Shown here is a panzerzug headed by Maxi #5440 lok. Inside, I run O and S gauge. Outside is in warm weather; inside is colder weather. Outside is European and inside is American.

Mark