Double O Twelve prototypes…

In little over a month we’ve moved from screen to reality, these OO-12 prototypes are pleasingly chunky in the flesh…

From a design perspective I’m very happy, the parts fit well. There is a small adjustment required on the frame print to clear the flywheel and perhaps a small adjustment on the wagon chassis to reduce the risk of damage when adding wheels - otherwise all is as I had hoped.

The Hornby chassis from the trainset is without cross head and slide bars.  In the flesh, under the Manning awardee I think there might need to be some subterfuge- perhaps cosmetic slice bars, at least, to give a suggestion of something that isn’t there. More is beyond the scope of my style of kits as would require more work than many are comfortable with… that said, should the chassis continue to be readily available it might be worth doing in future. Etched parts fit well, as you’d expect when they’re designed in 3D, and with that proven I can look at different cabs for a possible second later batch.

The wagons fold up easily, but a hood and fold would help to ensure the planks don’t bend at the bottom of the sides. The end door is a seperate etch that glues over the end. Inside we have a planked floor and the sides are planked on the outside. The square 1mm strip is cut to size and glued to the sides. All in all a pleasing prototype, and a very good representation of those at Fayle’s in Purbeck.

This initial prototype uses a 3D printed chimney and water tank filler - but the real kits will feature parts from RT models. Removing the saddle tank shows space for a decoder and stay alive, or lots of weight. The cab roof can also be made removable, or glued/soldered to the rest of the parts. Whilst I have fitted the dumb buffers I’ve included an etch for the buffer beam so modellers could choose to run a light railway with higher and more regular buffers and running gear, should they wish.

These prototypes will be on display at Narrow Gauge South on Saturday 25th April in Eastleigh. I’ll be on the Light Railway Stores stand where we will have 009 kits, Planet Industrials kits (and the new Dormon Long Sentinel prototype), Ribbons 2, my books and joined by Neil Moss with his Mosskito range of parts and kits too… come and say hello! Until next time, more soon… 

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