More Maersk reefers

I have managed to obtain a pack of Atlas HO scale Maersk Sealand reefers from the USA. I had initially no intention of purchasing any more, other than the four I obtained from C-Rail a while back. But one evening during late summer, my mate Tony wished to go house viewing over Balhannah way, and just by chance a PN Patrick train passed. Now not seeing very many Maersk reefers on the Adelaide to Melbourne corridor, this train was almost solidly loaded with Maersk Sealand reefers!
So, I checked the website of the Canadian shop that I use, and they had the Atlas Maersk Sealand in stock, which was lucky, as they are sold out almost everywhere else.

Now, I think this is correct. The factory that these come from have two set of dies. One is used by C-Rail, the other by Atlas. If this is wrong, I sure Arran from C-Rail will correct.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QyAZ8raPok

At 2:40 Pacific National traveling Western Victoria with Maersk reefers.

AQEY/RQEY Kit

At the recent Adelaide Model Railway show, I purchased a Strath Models kit of the AN AQEY twin pack container wagon. These were modified in 1988, by converting to ABEX louvre vans to twin pack container wagons. The first were converted from VEX wagons (built 1966 by Commonwealth Engineering in WA), with the remaining units from LEX/ALEX wagons (built 1967 by Commonwealth Engineering in Qld). The twin pack has a length over headstocks of 26.7m. (This figure becomes important). Each deck is able to carry a 40' plus container.

The kit looked straight forward, even after the warning from fellow modellers, who had tackled Strath Kits before. I cleaned by the excess 'flash' and added the few detail parts. Then, on referring to some photos, I soon noticed that each deck was too short! A search on the ARTC website for rolling stock info, come up with with a length of 27.6m over pull points, which made the model 17mm too short in scale.

Shows one modified and one un-modified unit.

The error seemed to be at the cut out opening end of the wagon, so I cut at where the 3D printed coupling mount was, and added a 9mm section, built up of plastic card, all supa-glued in position.
It was then all clean up of the filler and paint the primer. I also used a half inch screw for the centre bogie (drilled straight through), as the shorter screw supplied would not bite the 3D print to hold.

Unit in primer grey, awaiting final livery.

The above photo shows how the wagon looks when loaded with a 40' container.

Above, is a RQEY loaded with a 40' container, clearly showing the gap a the end of the deck, which if you built the kit as was, the 40' container sit on the whole deck with no gap.
More photos: unloaded from Malleeroute flickr site.
 

www.flickr.com/photos/59591804@N03/8497512370
www.flickr.com/photos/malleeroute/8496409881/in/photostream/

And another loaded shot from Wagonfreaks blog.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN9nKQy0yT2hGbNjg5JKzTKI00C2f8I_RZx7zzBju0HF0ElEVOZlsNSj6QbUnK9-23wbyBUOinetTiJz3HCcVwJLOeGdWMVFv5uQXqkProlyhL2TqfJLgvuhRn0lHf-zgXLnpXY6BNzY/s1600/_1-RQEY+1868+%28Large%29.jpg

Adelaide exhibition report 2015

It is that time of the year again, with the Adelaide Model Railway Exhibition running over the long weekend. Attended on the the Saturday, and for the first time, had to park some distance away. Sign of a good attendance crowd.
Unlike interstate, the only release was Orient Express's D vans, which had actually arrived around a week ago; but more important, was Fred was showing the first engineering samples of the Centenary cars (if you asked). These look really good.
Seem to be a few more traders, and a bit of a lack of layouts, but they were generally good.

Trainworld/Railmotor had their SCT sample on display. (Which is better? I have a quote, 'it is like choosing between a Lima 930 or a Trainorama 930').

Mt Joseph N scale. (Sorry John)

Portminster

I have included a photo of St Hugo, as it shows excellent colour grading from the layout scenery to the back scene.

I
I

St Hugo

Eskbank

Bridgewater

NODY from Auscision

Auscision Models announced today via Facebook, that they will be producing the NSW NODY open wagon; not seen since Austrains produced one many years ago. Now, I do not need a NODY, but many have had their bodies cut, or removed altogether. The most common is the RKLY, seen on steel traffic trains, with the orange 'butter box' coil steel containers. These run over the main south line several days a week; from NSW, to Adelaide and onto Perth.

RKLY Model Auscision Models.

Ever wondered where these wagons go. In Adelaide, they transfer over, probably one of the last industrial branches left in the city, into Blue Scope Steel at Wingfield.

Coil steel containers been unloaded at Blue Scope Steel.

In addition to the RKLY, Auscision are producing several other variants used on steel trains.

Platforms

For some time I have been thicking how I was going to build my platform. The platform at Horsham is long, (only part of it was refurbished for use today) with a newer extension added to the Adelaide end at some time. It, also is also built up to near ground level on the road entrance side, so has one face for much of its length.
Before been filled in, at the Melbourne end, there use to be a dock platform for locomotives which had lines leading to a turntable (which its position is now under the road bridge). At the other end, the railcar dock still exists, but the track has been lifted. Was used to stable track machinery until removed.
So how was I going to build my platform? I tried wood, but even with high quality timbers, trying to obtain non warped strips was hard. Did not work.
So, I turned to youtube, the great internet university and came across a method from an English modeller. (How to build station platforms)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_StQSHMXhSg

The method described was to use plasterboard. Two sheets cut and placed on top of each other also gave the correct height for Victorian platforms, of  3' 2" from top of rail to platform. Diagram F498 can be found on www.victorianrailways.com.au, under infrastructure.

I started cutting the board with a knife, then used a jigsaw: like cutting butter. Much easier. I used the full length of a sheet of size 900x4200. (Actually have half a sheet left, and the cost was around $12).

This shows the railcar dock platform, and the large flat area is where the signal box and train catering
buildings used to be.

This photo shows adjustments to make use the distance from platform edge to mid of track was 5' 1".
For this, I made a small jig, marking the distance to where the rails are to where the platform edge is. The platform edges are PECO platform sides, and I glued brick plastic card to these, with an added 1mm, to lift the sides to the 20mm. (English platforms are 19mm OO scale high).
I just screwed to plasterboard to the ply base with self drilling screws. Also, I will have to add to bit of length to the Melbourne end, as the platform is closer to the bridge, at this end, than I first thought.

Auscision Models SCT Locomotive 012

My SCT livery GT46C-Ace has arrived (the first of two required). Auscision have to be congratulated on another fine model. As it is becoming the norm, this model has many fine detail items, especially on the bogie frames. Many need one of their railers, so there is less touching of the bogies when placing on the track.

Have not fitted a DCC decoder yet. The instruction say to remove the body. It is a pity that they did not make the roof panel removable, like Ontracks' 82 class, as the decoder pins are just underneath it.
Will be going with a ESU 21 pin pin decoder, sorry, no sound.

How do you remove the body from the GT46C_Ace. Under neath there are four screws to remove. Two are close to the rear of the front bogie, so a small screw driver helps. Unclip the rear hand rails from the main frame, then there are two clips, one at the rear and front under the anti-climber. The body then should lift off, if not glued.

Note:
There is also a slight fault in the models of SCT007 and 012. Some, after removing the body and replacing it, will not sit level again. The rear will sit down, meaning the pilot will catch points etc. It only shows when the body is reattached. The factory discovered this, and was corrected on the later arrival GT46C-Ace models. It only occurs on the first SCT units. To correct, you have to remove the rear bogie and place a spacer on the pin that fits into to frame. (This pin is not illustrated on the parts drawing supplied). Auscision is aware and will replace, but these numbers are no longer available, so replacement is with another number.and the factory did a fix with the remaining numbers.

Auscision Models SCT

As hinted in past posts, Auscision Models released their model of the SCT locomotive at the  Sandown Model Railway Exhibition. Numbers 007 and 012 are available now, with the remaining. 001, 002, 005, and 015 available in May.

Photo: Auscision

Photo: Auscision

I require at least two of these units, so stay tuned for when the first one arrives for review.