Some time ago I posted photos of a steeple cab loco in the 'engines and rolling stock for Nixnie' thread. This was made using a Tom Bell (Tebee) 3D printed body, on a Bandai 4-wheel chassis.
I finished this loco as a battery electric for the time being, since I couldn't find a suitable pantograph.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2012%2Fgallery44%2Fimages%2F200IMG_1503.jpg&hash=16c131910e3a2d45ef7cb07f396f904fbdb4b84e)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2012%2Fgallery44%2Fimages%2F200IMG_1509.jpg&hash=e0c628d0deeb4cb26859bb07d8a0999bdb6f7aa2)
However, if I want to use it on the tramway at Rae Bridge, it will need a pantograph. Last week I visited a model railway fair at Cologne, where I found a suitable Sommerfeldt pantograph. So I made a new roof for the tiny model, carrying the pantograph. I decided to use laminated card with a balsa base that is a push fit inside the body.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Foddphotos%2Fvlcsnap-00050.jpg&hash=25feb49d917dd4b6bf00a0de2e7313e4f191f12c)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Foddphotos%2Fvlcsnap-00049.jpg&hash=fc4e2ebfdd709142975627560f7ddfaf1b2a388c)
The lamination was done using PVA glue. I used good quality card from a punch card (legacy ICT) with three laminations. The card was bruised into a curve by rolling around a small screwdriver with a corrugated handle. Then it was glued together and curved to the shape of the original roof. Laminated card will produce a very strong shape that won't easily warp.
The balsa base was cut and sanded to shape and fitted with cut-outs to clear the cab windows. Two strips on top support the pantograph base. Note that I didn't model insulators - no vertical clearance under the wire.
Here is the result, after painting the pantograph with diluted Revell anthracite black, so the red still shows through to some extent:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Foddphotos%2Fvlcsnap-00051.jpg&hash=4d19934b2ccf74ed2d485f1c9b9c893f72537d40)
I still have the original roof, which will be fitted with another balsa patch so it can be exchanged - the loco can still be used as a battery unit for Nixnie.
Very nice - as ever!
Thanks Hugh - it needs a little more detail (steps and handrails) but otherwise it's completed now.