I hesitate to put this here, as you may well deduce as we progress...
Whilst I was helping at the 009 Society stand at the York Model Railway Show this Easter, I was very much taken with a model of a Romanian (I think) snow plough in H0 scale that David Gander was working on. The model was designed by Ronny Generali Works and available through his outlet on Shapeways https://www.shapeways.com/product/WU8Q62R2Z/2-axle-snowplow (https://www.shapeways.com/product/WU8Q62R2Z/2-axle-snowplow)
(https://images4.sw-cdn.net/product/picture/710x528_22533721_12555826_1520297296.jpg)
I thought it looked an ideal model for a bit of an exercise in "steam-punk" design (although to be honest it doesn't need much!), so I bought one. The 3D print comes as one piece and you have to separate the roof and four sideplates for the plough from the main body. Having done that, I soaked the pieces in white spirit for 24 hours to remove residual material from the printing process; cleaned the pieces carefully in cool warm water and detergent and left them to dry. They then got a thin coat of matt enamel as an undercoat.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/953/28364562008_357379162a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KdtN5y)Steampunked snowplough (https://flic.kr/p/KdtN5y) by H Norwood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hnorwood/), on Flickr
For motive power, I was advised that the Kato 11-104 chassis could be made to fit with some modifications. Fortunately I had one in my spares box, so I set about getting the chassis and body to fit together. The chassis has to be shortened quite a bit and I also trimmed down the moulded plastic suspension effects on either side. These are all plastic and do not effect the running of the chassis. The body required the removal of the sprigs that hold the four side plates during the printing process and the cutting out of a hole in the body floor so that the body sits nicely on the chassis at the "right" height. I also filed down the inside surfaces of the wheel mounts on the body. I really think I should have done a bit more on them as the chassis is still a tight fit (although not so tight it does not require to be held in place!)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/982/41336819225_8e54979683_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25YN1cK)Steampunked snowplough (https://flic.kr/p/25YN1cK) by H Norwood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hnorwood/), on Flickr
Modified body
I then made up a sub-unit to fit inside the body that would take some ballast to give it weight and to look like a boiler through the windows. Firstly I had to stick some stryene trip to the top surface of the body floor to hold this sub-unit above the Kato chassis. The sub unit has low "walls" also of styrene strip to allow me to add Liquid Gravity for weight. The boiler is a short length of brass tube also filled with Liquid Gravity.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/831/42237941121_ea52d03a1a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27mquma)Steampunked snowplough (https://flic.kr/p/27mquma) by H Norwood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hnorwood/), on Flickr
I removed the front coupling from the body and replaced it with a gargoyle from Langley. I stuck two of the side plates to the front. In order to give them some strength to cope with use, they are each braced with a short length of handrail wire that goes through the plate and into the body. A 2mm length of brass tubing threaded on the wire acts to keep the spacing fixed.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/908/41336816195_9d84cdb9cf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25YMZiv)Steampunked snowplough (https://flic.kr/p/25YMZiv) by H Norwood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hnorwood/), on Flickr
Nearly there!
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/943/41472761654_6b258efb9b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26bNK9J)Steampunked snowplough (https://flic.kr/p/26bNK9J) by H Norwood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hnorwood/), on Flickr
The chimney is from Narrow Planet's box of "bits" they had on sale at the Beds&Bucks Members' Day. The snow plough plates are painted with "Gun Metal" from Tamiya. I added handrails and knobs, and an interesting piece of plastic from the bits box.
Very cool :)
Very fitting for your concept. But will you also try it out in the snow this winter?!
Brilliant Hugh!
Does Lady Ramkin know you have taken one of her dragons? It should help to clear the snow nicely though.
Frank
It does look very dragon-ish, doesn't it?
Will that become Lord Vetinari's personal railcar?
Jeff S.
For completeness, here is a photo of the underside showing how the chassis is fixed in. You can also make out the struts keeping the plough sideplates in place.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/960/41373452975_91c85b6edc_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2632L98)Steampunked snowplough (https://flic.kr/p/2632L98) by H Norwood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hnorwood/), on Flickr
I have added some bits to the beast; a whistle, a bell and a (working) headlamp.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1756/27885305547_ecd86c1cd1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Ju8tQ8)Steampunk snowplough (https://flic.kr/p/Ju8tQ8) by H Norwood (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hnorwood/), on Flickr
Steampunk isn
Is there a prototype for this?
Does the dragon breath fire at the front to melt the snow?
David.
It depends on what you mean by prototype. The original print is of a prototype snow plough.
It has been suggested I paint the eyes red!