Hello folks'
I am trying to find an article or book on building locos from plasticaed, I understand there was an article published in a magazine called "GOG" was published in 2000, I may have got the name of the magazine wrong, and I would be grateful for any help or advice from fellow members on this subject.
Thanks all the best,John.
The only "GOG" I can think of in connection with model railways is the "Gauge O Guild"...
There have been a fair number of loco building artciles where plastic card was used in 009 News, but I suspect that what you are after are general techniques as opposed to how to build a model of a specific loco.
The other suggestion would be to ask questions on this forum as most (all?) of us will have built things using plastic sheet and will have various hints and tips to pass on, though it might be useful to break down the process of loco building.
For a start I tend to look at my scratchbuilding as first making the kit then building it.
I generally use an Olfa cutter rather than my scalpel to cut plastic sheet, and never try to cut a sheet in one pass (it's usually 2 or 3) even with the thin stuff.
Never assume that a bought sheet is square. I always check with an engineer's square, and once I have found (or cut) a 90 degree corner try to mark it in some way for the next modelling session.
Measure twice (or more) and cut once! But the plastic sheet is not that costly, so if you do muck up a bit make a new one rather than try to 'hide' it as it will always stick out like a sore thumb.
Don't discount using tube (plastic or metal) for the boiler, and the use 3 mm scale cast metal boiler fittings is worth considering.
Anyone else care to add some tips?
Hello John,
There have been many articles over the years in most commercial magazines and also in both 009 News and Narrow Lines (7mm NGA magazine), so I expect whoever gave you the "GOG" reference was indeed referring to the Gauge 0 Guild mag.
Not sure exactly what you mean by "building locos in plasticard" - if you mean the complete build, ie chassis, boiler fittings, etc etc, then I can't help. I do remember articles in Railway Modeller around the 70's I think covering a series of Great Central locos scratchbuilt entirely from plasticard except for wheels & motor etc in 7mm scale, and there have also been articles periodically in this context covering scratchbuilding locos in card and wood.
However if you mean building bodies from plasticard to fit onto commercial chassis, then these type of articles are common, spread once again throughout most of the model railway press. One of the best relevant articles I can remember from relatively recent times that covers this aspect with direct relevance to 009 loco building is Charlie Insley's "Scratchbuilding for Beginners" article in 009 News Vol 33 no.6 - February 2006 pages 5 to 7.
There's also been several structured and illustrated progress reports from builders in the "what's on my workbench" thread over on the ngrm-online forum recently that cover this type of thing, a notable one that comes to mind being Brian Ellsmore's progress "blog" on his scratchbuilding of "The Doll" onto a Lifelike 0-6-0 chassis, that, as a novice 009 modeller, was his first loco.
Hope this helps.
Mick
Hello Mick and Julien
Thanks for your replies re my question about using plasticard to build locos, I will follow up your advice, which looks very helpful, Mick as regards building the locos I did mean just building the bodies and using a commercial chassis I will also check out the ngrm-online forum as you suggest and try to obtain the specific article by Charlie Insley "Scratchbuiding for Beginners" article in 009 News Vol 33 no 6- February 2006, perhaps if any other member of the forum has this article I would be grateful for a copy if possible.
Thanks again folks all the best,John.
I will add my vote to the use of an Olfa cutter. It does not raise a burr like an ordinary knife. Scalpel, craft knife or Olfa cutter, do not cut all the way through but score say a third to half way and snap. Practice on scrap and you'll soon get the hang of it. The score and snap method worked for some bean/amoeba shaped pieces I cut from 3 mm polystyrene for an exhibit I made at work so with care the technique is is pretty reliable and not limited to straight cuts.
As others have said, if you make a mistake throw the piece away or recycle into smaller parts. For small pieces that you need pairs of, make several and choose the best matching ones.
Regarding books, I picked this up at an exhibition:
http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/Book.htm (http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/Book.htm)
Though not specifically regarding locos, it contains a wealth of information. After all (and to misquote someone) a steam loco is a collection of boxes and cylinders.
Another tip is to build up a stockpile of various shapes (tube, L, T U, thin strip etc) slowly over time and look out for useful shapes (drawing pin heads for smoke box doors is the famous example).
Hello Graeme
Thanks for your reply re the above question particularly the tip about the book on plasticard modelling you mention, I looked up the website address you gave me and the book covers most things I wanted to know, do you know of a U.K. supplier of this book it is just what I am looking for. Also you and anther member who replied mentioned using an "Olfa Cutter" for cutting the plasticard I have one but have never used it I assume you are talking about the one for cutting straight lines Graeme, I also have a circular "Olfa" cutter I was given some time ago but have never used capable of cutting circles up to 12" or 300mm in diameter, again I have never used it but feel it may come in useful for using plasticard, have you Graeme or any other member any experience of using one? if so any hints or tips would be most welcome.
Thanks again Graeme and again to all members of the 009 Forum who replied with advice.
All the best, John.
Hello John,
Sorry, I should have been more specific and said Olfa laminate cutter. (I also have an Olfa circle cutter that I have never used!)
This is the type:
http://www.greatart.co.uk/OLFAP-450CUTTER-cutters.htm (http://www.greatart.co.uk/OLFAP-450CUTTER-cutters.htm)
http://www.greatart.co.uk/OLFAP-800CUTTER-cutters.htm (http://www.greatart.co.uk/OLFAP-800CUTTER-cutters.htm)
Hello Folks
May I thank everbody who replied and in all cases offered very useful advice re the above question I asked, and to Graeme thanks for pointing me in the direction of the book from 4D models re Styrene Modelling, I looked it up on the website address you gave me and is just the kind of information I was looking for, I ordered a copy today.
Thanks again folks great forum very helpful.
All the best,John.
Hello again folks
I ommited to mention in my last reply to thank those who gave me information on using the Olfa Cutter for cutting styrene, also Ken for your info on the Styrene Modelling book similar to Graeme's reply I hadnt checked out my replies properly to date!!, as previously mentioned I orderd a copy.
Thanks again folks,all the best,John.
Quote from: MickT on June 17, 2010, 12:01
Hello John,
There have been many articles over the years in most commercial magazines and also in both 009 News and Narrow Lines (7mm NGA magazine), so I expect whoever gave you the "GOG" reference was indeed referring to the Gauge 0 Guild mag.
Not sure exactly what you mean by "building locos in plasticard" - if you mean the complete build, ie chassis, boiler fittings, etc etc, then I can't help. I do remember articles in Railway Modeller around the 70's I think covering a series of Great Central locos scratchbuilt entirely from plasticard except for wheels & motor etc in 7mm scale, and there have also been articles periodically in this context covering scratchbuilding locos in card and wood.
However if you mean building bodies from plasticard to fit onto commercial chassis, then these type of articles are common, spread once again throughout most of the model railway press. One of the best relevant articles I can remember from relatively recent times that covers this aspect with direct relevance to 009 loco building is Charlie Insley's "Scratchbuilding for Beginners" article in 009 News Vol 33 no.6 - February 2006 pages 5 to 7.
There's also been several structured and illustrated progress reports from builders in the "what's on my workbench" thread over on the ngrm-online forum recently that cover this type of thing, a notable one that comes to mind being Brian Ellsmore's progress "blog" on his scratchbuilding of "The Doll" onto a Lifelike 0-6-0 chassis, that, as a novice 009 modeller, was his first loco.
Hope this helps.
Mick
Hello Mick
Thanks again for your reply re my question iI have checked out the article you mentioned on the NGRM site and it is excellent, do you or any other member of the 009 society have a copy of the article by Charlie Insley re "Scratchbuilding For Beginners" from the 009 News ,,Vol 33 No 6, February 2006 pages 5 to 7. Also I understand from replies I recieved on the NGRM site re this subject that there was a booklet published by the 009 society some two or so years ago dealing with this very subject, if any fellow member has either a copy of the above article or indeed the booklet which consits of previous articles published in the 009 News compiled into the booklet re
scratch building, I would be grateful for a copy of either or both if possible. I will pay any costs involved.
Thanks all the best,John.
Quote from: murphy1570 on July 11, 2010, 01:17
Hello Mick
............... do you or any other member of the 009 society have a copy of the article by Charlie Insley re "Scratchbuilding For Beginners" from the 009 News ,,Vol 33 No 6, February 2006 pages 5 to 7. Also I understand from replies I recieved on the NGRM site re this subject that there was a booklet published by the 009 society some two or so years ago dealing with this very subject......................... I would be grateful for a copy of either or both if possible. I will pay any costs involved.
Hello John,
I'll do my best to reply with constructive answers from my own understanding as you asked me, but confirmed details if I have got it wrong should come from a committee member - several of the committee are members of this forum, so one or more of them will no doubt respond with correct details if required!
The booklet you mention is called The Scratchbuilder's Handbook. It is unfortunately undated, but from memory was first issued around 4 years ago. It is as you have been advised: a compilation of articles previously published in 009 News covering locomotive and railcar construction - very few of the 14 articles are strictly speaking "scratchbuilt", in the main they are kitbashes and scratchbuilt bodies on commercial chassis, but nevertheless, some interesting and useful content. Total of 65 pages, spiral bound, so copying is not feasible, notwithstanding any copyright aspects, although I have to say that probably due to an oversight or a lacking in attention to detail, there are no copyright statements made in the book! The committee decided about 18 months ago not to finance any further print runs of this booklet as all Society publications were being reviewed with an aspiration to publish a new set of booklets covering a wide range of subjects, all under a standard format and housestyle, This is still a work in progress as far as I understand. There may well be some copies of the Scratchbuilders Handbook remaining unsold, which you would be able to purchase if this is so. I recommend that you ask either Brian Guilmant as Sales Officer or Charlie lnsley as Secretary in the first instance. Charlie is a member of this forum so you could email him from here, or via his contact details on 009 News, Brian is not on the forum but is contactable by phone or email via details on page 3 of every 009 News.
Regarding getting a copy of the article you mentioned that was published in a previous 009 News. My understanding is that at the recent Society committee meeting, an outstanding agenda action item regarding re-commencing the previous 009 News back issue service that was ceased 20 months ago in October 2008 resulted in a decision to not re-open this service. However, I understand that the Society Archivist, Garry Whiting, volunteered to continue to provide photocopies of old articles by post on request and I assume upon receipt of mutually agreed expenses. This is all I know as this is what I was advised, I am sure Garry will correct this if I have been briefed incorrectly.
I suggest that you send Garry a PM or email in the first instance with your enquiry. Garry is a member of this forum under his own name (so no complications trying to decipher a pseudonym!) and you will find his contact details under his profile in the members list
Sorry I can
Quote from: murphy1570 on June 18, 2010, 21:50
Hello Mick and Julien
Thanks for your replies re my question about using plasticard to build locos, I will follow up your advice, which looks very helpful, Mick as regards building the locos I did mean just building the bodies and using a commercial chassis I will also check out the ngrm-online forum as you suggest and try to obtain the specific article by Charlie Insley "Scratchbuiding for Beginners" article in 009 News Vol 33 no 6- February 2006, perhaps if any other member of the forum has this article I would be grateful for a copy if possible.
Thanks again folks all the best,John.
Just a suggestion - if you were to contact Charlie Insley using the details on Page 3 of 009 News (he is currently Societry Secretary) I would not be surprised if he still had a copy of the article he wrote and sent to the Editor of 009 News in a format that could be e-mailed (and as author there would be no copyright issues!). He might even be a member of this forum...
Hello Mick & Julien W.
Thanks for your replies re thanks again for your help re sourcing both the article by Charlie Insley and the information re "The Scratchbuilders Handbook" Mick I phoned Brian Guilmant and he advised me to contact the News editor Mark Howe, which I did and he is going to include my request on the lettes page of a future edition of 009 News re the book, in case any fellow member has a spare copy. I did think about the copyright issue Mick thanks for that advise.
Thanks again for your advice and help and also to all other members who have good advice.
All the best,John.