Here are some more pics of Bill’s dismal rebuild.
Bill provided this brief description. The cab was chopped and channelled, ie narrowed from 10’ (in F Scale) to 7’6" and lowered, to just above the hood. The rear end contains the toilet (hence roof vent) backup sandboxes and handbrake wheels, outside and inside the cab. White end panels replace the original grills, now mounted on either side, near the now 500HP single-engined hood front. Bill has been kitbashing for a long time now. More from the master. The diesel is intended to replace such ancient motive power as the 2-6-2T (# 230), Hill End’s express passenger engine (hem hem) rebuilt from a trainset Big Hauler and fitted with RCS r/c, batteries and (EBT) Sierra sound … Master switch visible above valve rod. Bell is mounted under cab, due lack of room on top of shortened boiler, and serves as battery charge plug. Bells are rare on Australian lines, but the sounds come with the Sierra unit, and, hey, the Hill End Co’s line is freelance anyway. Cylinders have been converted to piston valves: the compressor is a set of TD brass castings with scratchbuilt details: the tanks and bunker are from the trainset tender, complete with ship-sized rivets, but not looking too bad, once the centre rows of rivets are removed: the jack and tank fillers/vents are from GRS, UK. Its replacement may be some time coming.
Bill’s layout progresses. The last shot (# 381) is of Lake station, the mine end of the line. The building, based on John Ahern drawings, is cobbled up from supermarket cartons, to get an idea of proportions before committing to permanent materials (which I haven’t got around to doing yet). The van is rebuilt Lehmann Toy Train, with details inspired by Wolgan Valley Railway (NSW) vans, but with end platform. Roof vents are Bunnings upholstery nails and inverted shoe eyelets. Working (LED) lights are Plastruct and styrene.
