Large Scale Central

Recent freelance Garratt project

Modeling
#1

This is my current project started last year but lost interest in largescale for a while. A renewed interest has seen me progress this of late. Project started as two old LGB locomotives. The tender frames were modified and fitted to the locomotive underframe to enable fitting the bunker/tender bodies. The original cab was modified to fit the new underframe.

Boiler is made from several pieces of PVC plumbing and the underframe was made from a piece of PVC supplied with a portable air conditioner. Piping is generally done using an old wire coat hanger (no expense spared on this project).

The original LGB Stainz type motor block was modified to allow a third axle.

Now my quandry is what colour to finish the boiler? The smokebox will be silver and the underframe black. I want to retain the original finish on the bunkers and the cab as a homage to LGB. I intended the boiler to be black, but have had two people suggest a green to match the bunkers and cab. Finding a close colour match will be difficult. Any colour suggestions to complement the LGB green? I personally prefer boilers to be black but am open to suggestions. The boiler is separate to the underframe so painting a different colour would not be an issue as regards a degree of difficulty.

#2

Take the cab or tender body to your local Lowes or Home Depot and let them match the color.

#3

I don’t know why but I don’t like Garratts…I really don’t.

That said, If LGB made this one I’d buy it in a shot! I love the proportions and the color…Sweet!

I also like the boiler in ‘black’ as is, or a deep navy. Very nice!

#4

I really like Garratts and yours is looking great!
I like how you have used recycled items on this build. The “no expense spared” is another way to say “clever use of”.
I think if you paint the boiler LGB green it might be too much green but then again well cared for Garratts usually were painted all the one colour. You could try painting the boiler black but continue the use of gold stripes on it to tie it all together.

Keep us posted.

#5

Plannished iron on the boiler. I don’t know if you can get Testors’ “Model Masters” spray paints down under, but if you can, try their “buffable metalizer” paints in gunmetal. Spray it on, let it dry, then buff with a cotton cloth buffing wheel in a Dremel tool. Paint the dome and the smokebox black, and line the dome with yellow striping to match the yellow on the bunkers. (Saves having to match the green paint.) Here’s an example of a boiler done with the Testors paint:

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/eastbroadtop/EBT3/EBT327.jpg)

If you can’t get the Testors spray paint, then prime the boiler and get some powdered graphite (lock lubricant). Spread that on with your fingers, polishing it into the surface of the boiler jacket. You can use a pencil to get in next to the details like the boiler bands and the edges around the domes. Once that’s on, clearcoat with a gloss finish. I use Future acrylic floor “wax” (it’s not really a wax). Don’t know what it might be called on your side of the world. It takes a little bit to get this technique down, but the results are well worth it. Here’s one done with the graphite powder:

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/eastbroadtop/TRR5/TRR501.jpg)

Like Mark, I’m not a big Garratt person, but I like the proportions of this one. I really like the 3-axle chassis! That’s sweet! Any photos of that modification?

Later,

K

#6

Thankyou all for suggestions. As regards the three axle drive block, I modify the rear spacer found in most ‘American’ Porter style LGB #2017 type installs to mount an axle housing (brass tubing). The spacer block is then partially filled with two part epoxy to give the brass tubing some support. Drive rods are then made to connect the ‘new’ axle to the original drive block.