Bashing a Liliput and LGB diesel: Kof cough...

[jameshilton]

Way back in December 2010, when I got into garden railways for the first time, I picked up a Liliput 'Dieselok V3'. This ended up being the first 'bashed' engine I did in G-scale (http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=112989&high=liliput+diesel) < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...p;high=liliput+diesel) and has served me well, transformed from a slightly re-worked (by Liliput/Bachmann) Bachmann Davenport into something decidedly more European in outline.

From...

To...

However, I was never really happy with it - but it ran superbly, and as my first locomotive I always wanted to run it every session. Looking at LGB starter set Kof diesels though, and the Zillertalbahn small diesel I saw in a video whilst hunting down Roll-wagen information (for that other project http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=176004&high=roll-wagen) < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...4&high=roll-wagen) I wondered if I could do something with those ideas... that was back in 2011 but I've been slowly aquiring parts.

A few weeks ago I started sketching out ideas and plans whilst on holiday. I like to work out which parts will need modifying, scratchbuilding etc - and to think about the small details and assembly ideas too...

It all seemed entirely feasibly, if a little daunting. However I kept putting off cutting into my treasured model...

But with an evening free to do some modelling and the railbus priming not taking long (see my other thread http://www.gscalecentral.net/Piko-VT98-bash-m225588) < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...T98-bash-m225588) I decided to dismantle the Liliput diesel and look at how to modify the LGB cab to fit. Well it went a bit further than that in the end!

First up I cut out a slot on the cab control unit to fit over the motor cover in the Liliput cab with a slitting disc. I then used a razor saw to remove the rear lights and moulded details on the cab. I then pulled out the handrails, and then decided I'd take a look at cutting down the buffer beam.

I hacked one corner with the razor saw and in less than ten minutes I had removed the bolt head detail and a sloping corner, more European in outline.

I like the proportions so far and will mock up a bonnet in card to get a better feel of it soon. Am I the first person to bash a LGB Kof cab on to this chassis?

 

[yb281]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I like the proportions so far and will mock up a bonnet in card to get a better feel of it soon. Am I the first person to bash a LGB Kof cab on to this chassis?

Maybe James, but having seen how well that cab fits on the footplate, you won't be the last.

I'm off to consult the voices in my head..................................

 

[stockers]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Looks very interesting James.
I have considered trying to bash my LGB Kof in to the Harz V C 10
Shame about the extra axle.

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Thanks chaps!

Mel - hope I can get it finished before anyone else who joins in! It might take a while, I've some great ideas for parts of it, but I want to get a good finish and there is lots of filing and filling on the cab and buffer beams to do.

Alan - you could get something similar but I think you'd be looking at some chassis work to get the big skirt feel at each end, and the body may as well be all new as the cab and bonnet are totally different. Those logos were very common in industrial service in East Germany too I think though, so someone in Germany might do some parts?

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I've begun building up a new bonnet for the Liliput/LGB Kof bash - so far just a very simple rectangular box out of 60thou plasticard. Note this is 3mm short at the front as I've not added the grill section. I'm going to use 120thou for the front piece so that I can get a good rounded edge on the front corners like the prototype. To form the curved bonnet top I'm going to use various stepped sections of plasticard, with the edges smoothed with Milliput, and then I'll sand it into the curved profile of the prototype inspiration.

I've managed to remove the original grill from the Davenport body, and will cut this down for use as it's the right pattern. I'm wondering the best way to set it flush at the moment - but it may mean I need to cut, file, fit, fill and smooth to get a good finish

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I had a quick half hour so I managed to knock up the bonnet top from some sketches I had made, as well as posing the model with the lights and exhaust stack balanced in position...

Next up the bonnet front, and then I can do the Milliput...

 

[jgallaway81]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Looks pretty cool

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Thanks - hoping to make some more progress tonight, probably the bonnet front and start removing more of the moulded detail on the cab... expect a post tonight or tomorrow morning

 

[Madman]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I'm following your progress with interest. By the way, I noticed that you seem more frazzelled in you new photograph. Too many late nights in your workshop perhaps. :wits:

 

[whatlep]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I'm following your progress with interest. By the way, I noticed that you seem more frazzelled in you new photograph. Too many late nights in your workshop perhaps. :wits:

James has two small children now!

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Dan never fear, it's just a photo showing (badly) my tash I've grown for Movember
and yes, two children certainly has it's downsides - but massively outweighed by the smiles and fun

The LGB Kof cab has been smoothed, I've removed the last traces of the moulded light details on the rear, along with the waist high band, and on the cb sides I've smoothed off the number and works plates.

I also took a razor saw to the small boxes protruding from each side of the cab front.

 

[Madman]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Dan never fear, it's just a photo showing (badly) my tash I've grown for Movember
and yes, two children certainly has it's downsides - but massively outweighed by the smiles and fun

The LGB Kof cab has been smoothed, I've removed the last traces of the moulded light details on the rear, along with the waist high band, and on the cb sides I've smoothed off the number and works plates.

I also took a razor saw to the small boxes protruding from each side of the cab front.

It only gets better and tougher at the same time.
The loco is looking good. I do the same type of sketching when I am planning a detailed construction project. It really helps to sort out all of the thoughts in my brain and certainly saves alot of time on the job. But when it comes to my trains I kind of just dive in.

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I've made a start on creating the distinctive front bonnet grill and surround. Using 3mm thick styrene should allow me to get a good rounded edge on the top and side corners like the prototype.

This evening, with a half hour window, I hacked a hole in the bonnet front using a large drill bit, then cut out with a craft knife a rough rectangle. This was cleaned up with a file and a sharper blade, before fitting the salvaged grill from the Liliput bonnet. This is now glued on to the rest of the bonnet. Getting there slowly, still a few jobs before I can get out the filler!

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

It's been a few weeks since I've updated the blog, and progress has been a little slow. However, that's just life and the time of year, so on to the matter in hand...

To get the bonnet looking right it needs a rounded top and smoothed edges. From a technique I learnt in the construction of the Faur Lxd2 kit I decided to layer plasticard and then complete with Milliput. Once it's hardened I can sand it smooth. I expect it will need a second going over, but that's fine because the cab still needs most of it's holes filling.

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Well the Milliput had set nicely so this evening out came some 320 grit sandpaper and I worked it smooth using my workbench with the paper held down against this to get a flat surface finish. I also rounded the edges of the bonnet with the sane technique.

As I guessed there were a few low spots on the surface so I needed a second going over with Milliput.

Therefore to avoid doing a third batch at this stage I finished off work on the cab and exhaust stack. This involved filling the gaps on the front of the cab, and adding some plasticard to the base of the exhaust stack to get the height right. Once ready Milliput was used again to fill the holes in the cab and to smooth the low points in the bonnet.

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I had hoped the second application of Milliput on the body of my Liliput Kof bash would be enough, and although it's looking pretty good there are still a few blemishes on the cab back to address. So more photos, more progress but not much more to see!

However thoughts will now turn to work on the chassis, as this also needs some smoothing. First up will be to strip out the drive unit to keep it free from contamination. Then I'll cut the corners to the buffer beans and remove the screws. I'll then fabricate the brake cylinders and use the excess Milliput to smooth the buffer beams and the cab rear. Once these are smoothed I can add the shunters platforms to the step and the buffer beam cable hooks. I then want to add the bonnet doors, vents and hinges, before adding the lighting and finishing with handrails. Then just prior to painting I'll fabricate a coupling bar to sit on the foot plate.

Painting seems a long way away but it's probably only a few hours of modelling in reality. More soon...

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

I got some more work on the little Liliput diesel shunter yesterday, although you can't really see that much.

I raided my daughters old pen box and found a dead one to use as the air brake reservoir. It looks about the right size but when offered up needs so much cut out from the back that it just doesn't look right. I sketched out this and other details including the footboards, bonnet hinges and bufferbeam hooks. Add to that the fact that the Zillertal engine doesn't have train brakes fitted anyway, and I think I'm going to leave them off.

I made use of the time today to also cut off the corners of the buffer beams, file the smooth and remove the screws. These are now ready for filling, which is next.

 

[mbiff]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

loverly neat work james

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

This evening I made a start on the bonnet side doors. I cut these from 40thou styrene sheet, and chose to try and represent a pressed steel pattern, like on the prototype.

I cut two diagonal lines on the back of each door, just two scores deep. I then gently bent along these lines to form the panel before attaching them in place with liquid polystyrene cement that I had allowed to nearly dry to reduce the risk of solvent vapor deforming the doors in future. Next up handrails and door handles!

 

[garrymartin]

Re:Kof cough... LGB in to Liliput does go...

Crikey James this is way beyond anything I could dream of achieving with plasticard and a knife.