Faur L45H / LxD2

[g-bits]

Jonathan, would it be possible though, to do something where the glazing has an edge instead, I guess you'd have to try and mill glazing material then though? My current thought was just ten thou material cut to be just slightly larger and glued carefully on the inside, with much cursing too no doubt! A semi flush glazed version of the same idea would make things a lot easier!

James,

You mean so that the glazing now has a stepped edge - the front half has a smaller cross-section and sits in the window apperture, and the back is larger by a couple of mm all round and sits behind the paneling? Glue being applied to the 'extra' front face of the rear bit?

Yes, it's theoretically possibly, but not with my kit, and CNC milling is definitely the way to go. All the machined edges will then be matt and non-windowlike, but since they all either hidden or edges, that shouldn't matter.

Looking at the way the kit parts are made, I imagine Rene's machine is capable of it, using something like 1mm perspex - mill all the window shapes at half depth first, and then go back and cut them out oversize to give the mounting flange. Since he designed and makes the kit anyway, he should have (exactly) the necessary dimensional data...

Jonathan
RDE

 

[jameshilton]

Well progress on my excellent Blauturm (http://www.blauturm.de/ < Link To www.blauturm.de) Faur Lxd2 kit continues...

I've been making some modifications to the kit to better represent the Polish examples, so have hand fashioned some new grab irons on each end. This meant filling and smoothing the existing grab rod holes, which was done by fitting them, then cutting them off flush and using Milliput to fill any remaining gaps.

I also drilled out the bogie mounting holes so that the bogies could be trial fitted, shown here with the side frames on one side also screwed on. In the cab I've added the arm rests but not the fold down seats yet, tonight's job.

I've contacted Rene (at Blauturm) about remaking some flush glazing for me to which I've had a positive response and I've got a Massoth XLS and Visteon speaker on order with V51 sounds, which will need wiring up.

The last thing not sorted in my mind yet is the lighting arrangements but I've plenty of time as there is still some way to go on the body yet...

Smoky, my half British Blue 7 year old cat came over to inspect the Lxd2 and train of timber flats...

Also gives you a better idea of the size of the Lxd2, the wagons will become modern era EJ&KLR liveried examples, and the older Liliput ones will remain OBB examples.

 

[jameshilton]

I've been very tired today so took a gentle detailing approach to modelling this evening and studied photos of the real Lxd2 locomotives to improve the look of the door handles. Some thin styrene with rounded corners was drilled for the brass 0.9mm handle that was filed to shape. The lock at the bottom is a sliver of styrene rod and the lock at the top just a few twists of the 0.9mm drill in the pin vice.

The seats are also now fitted in the cab - I'll take some better photos when there is more to show

 

[nicebutdim]

That's coming along really well, James. I like it a lot, reminds me of one of the locomotives on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway, John Southland I think it is.

 

[jameshilton]

Two exciting parcels arrived today, the first containing the Massoth XLS and Visaton speaker, excellent service from http://www.gardenrailoutlet.co.uk/ < Link To Garden Rail Outlet with some custom CV tweaks to the V51 sound chip and a very competive price. Still expensive, yes, but somehow the kit seemed to cry out for top quality sound...

Somewhat cheaper but again excellent service from http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/ < Link To Express Models for the 'warm white' LEDs sourced for the headlights.

Work on the http://www.blauturm.de/ < Link To Blauturm body has progressed substantially in the past few days as well. First up I sprayed the cab interior with primer, as this would have been quite difficult with the roof in place. Then the roof was glued on and the lights and top panels glued and shaped roughly with a needle file. Tonight I roughly shaped the top panels before filling all the gaps with Superfine Milliput. I'll smooth, sand and file it to shape tomorrow evening, and the whole model might be in primer by the weekend.

 

[CoggesRailway]

Wow just caught up. That looks gorgeous!

 

[Phil]

James if you place a spray can lid over the top of the speaker it makes the sound deeper or something..
it makes it sound better anyway..

 

[Zerogee]

James if you place a spray can lid over the top of the speaker it makes the sound deeper or something..
it makes it sound better anyway..

Yes, I've used this trick in a couple of locos since someone first suggested it on here - and can confirm it makes a great improvement!

Jon.

 

[jameshilton]

Thanks chaps - there isn't a lot of space left in the fuel tank with it fitted. By the 'top' of the speaker do you mean the back (with the sticker on) or the front (the 'cone')?

 

[Zerogee]

The back, James. Assuming the speaker is facing downwards with its face to the floor grille (I think from some of the shots on Blauturm's site that the bottom of the fuel tank is perforated as a speaker grille?), the can lid goes over the body of the speaker - I use a thin roll of "white tack" (the Pritt version of Blutack) pressed round the edge of the speaker, then just push the spray can cap on over it, with a tiny nick cut in it for the speaker wires to pass. Makes a nice flexible sound seal, easily removable should it need to be. If you are lacking in height inside the fuel tank, just cut the cap down to fit - the important thing is it forms a sealed enclosure over the rear of the speaker, enormously improving the bass effect.
Jon.

 

[palmerston]

Don't worry, the Visaton will give superb (deep) sound!

Ive used one in a LGB Mallet.

 

[CoggesRailway]

Also the loco is a nice boxy space so it should sound good anyway. If the void in which the speaker sits is ported it will help a bit too, ie a grill or the like.

 

[jameshilton]

Guys I need some help with a question about LEDs and the XLS - http://www.gscalecentral.net/fb.ashx?m=222193

As for the Visaton speaker, I plan on sealing (with the blu-tak suggestion) the fuel tank itself, so won't bother with a aeresol cap

 

[jameshilton]

After a final (I think) order to Eileen's Emporium for some brass rod (to improve the fit of some of the provided steel handrails) I've now pretty much got everything I need to finish the Faur Lxd2 kit, so I'm turning to finishing touches.

I've now fitted filled and filed the roof edge boards into shape...

Started fitting the handrails

Then tweaked the horns (hollowing them out)

and the light surrounds (rounding the edges) to lift the final finish.

I've also opened out the light to fit the 2mm lighthouse LEDs. I think I'll wire these up with the provided resistors and then tweak the CV50 on the XLS to provide closer to 12V - I'll see how they look at 5V first

Any how - once the brass wire turns up I can finish the body and then take it all part for priming.

The one final un-resolved thing is glazing - Rene has promised me some milled windows, but otherwise I will be fitting styrene through the cab windows I think - the only way to get good access to them! Good job I want to leave the drivers sliding windows open!

 

[jameshilton]

My order from https://www.eileensemporium.com/ < Link To Eileen's Emporium arrived today...

Specifically here, the 1.6mm diameter brass wire, and the Slaters Microstrip assortment pack, both put to good use in finishing off the bodywork on the Lxd2. Why have I replaced some of the supplied handrails? Well they were formed from steel, and incredibly hard to re-form. The small ones at the front and back of the cab were too small, the ones either side of the nose were missing and the ones at the front top of the bonnet were too big, and protruded too much from the nose of the locomotive. I had these shaped up easily in brass and fitted within half an hour, and saved Rene sending me some replacements over from Germany

I then used a bit of the Microstrip, as I didn't know which size I would need I got the assorted pack, to fill the gap between the roof side panels and the main roof, this has tidied it up really nicely.

I've just got the roof fan mesh and ring to fit before priming I think - I need to measure up where the body side strip sits before deciding if the handles on the doors can be fitted prior to painting.

 

[bazzer42]

James - that is one gorgeous looking loco:love:

I can't wait to see it sprayed up. Are you achieving all this in between nappy changes?

 

[mike]

this just gets better and better, love it

 

[jameshilton]

A major milestone in the Lxd2 kit - I've primed all the parts with Halfords plastic primer. I love this stage of modelling, when all the constituent parts come together for the first time and you can see what you've really created. More photos later when I pose the chassis and body together.

 

[nicebutdim]

Looking good, James. Very nice model you have coming along there.

 

[Rhinochugger]

I've been waiting for more updates. I have to say that it's looking good.

I came across the Gal Line site the other day and a basic kit for a 1:20.3 boxcab - rather tempting