Faur L45H / LxD2

[jameshilton]

Well it had a decent test run today on the EJ&KLR, nice slow running, good sound, no issues with running at all, so I can safely progress the finishing...

I got some good photos today, but I've not got my laptop to upload them here, but there are some iPhone photos on my blog...

http://ejklr.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08...spot.co.uk/2012/08/faur-lxd2-vs-obb-2095.html < Link To http://ejklr.blogspot.co....-lxd2-vs-obb-2095.html
http://ejklr.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/mocked-up-faur-passenger-turn.html < Link To http://ejklr.blogspot.co....ur-passenger-turn.html

I snapped a few photos to show t compared to the OBB 2095, and the LGB Austrian bogie coach.

 

[jameshilton]

Well as promised, here are some high resolution better photos of the Lxd2 on test on the EJ&KLR. I also have some video, but that needs editing and uploading to Youtube which will take me a few days to get round to - faultless performance, I can't wait to get it finished now!

It's worth noting the size against both the LGB 2095 and the bogie coach - it's very well proportioned, a good comprimise, that really does capture the look perfectly.

Enjoy...

 

[jameshilton]

I promised to edit and upload the video. Well here it is, nothing special but you get the idea
video=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjnC6fEMjgk

The sound is quite quiet on the video - it is turned down a lot in real life too, but it's loud enough to give a real sensation that the engine is 'real', whilst also that it's moving away from, and towards you, on my little line.

I've finished the painting (tidying up) on the body now, so it's ready for varnish when we have a dry evening
Still got the bogie sideframes to paint in satin black, and then exhaust staining around the roof exhaust in matt black.

 

[garrymartin]

Excellent stuff James , she's going to be a great looking engine, lovely low speed running and the quiet sound works well too, I'm lookin forward to seeing her with a train

 

[CoggesRailway]

this is brilliant!

 

[jameshilton]

Well more progress to report chaps!I don't generally get on with varnish - I have ruined quite a number of models in my career by either a dodgy finish, blooming, pathy, splattery, sticky - you name it. So it was with a little bit of trepedation that I approached the Faur with a can of Humbrol...
I chose the rattle can because I've had success with it before - and my airbrush needle needs replacing. It's the satin variety, sold as formulated for enamel - this is important as I've tried the stuff for acrylic and it didn't go well over enamel paint (as you'd expect, but for some reason I didn't!). Anyhow - I took a photo outside to see how it's added a richness to the finish...

Today I was very excited as my custom etched nickel silver plates finally arrived from Steve at Narrow Planet - superb artwork, and great value for money. The works plates are a touch too big as I feared, so Steve has promised to re-draw these to my new dimensions soon. I think they look absolutely superb and now I can't wait to add the other final touches.

Note in the last photo, the bogie sideframes (still in primer - they will be satin black) are just posed in position for effect.

 

[jameshilton]

I always think models look better in natural light - no more progress in these photos but they do show off the finish so far

 

[nicebutdim]

That is a super model there, James. Top notch building and painting, very nice indeed.

 

[jameshilton]

Thanks Tim
Hoping to fit the lighting (or at least try), and the glazing this week. It may not be 100% finished for Saturday's running on the EJ&KLR but it won't be far off

 

[jameshilton]

Thanks Paul

As it feels I'm on to the home straight now the visible progress comes thick and fast...

Last night I only managed a half hour but in that time I fitted the milled styrene push fit flush glazing that Rene at http://www.blauturm.de/ < Link To http://www.blauturm.de had prepared for me!

The end windows needed a touch taking off the height with a file, carefully trial and error until they were a tight fit, all the glazing is firmly pressed in. I have used a tiny spot of gloss varnish on the inside of the largest pane, to endure it can't twist. I have also fitted the wind deflector.

The transformation is incredible and the flush effect is truly superb!

I'm going to finish the second side tomorrow, and will be fitting the LGB driver, through the largest pane, leaning out on the window sill. He may require major leg surgery though!

 

[jameshilton]

Last night I fitted the second side of glazing. Oddly, this side was slightly too small, as in it wouldn't wedge in so they were stuck in with a bit of gloss varnish.

I then moved on to the chassis and fitted the speaker grill, brake pipes, couplings and mounted the chip to the chassis with the screws supplied.

Then back onto the body and I fitted the light surrounds and glazing after painting the former in silver. Seeing how visible the LED will be behind has me thinking about a better lighting solution so for now they're not fitted.

I then put the chassis and body together and screwed the pair firmly fixed. The last job is to paint the wheel faces on the drivers side, and to spray the bogies satin black before fitting them. Still on track for a first 'finished' play this weekend on the EJ&KLR.

 

[CoggesRailway]

Wow that really does look good.

 

[themole]

Very nice James. Alyn

 

[jameshilton]

All set for 'testing' tomorrow - bogies black and it's 99% finished. Just replacement etched works plates and a touch of roof weathering. LEDs will wait until I find something I'm happy with as the lights are so clear... I'll get some photos over the weekend

 

[Zerogee]

Looking very nice, James.... if you say the LED lighting doesn't look right, how about going back to good old grain-of-wheat incandescent bulbs for a much more realistic light, perhaps each one backed with a little conical reflector from tinfoil? the bulbs should fit through the same mounting hole as the LEDs would, and if you get the ready-wired ones then you don't need to worry about a bulb-holder - just a blob of removable silicone adhesive on the inside of the loco body to secure them, which you can peel away and replace if you ever need to change a bulb?

My only other comment would be about the use of that particular LGB driver - it may be just how he looks in the photos, but to me his oversized gurning face looks a bit too cartoonish - I've never liked that pose of LGB crew figure for that reason (the couple of other designs they made are a bit better). With a loco this nice, I think I'd have gone for a more realistic-looking driver, probably a Bachmann one (one of their resin Scenecraft figures, not the huge 1:20.3 scale US types!). Still that's a very minor personal taste issue, and I think that the loco is looking magnificent overall!

Jon.

 

[jameshilton]

Well well well, a day of mixed feelings...
The Faur looks absolutely superb in the natural outdoors, and perfect with my other EJ&KLR stock...
It works too - no issues with wiring, or sound working - all perfect.

However, the bogies aren't right - the springs rub on the edges of the wheels, so I had to take them off... these will need modifying with a slitting disc I think, and then touching up with paint.

 

[garrymartin]

I wouldn't be too disappointed James, its probably the best looking European diesel I have seen on a garden railway

 

[Rhinochugger]

James, a minor frustration at the end of a long and careful build - but it'll be worth it, it's looking superb, and different, and that's probably more important.

 

[JRinTawa]

Yep I reckon it looks pretty good too

 

[jameshilton]

Well I got the bogies modified...

I used a rotary tool with various grinding attachments on the springs and the axle holes, giving myself an extra 0.5mm ish of clearance on those and about 1mm on the springs.

I then used 40thou plasticard to add spacers to the back of the bogie side frames before re-attaching them. This was then tested at home upside down on my bed to check for clearance and it all looked good.

Yesterday I took the engine over to the EJ&KLR (where it will now live with the rest of the stock - works plates will be fitted when they arrive from Narrow Planet) and gave it a proper testing on the outdoor line as well as posing it with my Dad's Shay to show the size...