Steam Tram Roof

Today I did some work on what will become the tram's roof.

I had pondered whether to make it out of balsa wood, styrene or tinplate. I settled on the later for the main curved section, and balsa for the end sections. The photos show how I went about putting it together. 

First I started with the tin for the main, scribing the edges, folding back inwards underneath for strength, then soldering strip bracing for reinforcement inside. 0.5 mm piano wire was used to make formers at the ends of the roof sections, where the prototype is curved off. This was the trickiest part so far, trying to get the right shape. 

Following soldering of the bracing to the bent wire, balsa strips were cut using the balsa stripper tool I have see here: http://www.hobbytools.com.au/prod48.htm and here: http://www.hobbyco.com.au/product/show_item.php?plu=MASTRIPPER 

The strips were then interwoven in the frame I had made and glued in place, followed later by application of Squadron putty and Mr Surfacer 1000.

The next part to attack is sanding back the ends to a smooth curvature and fabricating the clestory roof.

Baldwin Steam Motor Construction

Recently I have had a bit of time to get back in the garden….

Firstly trains are running again, following a great deal of repair work, with a new set of points being fitted for better running in the main station, Peach Tree.

The most interesting developments have been made in regards to rolling stock:

I'm starting to build a model of a Baldwin Steam Tram Motor, as used by the early NSW tramways, I say NSW because they were used in Sydney, Newcastle and Broken Hill, as well as some other locations. 

Heres a few links to what I'm trying to replicate in model form:

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=214923

http://infobluemountains.net.au/locodepot/tram/exhibits_tram103a.shtml

I started construction by obtaining a Bachmann Motor Block for one of their trolley cars (trams), cutting out a footplate from thin ply and starting on the walls of the tram out of styrene. 

Below are some photos that should speak for themselves:

Wall of the tram motor from styrene.

Plans blown up to scale.

Lids from food tins and jars are handy...