Hello from LA - and modeling Oz


M

MackeyBloom

New Member
Hello from Los Angeles -

I am absolutely infatuated with Australian railroading and have decided to model a very important change-of-gauge point on the border between New South Wales and Queensland - the town of Wallan-garra.

As this is a new layout with plenty of turnouts and crossings, I am sure I will need assistance in wiring it for DCC

Your thoughts and ideas welcome.
 
Mackey - Welcome and looking forward to pictures as you progress. Very interesting choice of prototype.
 
Depending on what era you're modeling, you might consider ordering some 1/87 scale Australian vehicles from Truckstop Models for the streets and highways of your Australian layout. They carry the Road Ragers line of diecast cars which includes 40's, 50's and 60's Australian Holden sedans, and 60's Australian Ford Falcons as well. Weico also makes 1/87 scale Australian vehicles but they are difficult to find in the US (and aren't as nice or as inexpensive as the Road Ragers line). Another car you could use is the Classic Metalworks 59 Ford sedan which would have been a 1961 model in Australia, but would have had right hand drive. Likewise, the 68 Plymouth Fury 4 door sedan (recently discontinued) by Masterpiece Automotive Replicas, was sold by Chrysler of Australia in right hand drive as the 1968 Dodge Phoenix. Other cars that wouldn't have been out of place in 50's to 70's Australia, would have been Valiant sedans, Ford pickup trucks, 50's and 60's Chevy Biscaynes in 4 door sedan versions only, some British and Japanese cars, and the French built Simca. Holdens (GM), Falcons (Ford), and Valiants (Chrysler) were the cars that were actually manufactured in Australia from the early 60's to the early 80's, but by the early 70's the Australian Falcons and Valiants no longer resembled their American counterparts. Car based pickups similar to El Caminos and Rancheros were very popular and were made by all Australian manufacturers even if there was no American counterpart.
 
After looking at a few Australian HO scale train layouts on Youtube, I'm thinking that you're gonna need to contact some Australian vendors for some of your rolling stock, engines and even structures.
I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on your Aussie layout.
 
Jim, sorry I've just caught up on your thread. If your still doing an Aussie layout, here is a list of dealers, retailers and manufacturers for Australian items. If you need something specific I can filter through the list and direct you to some suppliers.

Okay, if there is no sticky for Australian items perhaps I'll suggest it to the mods.

It's probably been said before but you guy in the US are very fortunate in having so much variety in locos and rolling stock released each month. It's only been in the last decade that we have a vibrant, consistent and high quality RTR manufacturer, albeit their releases are months apart.

Here are some:

AR KITS - http://www.arkits.com
Andrew's Hobbies - www.andrewshobbies.com.au

Auscision Models - http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au
AUST-N-RAIL - http://www.aust-n-rail.com.au
Austrains - http://www.austrains.com.au

Blue and Gold Models - http://www.blueandgoldmodels.com.au
Bills Billboards - http://billsbillboards.webs.com/index.html
Bill's Trains http://www.billstrains.webhop.net/
Black Diamond Models www.blackdiamondmodels.com.au/

DCC Concepts - http://www.dccconcepts.com
DCC Sounds of Victorian Railways -http://www.dccsound.com
Eureka Models - http://eurekamodels.com.au

Hand Made Accessories - http://www.handmadeacc.com/
Hollywood Foundry - http://www.hollywoodfoundry.com/
Ian Lindsay Models - http://www.ianlindsaymodels.com

Kerroby Models - http://www.aust-n-rail.plann.com.au/kerroby.htm

Model Etch (etched parts) - www.modeletch.com
On Track Models - http://www.ontrackmodels.com.au
Powerline - http://www.powerline.com.au
PSM - http://precisionscalemodels.com.au/
Steam Era Models http://home.waterfront.net.au/~sem/


Train Builder - http://trainbuilder.com/
Trainorama - http://www.tomshobbies.com.au/
VRcasts - http://www.vrcasts.com
VR Products - www.vrproducts.com.au
Waratah Model Railway Company - http://www.waratahmrc.com.au/index.html
Weico Models - http://members.optusnet.com.au/~weicomodelsw/
Wuiske Models - http://www.wuiskepromotions.com.au/



I hope this helps and is of interest.
 
Australian Suppliers

This is wonderful information.
Yes, I am still modeling Australian - the hardest thing to locate is HOn3 steam for QR. I may have to jigger an American locomotive and pretend.
Complicating matters is HOn3-1/2 is much more commonly modeled in Oz, then HOn3.

I am looking for C-17 locomotives in HOn3.
 
MackeyBloom said:
This is wonderful information.
Yes, I am still modeling Australian - the hardest thing to locate is HOn3 steam for QR. I may have to jigger an American locomotive and pretend.
Complicating matters is HOn3-1/2 is much more commonly modeled in Oz, then HOn3.

I am looking for C-17 locomotives in HOn3.
Click to expand...

Ohh, not my area of expertise, but I will certainly make some enquiries and respond asap for you. Shouldn't be long...

Edit..... Okay, here's a start...

http://www.modeltrainsho.com.au/HOn3%C2%BD-scale-models-HOn3.5-trains-locos-rolling-stock-c18.html?osCsid=5f904c056a4405ed1016556de94247bc

http://qldrailheritage.com/model/model.htm

http://www.minnipa.au.com/hon42.pdf

http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/scaleandgauge.htm

http://www.wuiskemodels.com/catalog/products_new.php

Not much, I know, but I've put the feelers out and hopefully will get you some more info soon. As I said I do apologise in advance. You've asked for Queensland, steam and HOn3 - three of my weak points of knowledge for Aussie rail.

Our RTR market is much smaller than the US market so you may find many products in a kit for from what we call the 'cottage industry' - small time rail modellers casting and producing their own kits with limited production runs.

I'll update you if I get any more.

Mind you, if you were to have chosen something from the 60's-present day diesel scene from Victoria or New South Wales, you'd go broke :D

Cheers,
 
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MackeyBloom said:
This is wonderful information.
Yes, I am still modeling Australian - the hardest thing to locate is HOn3 steam for QR. I may have to jigger an American locomotive and pretend.
Complicating matters is HOn3-1/2 is much more commonly modeled in Oz, then HOn3.

I am looking for C-17 locomotives in HOn3.
Click to expand...

I was going to say this fellow makes only the PB15 and C17 is HO scale but now he has a new one. Some sort of tank engine. These are RTR, run on 12mm gauge track (Tillig makes 12mm gauge track or use old TT gauge if you can find it) and his models cost an arm and a leg.

I like US HO scale RTR. Nice a cheap and no buffers.

edit: ops, I forgot the link:

http://pgcscalemodels.com.au/holoco.html


The photos below show a BB18 1/4 class at Roma Street station a few weeks ago and a model of that class in Sn3 1/2 scale at a local exhibition.
 
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Looking for C17 in HOn3

Thank you very much foe the tip about PGC models.
I had contacted the gent earlier - he told me that converting the C17 model he had to HOn3 was near impossible. And at the prices charged, I did not want to purchase it and then bung it all up attempting to shave a little here and there from the frame.
 
May I ask why you want to use HOn3?

Most QR models are either HO or HOn3.5. HOn3.5 is known as HOm in europe. The gauge is 12mm. I'm sure there would be Tillig track dealers in the states.

Steam Era models makes good quality wheel sets for 12mm gauge track.

http://home.waterfront.net.au/~sem/

Hmm, he does HOn3 wheels too.

He mentions delrin bearings, but I use English 'top hat' brass bearings with his wheels on my NSWR stuff. That is a super smooth combination, particularly after adding a bit of pencil lead as lubricant.

Terry Flyn has some ideas about weight for Australian steam era stuff. Many wagons are much smaller and shorter than their American equivilents and so the NMRA wieght formula seems to result in wagons which are too heavy. Here's a link to his site:

http://www.angelfire.com/clone/rail/index.html

I think you'd have to go with 12mm gauge track. However, my Indonesian railfan friends use trains running on standard 16.5mm track, even though their prototype is 3'6". The Japanese also run their HO models on 16.5mm track although their prototype also uses the 3'6" gauge. Some QR modellers also used HO standard gauge many years ago, but the 12mm gauge seems most popular now, even displacing the old Sn3.5 favour (S scale on HO standard gauge track).

And don't forget about the buffers. Buffers mean more cleanence is needed on curves. So even small, short cars need #6 turnouts and 24" radius or larger curves.

Let me know if there is anything you need. I am well placed, and I have the right knowledge to help with your project.

Regards, Paul
 
So sorry for the late reply. The issue is HOn3 track is readily available here in the states and I have many yards of dual gauge HO/HOn3 track and turnouts.

Thanks for the heads up regarding Steam Era Models.
 
Hi Mackey,

one idea I've come up with would be changing to South Australian narrow gauge. The SA modellers use HOn3 to represent 3'6" gauge. Here's some links:

http://www.mrsac.com/modelrailways.shtml

http://www.broadgaugemodels.com/ind...ategory_id=11&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=45

Note that the top loco pic in the second link is not a T class. The bottom pic is. I'm not sure what the loco in the top pic is, but it looks like a Victorian steam loco to me. A J class perhaps? Someone made a mistake on the website, I think.

The SAR stuff (not to be confused with South African Railways, also SAR) might be interesting for an American modeller as the SAR had an American commissioner in the 1920's. One Mr Webb, who introduced many steam era American practices and rolling stock. The SAR was techologically ahead of much bigger Australian systems for a few decades as a result of Commissioner Webb's influence.

That state actually had three gauges, 5'3" broad gauge, 4'8.5" standard gauge and the 3'6" colonial guage. A few stations has all three!



The other alternative would be to sell the HO/HOn3 track. If it is micro engineering ,that would be a shame.

The European Tillig stuff is supposed to be very good too. It is infact quite close to Australian track prototypes (and so very popular in Australia, both fo r HOn3.5 and HO standard), though not ideal for American prototypes due to tie patterns. I'm told the Tillig flexitrack is the best flexitrack, but I don't always believe what people say. I haven't use it myself so I can't comment with any authority one way or the other. None the less, Tillig gets plenty of raves.

Here's a link:

http://www.tillig.com/index-engl.htm

This fellow in NJ seems to be the US importer:

http://www.eurotrainhobby.com/
 
Paul, some excellent suggestions there. I really like the Tillig Elite turnouts with their single turnout blade design!

MackeyBloom, if I may be so bold, you could try your hand at Victorian Railways (VR) or New South Wales (NSW)? Arguably the most extensive amount of RTR items available in Australia - but I am biased ;)

http://auscisionmodels.com.au/products_page.htm - The most popular for RTR at present with new models being announced or released very month!
http://sdsmodels.com.au/
http://www.ontrackmodels.com.au/
http://www.orientexpressmodels.com.au/index.htm

And Steam Era Models' kits are popular Australia-wide.

Regards,
 
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