The Third Rail

25/08/2025

So the Garratt…..

I have a funny feeling the DJH kit is more a GO Garratt than it is a GMAM. The boiler measures out to EXACTLY a GO boiler. The water tender is also right for a GO.

But that is half the story. Sean Stanton sent me a boiler and cab out of the goodness of his heart. And I am very thankful, however, I have the original drawings for the GMAM and the diameter of the boiler is 7ft 1.5in which works back to 25.4mm. The boiler he sent me measured out at 27.2mm odd. The standard DJH boiler measures out at 22.4ish.

So I gave the drawings to Fiona Marshall and she redesigned that and the cab. With the main aim being that I want to build dynamic smoke into the thing.

Guess what? Buggerall fits. So now what! Well, I am ordering a Marklin E380661 dynamic smoker. All R2k worth. And then pray that I can wire it. And that it fits…..

It is never easy. Fiona did a splendid job on adding all the little details to the cab and boiler. I think if I can pull this off, I could possibly have a puffing dynamic smoke equipped Garratt in future somewhere.

Hold thumbs dudes!

22/08/2025

Another utterly complete model.

21/08/2025

Ek hoor so met die bos telegraaf dat daar mense is wat weereens loop en stront praat. Wesentjies wat wyd en suid loop en vertel ek bou nie meer treine nie.

Kwansuis oor ek vir twee weke niks gepos het nie! Nou ek kan my opruk en die stomme goed uitmekaar skel maar ek gaan nie.

Ek is tans besig met ‘n HO 35GE wat amper klaar is, ‘n HO 6E wat in larwale stadium is en op my tafel….. klaar geprint ek moet hom net bou, staan ‘n 1/24 CG1 klas 35GM vir Brian Nixon.

Verder verneem ek daar is andere wat reken ek kry nie my goed by Frank betyds nie. Hier is hoe dit werk. Ek gaan nie vir Frank in ‘n blik druk nie. Daai man het ALLES hersien en die ontwerpe aangepas. Nie nét om die lokomotiewe nog beter te maak nie, maar hoofsaaklik om dit makliker te maak vir my om hulle te bou.

Want julle sien, ek wil ook graag ‘n geldjie maak. As ek hulle vinniger kan uitkry, maak dit mos sin vir almal. Julle kry vinniger julle goed en ek kry vinniger geld om terug te stoot in die rewolusie in lol.

Intussen ontwikkel ek gou die Luxrailer. Video in die comments net as ‘n voorsmaak.

Lekker julle!!!!!

18/08/2025

Boys!!! I have 30 sets of 16.5mm gauge Sarmodel Spoorbaber bogies with wheels. Screws included. R185 per set.

Beautifully detailed and simply the best runners one can buy.

13/08/2025

In its infancy and yet…… it already has the ability to make a statement. Thanx Hylton!!!

Join me as we explore the revival of South African Cape Gauge modelling in HO scale, a movement driven by some of the most talented railway modellers in the ...

11/08/2025

Tell me more about these. I have one I want to build. Sarmodel. What engine did these have?

09/08/2025

So the Oshkosh…..,

Please correct me where necessary. The single diff day cab was an E series by model number E1223. They had a Cat 1673C (basically a 3306) 10.5L engine at 265hp. This was coupled to an Allison 5 speed auto.

The double diff had the 3406E 14.6L engine with either a 9 or 13 speed Fuller box. Normally 310hp non aftercooled or 350 aftercooled. My model version had the sleeper but was single diff. I have seen one of these with a 3406 in it. Ran like it was nobody’s business. But at that point it was privately owned by a dude in Ceres. So it might have been modified.

Does anybody know the standard specs of these Oshkosh trucks?

08/08/2025

Extremely difficult to paint a truck in HO in a way that it looks sort of like the real thing and not a toy.

Window rubbers and crap is essential. Tell me what you think. I need some clear green paint for the marker lights. It still needs wipers and decals.

Thanx Leon. You did a crapload of work on this model.

04/08/2025

I am doing some small things on my PM GMAM Garratt. Plumbing, injectors, brake pots and stuff. I want to fit windows to it at some point as well.

And then a light weather. The connections between the water pipes are 28 gauge silicon wire. I have soldered everything in place.

I still need to do the other side.😣

30/07/2025

Jy bou hom nie in ‘n week nie.

24/07/2025

Slow going on the farm…… I had no idea the majestic farm house will be so much work. The gable detail took me a while. But she sure is pretty. Did some walls.

The jury is out on the palm trees. Neo and Leon both hate them. I think as soon as the lawn is in there, it might make more sense…..

Tomorrow I fit lights. Got a ceiling plan drawn up that I will lasercut tomorrow. Will do some interior walls so that the whole house doesn’t light up like a flare when lit.

Every part of me wants to do a full interior…… but this farm is 3m from the closest angle you can see it from. I will maybe glue a couple of people in but thats it. No use to overdo something you cannot really see in detail.

I have started some ground work. I just hope this lot do the wine cellars justice.

So….. what do you think. The farm is going to be called “Salpeter Pan”. Palms or no palms lol?