MOC: W.I.P. Tram and Loco

[Pizzareno]

I am building a couple of items and would like to ask for opinions on the shaping and any other helpful suggestions

First up is an electric tram.

I am not sure about the shaping of the front end of the roof. I have the nice rounded sloped tile things along the side then the front is all studs and to me doesn't look quite right. Sorry for the rainbowish colours but don't have the colours I want yet. BL here we come. As far as I can see the only common colour that will look good for the sloped tiles and the 1 x 4 curved corner plates is white. It might help if they were all white and it might not look funny.

Here is the original that my version is based on.

Secondly is a diesel shunter. Colours are mostly right but the windows on the ends of the cab need to be changed to yellow and the bars at the front to white. Please let me know what you think and what improvements I could make to this model.

The original that my version is based on. Well actually I have made what I think is a general example of this type of loco.

Thank you for taking the time to look and comment.

[JopieK]

the front end is indeed difficult! I think you did a nice job! the train is also very nice! I also like the front doors very much, nice older parts that look well on such a model.

[ronenson]

I like the shapes of both, but (partly due to your inventory) there's too much color. If I may make some suggestions, for the diesel shunter I suggest to limit to 3 main colors: red, yellow and dark bluish grey. Therefor, I suggest to scale down in white accents, and replace the light bluish grey roof with dark bluish grey. You might also want to check if this diesel fits on lego track (it seems to be really low). I definitely like the model. Good luck.

[Pizzareno]

I like the shapes of both, but (partly due to your inventory) there's too much color. If I may make some suggestions, for the diesel shunter I suggest to limit to 3 main colors: red, yellow and dark bluish grey. Therefor, I suggest to scale down in white accents, and replace the light bluish grey roof with dark bluish grey. You might also want to check if this diesel fits on lego track (it seems to be really low). I definitely like the model. Good luck.

Thanks. I need these suggestions! So I will change the roof colour on the diesel. I think you are right and it will look better. I'll also change the windows to yellow when they arrive as that is what the real life one has. The steps between the bogies will be black rather than white.

I have test run the loco on my track, though I don't have any video, but it does run quite well. I'm stuck in the 80s and so it still runs on the old 12v I don't think it would fit any PF stuff anyway.

[zephyr1934]

The tram looks great (the seats, running boards, etc), but since you are asking, here is my 2c: I would change the 1x2x2 trans panels for the 1x2x2 windows (as you already have on the ends of the cabin) that long transparent band doesn't look period correct, and for the end roof, where it steps to six wide, perhaps use one of these (but then again, that trades off in the opposite direction),

On the shunter, also already a lot of great little details there. Perhaps make the platforms on the end 4 wide at the top instead of the current 2 (seems a little narrow at the moment, but I also see that the prototype has a wide step at the base too, so ???). For the stacks, I'd replace the 1x1 rounds with technic pin connectors. Looks like they haven't made the new version in dark blay yet, so you'd be stuck with the more expensive old one,

[Man with a hat]

Nice tram, the shape is perfect. And as you said. Now try to find the right colour combination.

The shunter looks nice too. The front looks a bit low. Do you still have clearance when it is on tracks?

And maybe you could make the front overhang for the steps one stud instead of two studs. It might look better proportionally.

But great work nonetheless.

[Lazarus]

Nice Kiwi Locos Thumbs up.

[Pizzareno]

The tram looks great (the seats, running boards, etc), but since you are asking, here is my 2c: I would change the 1x2x2 trans panels for the 1x2x2 windows (as you already have on the ends of the cabin) that long transparent band doesn't look period correct, and for the end roof, where it steps to six wide, perhaps use one of these (but then again, that trades off in the opposite direction),

On the shunter, also already a lot of great little details there. Perhaps make the platforms on the end 4 wide at the top instead of the current 2 (seems a little narrow at the moment, but I also see that the prototype has a wide step at the base too, so ???). For the stacks, I'd replace the 1x1 rounds with technic pin connectors. Looks like they haven't made the new version in dark blay yet, so you'd be stuck with the more expensive old one,

I have changed the windows on the Tram and agree they look far superior. I tried changing the front of the roof but maybe I don't know if I have built it like you might have envisioned but here is a shot of it anyway.

I made the roof colour change to the diesel and that looks great. Also put the technic pin in place of the stacks and that looks really good too. I won't change the step at the front though. I was looking through some more photos and the top step on the prototype is very narrow so I'll leave that.

I really do appreciate the feedback. It has been great.

[zephyr1934]

Hum... maybe my suggestion for the roof wasn't that great. No matter what you do, probably the secret will be to de-emphasize the ends of the roof and keep it monotone. Looking back at the original, if the roof were all one color instead of red, black and dark gray, it would probably look fine (same to in version 2 with the wedge plate). The windows do look a lot better.

Keep up the great building,

Benn

[LegoPanda]

he first tram looked great, your improvements are a little less than the original. the diesel can use some improvement in the windows like you said, but overal great job

[Pizzareno]

So I thought I'd hijack my own thread and show some other work in progress models.

This is my guards van, I am pretty happy with it. Just need to build it in real bricks now.

My original design for my A class carriage. This shows my initial shaping for the end of the carriage roof. I like this more but isn't so prototypical though I guess that doesn't matter as the length is way too short but that doesn't bother me either.

This shows an alternate end where the door is higher and reflects the look of the real coaches more (I think). But I don't know that I like this so much. Link to examples of the real thing - http://nzrailwaysrol...bly.com/a.html

Edited March 9, 2014 by Pizzareno

[Hrw-Amen]

I like engines like this with the cab in the middle, no need to keep turning them around. Good build and nice tram as well!

[zephyr1934]

My original design for my A class carriage. This shows my initial shaping for the end of the carriage roof. I like this more but isn't so prototypical though I guess that doesn't matter as the length is way too short but that doesn't bother me either.

...

This shows an alternate end where the door is higher and reflects the look of the real coaches more (I think). But I don't know that I like this so much. Link to examples of the real thing - http://nzrailwaysrol...bly.com/a.html

Looking good. I would suggest a hybrid. I do not like the look of the three pin holes poking out in the first version, but I do like the 3x3 curved plates. What if you took the first row of the top version that currently has the 1x1 cheese bricks and replace the 1x3 curved slopes from the second version. Then move the 1x2 curved slopes one more stud to the end (or replace the 4 with a 2x4 curved slope).

[Pizzareno]

Would

Looking good. I would suggest a hybrid. I do not like the look of the three pin holes poking out in the first version, but I do like the 3x3 curved plates. What if you took the first row of the top version that currently has the 1x1 cheese bricks and replace the 1x3 curved slopes from the second version. Then move the 1x2 curved slopes one more stud to the end (or replace the 4 with a 2x4 curved slope).

Would you stick with the lower doors too? Or have the higher doors with the roof only 6 wide instead of the first one which has the roof at 8 studs wide at the end?

Edited March 10, 2014 by Pizzareno

[zephyr1934]

The new hybrid looks great, to my eye the roof over the door and the curved corner next to the door both seem to be distinctive features of the prototype. If that means bumping the door down a few plates I think it is worth it. But the one pair of eyes that matters the most are yours, so if the door is a key feature to you, you should stick with it. In either case, covering the three technic holes looks a lot better.

[Lazarus]

Looking good, where in NZ are you. in CHCH or Aux.

Would love to see these, look just like the real thing those coaches nice work.

Edited March 11, 2014 by Lazarus

[Pizzareno]

Hi Lazarus,

I'm in Christchurch.

I really hope to have these built and another loco as well, maybe a DC in the old Red and Yellow scheme for the show in Christchurch later in the year.

[Pizzareno]

Crumbs. So I have just realised that it has been over a year since I started this post. Work on this railway is very slow indeed!

I thought since I have finally been able to get some more parts for my rolling stock I'd post them here.

So here is my tram - Not finished yet. The back seats need to be made and the front seats will all be tan. There are a couple of minor details that need to be obtained such as those roof slopes in tan are expensive and difficult to come by so I am still about 5 short and a few other cosmetic changes like the white plates in the back need to be dark green etc.

My loco is pretty much done. Except for the exhausts at the top should be dark grey. They seem to be hard to find if they are actually available. And maybe the horns should be dark grey too.

I have some more rolling stock built too which I'll just throw into this thread at a later date.

So what do you think?

I hope everyone here is having a merry Christmas! I'd better go sort out the presents for under the tree

Nathanael

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Great attention to details!

I love your works!

The guards van is my favorite rolling stock!

[stu808]

I thought those colours looked rather familiar!

Any updates on those great looking NZR passenger carriages?

Stu :)

[Pizzareno]

Any updates on those great looking NZR passenger carriages?

Stu :)

Here you go. My photography skills leave a lot to be desired. I am having trouble getting all the "glass" I need for my wagons hence why these don't look quite finished. And just need hammers for the door handles and they'll be done. Have a second carriage underway but am short of red window frames and glass to finish that!