Since getting into New Zealand model railways in HO scale on 12mm gauge track (which I'm now calling "HOnz"), I've launched my own 3D printing model business called 3 Foot 6 Models, using designs under license from numerous New Zealand designers. The goal is to provide NZR modellers with a Shapeways-like store where they can buy 3D printed shells of wagons, locomotives and other items, with a focus on NZ120 and HOnz scales.
It's worthwhile then having an update on what's available in HOn3.5 (or as we're calling it, HOnz) for NZR modellers:
Locomotives
So far, my DA class design and Neil Ward's DC class kitset has been added to the 3 Foot 6 Models store in HO. I'm planning on adding the DBR class soon. There's also a DSG class shell available on Thingiverse.
As you may have seen, Simon Lister has provided his NZ120 designs to 3 Foot 6 Models to produce under license, a number of which he has scaled up to HO. That means that eventually we'll have the DJ class, DSC class and a DS class model. Peter Bryant's NZ120 models will be added also, at the moment I'm working my way through Simon's designs first, and then will get on to Peter's designs, plus their HO scale variants (I've also modified my DA class design to fit the Frateschi A-1-A chassis, in OO or 1:76 scale).
The challenge for HOn3.5, as always, is mechanisms. The entry of Hornby into the TT:120 market also means there's some commercially available chassis that could be of use - since we're talking about the DS class, the Hornby BR 08 class might be a goer...
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| Hornby TT:120 - a potential chassis for a 0-6-0 TR or DS/DSA loco? |
Northyard Engineering produces an A-1-A 12mm gauge chassis that fits the older EMD classes - the DA, DB, DBR and DC locos. There's also potential to use TT scale mechanisms, and those produced for the Australian market. Watch this space.
Speaking of Australia, HOn3.5 across the Tasman is going from strength to strength. As a result, there's a few options cropping up that are of use to HOnz modellers: first, CGL Models, in conjunction with SDS Models, are producing the Queensland Rail 1460/1502 class, known to us as the "QR" and then "DQ" classes. These locomotives are expected to arrive the first quarter of this year (2023). I've got one on pre-order - the "TasRail" livery QR2056 (which is the Tranz Rail livery with TasRail on the winged logo). You could use these models as a basis for a DQ class loco as well.
The SDS-CGL pairing is also producing a model of QR 1620 class, essentially the same as our DI class (in fact, the QR 1620 was a design evolution of the NZR DI), with a few details being different - the cab and headlights being the most obvious. I'm going to put one of these on pre-order, and once it arrives I will 3D print a new cab, change the headlights and handrails etc. A pretty straight-forward conversion.
Wheelsets
Wuiske Models in Queensland has 33" (800 mm) and 26" (670mm) wheelsets, as well as several spoked options. Wuiske also produces a number of bogies that look very close to NZR designs. What we're really missing though is standard NZR 30" (762mm) wheelsets, something that will need to be addresses in the long term.
Bogies
Frank at SARMODEL has drawn up the NZR Type 14 bogies for 3D printing. Type 14s are probably the most common bogie type for "modern" (i.e. post 1975) New Zealand railways. Frank promises the Type 16 bogies as well. SARMODEL also produces models in HO scale, and 12mm gauge, mainly of Rhodesian Railways/National Railways of Zimbabwe and South African Railways (SAR) prototypes. They're excellent prints and well worth a look. Hopefully we'll be able to convince Frank there's a market for a NZR U26C model with his excellent mechanisms built in.
Wagons
Neil Ward's UK class container wagon is available via 3 Foot 6 Models. The US class flat wagon, and USL will be available soon. My own UK class design (which is the open deck variant) and PK class designs will be available soon in both HOnz and NZ120 scales as well.
Neil's LA-8 and LC four-wheel wagons will also be available soon, along with the KP four-wheel box wagon. At the time of writing I'm working on making sure the LA-8 can work with the Wuiske Models 12mm wheelsets.
Carriages and Guard's Vans
Simon Lister's designs of 56ft carriages, FM and AG class guard's vans, will be available via 3 Foot 6 Models as time allows. The 56ft chassis will require a bit of work.
Track
PECO's HOm range is stocked by a number of hobby stores here in New Zealand, including Ironhorse Hobbies in Christchurch.
Wuiske Models has also released its own flex track, which looks very close to NZR standards. There is a slight height difference between Wuiske's track and PECO HOm.
I've also started the process of creating 3D printed sleepers for HOn3.5 - a few tweaks of a design I did a few years ago and we should be good to go for flex track style sleepers.
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