Hello all.
This is not the first time I have posted about interest in an N scale Royal Hudson, but hopefully it will be the last as I'm ready to move forward on this project.
A couple of years ago, when I last posted about this, there was quite a bit of interest and lots of offers to help with various aspects of the project. However, I was contacted by someone in the know who, at the time, was able to tell me without a doubt that this n scale dream loco of mine was in development by a reputable manufacturer. I was even asked to advise on the project when the time came. I have not touched my project since then.
Out of respect for this person, I won't go into anymore detail, except to say that I'm 99% sure it's no longer happening. So what's the only way to ensure that it is produced commercially? Well we all know the answer to that. Put in hundreds of hours building your own.
The following is information already posted a couple of years ago but I'll put it down again for the purpose of starting the conversation again. I have a Model Power Pacific which I have made modifications to and it is now a very close representation of the the RH's chassis. I plan to further modify it by adding traction tires and weight to make it track better. My tender is scratch built and the intent there is to have all wheel pick up. From what I understand making these three modifications makes the Model Power Pacific a good runner and puller. If needed I will make a powered baggage car. Others suggested models from Kato Japan. Ultimately, with an accurate body, you can mount it on whatever you please.
That's all I'll say for now about construction as I will very soon start a build thread, in the scratch building section, where I will take photos and show all of the parts I've collected and/or modified, etc. That thread will serve as the place to discuss the actual building of the loco. We can beat the chassis thing to death there and come up with a plan.
I have erection drawings from the CPR SIG website library, and O-Sho-Me drawings thanks to an interested party that sent them to me last time (sorry I can't remember who you are - please join again!). I also have loads of photos from the web, other railfans, and that I've taken my self. We even have a few living RH's so reference material is in no short supply.
A good friend, who we all know is very talented, has offered to draw the etchings for the project which is HUGE as it's a skill I don't possess. He and I have both had etchings done by PPD in Scotland and were pleased with the result so I had plans to use them again. This person is welcome to join in and identify himself if he wishes to be known to the masses.
The idea is for me to spend hours and hours and hours pouring over my reference materials and come up with sketches that this person will turn into files that can be etched, ultimately ending in a sheet with all of the parts necessary to, when combined with some scratch building and off the shelf detail parts, build an accurate rendition of this beauty. I'm hesitant to say it will be a kit, because I won't be writing DETAILED instructions and builders will need to employ all of their skills, but it will be the closest thing to a kit that has ever been available.
I'm doing this to realise my own dream of building this loco, but my hope is that others will jump on board and help which will make it happen a lot faster, and cheaper. Like many of you, I'm extremely busy with work and family, and scraping out modelling time and dollars can be difficult, but the time is now! I have a winter coming up where I'm not training for an Ironman and I managed to acquire some modelling funds to get the process going so I feel like with the right motivation we can have this thing done soon!
Once I have sorted out who's on board we'll figure out how its going to be paid for. One option is, I take it all on my self (which I'm totally willing to do - after all its my dream loco). Once complete those who want in can buy them from me. If that happens I'll build it exactly as I want it to be. I'm modelling 2860 as she was in the 80's on BCR.
What I would prefer would be for a group of us to take it on. If left just to me it will take a long time due to both time and cost. Etching can expensive and no doubt there will be a revision or two. If we have several people combining skills there will be less mistakes and I will be more likely to stay motivated to see this through to its completion with other interested people keeping the torch lit. Also crowd funding it means I will spend less time saving for the next part of the process. If we can do this as a group then the idea would be to make a sheet of etchings that allows one to model one of several different RHs, as well as including the embellishments needed to model special loco like a BCR or Royal Train version. Just what makes it onto the sheet will depend on who speaks up and is willing to help, and how expensive it is to do (will we wind up with five completely different sets of etchings or can we have a core set with extras for different versions?).
Edit: if people get onboard and several versions of parts are required, I'll have to be sure that this person is willing to take that on before taking commitments.
This is all open to discussion and input. At this time all I'm looking for is to start a conversation. Please contact me and tell me if you are interested in getting this model on rails. Please feel free to join in on this thread but also contact me at :
craigolio13 (at) yahoo (dot) ca
and we'll start an email group.
In the next couple of days I'll start a build thread.
Edit.
This is the link to the build thread:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=40377.0Thanks, Craig
