yvesvidal

I also started working on the chassis, as I need to plan for the couplers and their height: The platforms on each end will have to be strengthened to be capable of accommodating some pulling. Again, OCCRE thought in terms of static model, here. The height of the platforms is also too large, due to the excessive size of the trucks. We will have to be creative.... Yves

I think it is time to move away from the instructions and work on the chassis of the car, before going any further. I want this model to be able to roll on tracks, which is a little bit in contradiction to the Occre kit, that takes a very static approach. I may never get a chance to use that car outside, on G gauge tracks, but it is always re-assuring to know that it may be capable of doing that, if the opportunity shows up. The original kit calls for some rather fragile trucks with a brass axle spinning on wood brackets. I have an issue with that approach, for multiple reasons. Again, the Occre solution is perfect for a static model, but not for a potentially running car, on an outside track as are most Gauge 1 layouts. I am also not too enthused by the toy like wheels provided in the kit and decided to go with some Kadee Gauge 1 axles which are so much better and spin true. For train enthusiasts, it is no need to present KADEE. Others should look at the incredible portfolio of couplers, wheels and cars they offer for trains in N-scale (1/160) all the way to Gauge 1 scale (1/32). They have become the absolute reference for trains enthusiasts. The KADEE axles are made of stainless steel as seen on the picture above. Using some parts of the original OCCRE trucks, I ended up drilling precisely in the truck flanges, provided in the kit. Using some small washers, I am limiting the side motions and after trying that truck on a piece of track, I am quite happy with the smooth running qualities. Once painted in black, they should be acceptable. OCCRE in my humble opinion, created a truck that is a little too large for that kind of cars. But we will have to do with it. Yves

I wonder if they sell a wooden deck for this model. That could be a solution. Yves

Are the rear wheels articulated? It looks like this suspension system could work very well. Yves

A dystopian future....

It looks even better (and more realistic) than the decals. Yves

Some progress on the end and side of the car: The bulkhead is now glued to the rest of the car body: I started working on one side: Sides are done with small strips of 1 x 4 mm, separated by about 1 mm each. After gluing and light sanding, the sides are treated with the Oil that I am using for this project. It provides a nice shine and rich color that is very enjoyable. Because of the large amount of small pieces of strip to cut, your best friend is "The Chopper": I am not sure that model would be so enjoyable, without that tool. Yves

Yes, I used Tamiya Carbon Fiber decals on my MacLaren F1 and I was very pleased with the results. Yves

Very, very clean build. You are a perfectionist. A pleasure to watch. Yves

It could be a port to fill up a tank: water of fuel. I would go for water, most likely. Yves

Yes, I am aware of this. Having been living not too far from the French/Spanish border, I know that passengers (and freight) had to be transferred from French/European cars to Spanish equipment. Everybody was disembarking in the station to re-embark on the other side. Same thing for freight. Spain has been since then retrofitting all their railroad tracks and it has cost them a lot of money and efforts. The good thing is that they now have a network which is very nice and much better than the American railroad for instance, which with India, may be one of the worst in the world (due to Political decisions to murder the American railroad companies and to funnel all the money into trucking and airline traffic). I am not planning to replicate the odd Spanish gauge of that time, as I want this car to possibly run on a Gauge 1 layout. We will talk more of that aspect when the time to build the trucks, comes around. Yves

Yeah, I am just going to spread some hay on the floor and have passengers just lay down on it 🙂 Yves

Great idea. I love the combining of modern technology, the old delivery van and the robot delivering eggs and dairies at home, like in the good old times. Very steampunk, in a way. Yves

Continuing with the side walls: As you can see, it is a lot of very precise and small planking.... Ready to be glued to the mainframe. I placed some B/W pictures of the Costa Brava, on the walls. Old trains used to have these, as a distraction for the passengers. The Third Class area: Yves

Yes, very happy to see that giant model getting some attention again. Yves

Craig, another winner for your next competition. Yves

I just finished the assembly of three Second Class seats. Each seat is composed of 6 parts, wood and metal. I have to say that for a little commuter snaking along the Costa Brava in 1920, this accommodation was rather nice: I hope you are enjoying the ride. Yves

The ensign is finally in place: CAF Model provides a nice fabric printed flag that I attached to a rope and staff. A few more pictures of the vessel before coming to a temporary conclusion: I tried to capture the immensity of these vessels, when compared to human beings: the two figures are in the 1/48th scale and are measuring about 1.70 meter (5'8") which is most likely a good height for people in the XVIII century. The hat is probably higher.... It is time to watch Bellona sail away while other projects await us. We will revisit this project in the future, for sure. My partner complains that there are no sails.... Below are pictures of a large box containing all the wooden "sprues" that I used along these five sessions of the model building. I really hate to throw away all this nice wood as it is precious in a way, but most notably because of the memories that are attached to it. I really enjoyed building this "master piece" (according to CAF Model...) of a ship, and may build another ship from CAF, in the future. I have expressed my complaints all along this Build Log (the main one being the lack of written instructions) but I may focus now on the main positive points about building a CAF model: The kit is organized in Sessions, allowing you to not spend all your savings in one shot and to give you a chance to test the waters, so to speak. And that is exactly what I did with Session #1. After trying it, being successful and really enjoying it, purchasing the other sessions made perfect sense. The fantastic support provided by CAF Model owner "Tom". When a part did not fit or when something was missing, Tom was responding immediately to my requests and shipping free of charge, all that I needed. Tom even provided me with some spare parts that had been improved during the time it took me to build the kit. I am not aware of any Manufacturers (With the exception of Syren and Chuck) responding so quickly and diligently to all my requests (parts or instructions). I would encourage modelers to give a try to a CAF model. This ship was my second ship and planked hull (the first one being the Emma from Model Shipways) and I would not have been able to finish it if the kit was not properly designed. There are some tricks and I would encourage potential builders to read carefully my notes on this thread. It has been a great experience and I may do it again, in the future. I also wanted to thank all the viewers who provided me with encouragement and support during the building of this big kit. Without your optimism and interest, I may have given up at times. Yves

I am now working on one of the ends, providing access to the Second Class area and to the lavatory: The planking is composed of 1x4 mm strips, separated by 1 mm in between planks. Then the frame is glued to the main floor: Oops... a protuberance under the wall paper.... I will have to find a nice drawing or a map to glue there. For a change of pace, I am feeling compelled to start working on the Second Class compartment, at least on the side behind the lavatory. We will see. Yves

Moving along with the gluing of one side wall: It feels warmer to be in Second Class..... Yves

Great model. It is also nice to see a ship modeler, living in the same area (Triangle, NC). Yves

We are now detailing one of the most important section (if not the most important...) of a passenger car: the lavatory! The kit provides all the main parts: The toilet bowl The seat made of wood and polished round to welcome the user. The lid, also made of wood as it was common on these cars, in the early 20th century. The overhead tank for flushing The sink and faucet The mirror to re-adjust your hair and face after the event... The toilet paper dispenser. I have added a piece of soap, the chain to flush, painted holes in the sink and bowl and the infamous brown paper that was used in those times. That paper (for those who never experienced it) was a thinner version of the brown wrapping paper, was not provided in self-cutting squares (you had to tear it with both hands) and had an incredibly abrasive capability on that part of your anatomy. The drains, as everybody knows, were a direct fall to the ground located between the rails. Overall, that little bathroom is well rendered and provides a nice antique touch to the model. Note that seat and lid (at that time) were made of wood, as plastic was introduced much later. Sink and bowl were never perfectly clean on a passenger car, even in Second Class.... Now, is the time to start gluing one of the sides..... Yves

I am now building one of the sides, focusing on the interiors. The outside is done later on, according to the instructions. Overall, it is a lot of planking and is not that different from a boat... 🙂 The wood, after being glued, is treated with an oil made of beeswax and orange oil. I like it for the rich color that it gives to the wood and the slight fragrance. Checking that everything dovetail nicely..... The windows are just stained and I may have to improve a little bit, to harmonize the color. The heaters are glued on the wall: Next on the list, are the lavatory and all its details. Yves

Time to build the main separation, between the Second and Third class sections: The fancy side with fabric is for the Second Class passengers, while the Third Class are having to look at wood planks. The partition is then glued on the main floor: Third Class perspective.... and Second Class view: As mentioned before, the fitting of the parts is exceptional and everything dovetails perfectly: Yves

Next is the building of the lavatory. Access to it is done through the outside platform, located on the Second Class end: All the "tiling" is done with a stick-on plastic film. They could have pushed the kit with using micro tiles, to glue one by one, but that solution is pretty easy and quick. The lavatory room is glued to the main floor and some wainscotting is built along the sides: Then, some kind of wall paper or fabric for the Second Class travelers, is glued on the walls: It is all coming along nicely and the fitting of the parts, is very precise. Yves