A fellow T-gauge enthusiast has enlisted me to create a Harriman standard 60-foot passenger car that will (not coincidentally) fit nicely on to the new, shorter 35.5 mm Eishindo chassis. Here's a picture of the prototype: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwhecteman/2708719099/sizes/z/in/photostream/
A coach will be made, but since this was also a common baggage car size, I am thinking that is in the offing as well, although maybe not right away.
In addition, the old "CCE" 50' boxcar will be getting an overhaul. This was the first of the rolling stock I made a few years ago, and the design needs some improvement... Not to mention, it will be hollowed out-- it, too, then can be powered using the new chassis. Upgrades will include improved roof detail, and a choice of door style!
Finally, I've been tinkering with the FP7/9 and just wanted to share a photo of a bit of decal work I did. I'm working on perfecting it, along with developing more "standard" decals that may be offered to fellow T-gaugers.
One of the most frequent emails I get goes something like this:
"Your T-gauge models are great! Can you make (insert your desired peice of rolling stock here)."
Well, nearly always the answer is "Yes, but.." It's really a matter of time and investment, especially if the model isn't something I think I'm really going to want/need myself.
The total time and cost of developing a good model depends a lot on complexity and how well it would fit together with the existing mechanisms. While I enjoy the process, especially the research part of getting prototype photos and specs, it does take valuable time--which after my primary job and family, is not all that abundant any more. And money. I've developed expertise in the process but it still requires an expenditure, and nearly always there is some trial and error resulting in worthless "2nds" i.e. test models.
What I'm getting to, is if you really want me to make that model of "xxx", then consider commissioning it, i.e. subsidize the cost of R&D. It's probably not as expensive as you might think, especially compared to models in other scales. Past commissions range from undecorated shells, to concept-to-finished RTR models (see below Rhaetian Railway ABe 4/4 iii).
And if it's something like this, I might do it for a handshake:
Hi, my name is Jesse Svoboda and I am creating this blog to document my modelling in T-gauge. At one time I had a web page, but found it difficult to maintain, so I am trying this format.
For those of you unfamiliar with T-gauge, it is an electric model railroad scale of 1:450, based on a three-millimeter gauge track system. It is accepted as the smallest operating model railroad scale in the world!
I have created a variety of rolling stock and structures in T-gauge designed to fit on the Eishindo mechanisms. I have posted extensively on the T-gauge.net forum.
In this Blog, I will be posting photos of old and new models I am working on here, as well as links to CCE models on Shapeways if you wish to build your own. Feel free to post your comments or contact me.
PRR E8A with a coach and Broadway Limited observation car. The background foliage was photo-shopped but the rest is 1:450.
Jesse
