Had an idea going around in my head for a while of a model narrow gauge War Department Light Railway in 1/76 scale. I miss the fact that with model trains they actually do something instead of just sitting there looking pretty and getting dusty like model figures, tanks etc. So i've had the idea for a small (about a metre long) narrow gauge railway, which would also include figures, vehicles etc along the way. It would consist of;
Railway rolling stock
Simplex 'armoured' or 'protected' 40hp petrol locomotive (the kit i'm buying has options for both and not sure which one to choose)
WDLR wagons - a company called Parkside Dundas does these, such as a well wagon (a wagon with a dip in the middle), a dropside wagon and a goods/ambulance wagon
Military vehicle kits
Reviresco Thornycroft J type Reviresco Rolls Royce Armoured Car Emhar Whippet Medium Tank Emhar Mk IV 'Male' Heavy Tank
As well as this i'd have modified plastic figures if non were of any use, as well as metal/resin figures that I could find. It would be set in 1918, with the railway going from a supply depot at the rear line to a drop off point near the front where vehicles, men and artillery are preparing for a push forward. Although with it only being a metre, to be scale it would only be 76 metres long, but using a bridge or something else to divide it it will be made to seem like two different railways, plus because the locomotives and rolling stock are so small, as is the track (at least compared to the Hornby stuff I used to use) that will help too. Has anyone else done anything similar to this before? Seen a couple of guys on a model railway messageboard that have done it before
This is something I would REALLY love to seen done!
Railways were as we all know THE most strategically important mode of transportation of the whole war. They determined much of the outcome, the shape of the frontlines certainly - in the west, the front stalemated pretty much along a pattern set by the railways - and it was the lay of railways that pretty much determined the outcome of the offensives - more than the guns, certainly more than the tanks.
I have never found any site dedicated to the Military use of railways, besides railway guns that is. Any suggestions?
I'm working on this subject, too. Roco produced some very nice rolling stock and locos in HOe. HOe is narrow gauge to HO.
You have to pay attention: continental HO (and HOe) is in 1/87 scale. Unfortunately the locomotives and the rolling stock look too small in combination with the 1/76 scale models I think.
Thank's for your attention. Latenightwriting made me forget this point . When you take the railway material and the mechanical source of the locomotives and waggonsyou can sratchbuild nearly every sort of rolling material. The difference of scales in fact of the gauge is not too great in my opinion. With brass-tin plates and brasswire in use with a good welding aquipment .....
Best regards Gerd
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Steel can be helpful - you have only to bring it into the "right form "
Well, got the Simplex a couple of days back, looks very complicated but a very nice detailed kit. Got a couple of wagons for it coming in the post too, can't wait to get this one started
