Diesel Flirtation

I am predominately a steam man but the other day bough a Fleischmann O&K 00 scale diesel shunter very cheaply. It has had a service and now is about to join the ranks of the Redic locos. I have already named it Weasel the Diesel so nameplates are on order (just Weasel). 

So we begin by finding a possible prototype to model and after looking for a while a 1933 vintage machine came to mind. I will not say for now who built this originally to see if you can guess. Suffice to say the merry engineers at Redic have put a new cab on it because the Weasel driver was complaining about the uncomfortable, and sometimes very wet seat. 

As usual I start by making the running plate in 2mm HIP plasticard. 

I make these on the tight side and adjust them to clear all the gears and electrics. Trimming off the plastic in thin layers until everything is snug.

I needed to trim 5 mm from one end of the Fleischmann chassis and this was sawn off and filed flush. A good tip is to put the chassis into a polythene bag except for the bit to be cut off and fit an elastic bad. Therefore no swarf gets into the motor. The cab I fitted is one of the A1 (Doncaster) cabs made for the Bachmann Plymouth and it was this that defined the width of the running plate. When I have a spare hour I will add some rivet detail to the cab and solder the bends to make it stiffer. I will solder the seem and roll the roof and then solder that on. The cab fitting will wait until it is painted and glazed, I will also add some controls, a seat and driver.

Now have you guessed the prototype yet? I have made up the first part of the bonnet but not yet added the doors. I have to either buy or 3D print some louvres and boy doesn't Weasel have a few. So let's added the bonnet so far and see if you can guess.

You will also notice that the shunter's steps have been added and next on will be the sand boxes. With the main part of the bonnet put in place there are a couple of give aways and if you haven't guessed I need to tell you it is a narrow gauge version of the Armstrong Whitworth diesel electric of 1933-36. In my story Redic bought this machine brand new and soon added a better cab. Loco is mainly used as the standby loco for the blast furnace and is kept busy shuffling iron ore or scrap wagons into the loader. There is a 4 wagon capacity at the loader dock and this little diesel easily manages the 25 ton load even though it is 

up hill.

The eagle eyed among you may have spotted the sand boxes behind this last photo so better set to work and fit them.