I've been thinking about how I'm going to build all those Vietnamese structures that I'm going to need for the module. Apart from a Tomix small office building I'm going to use for a 'boutique' hotel, I've got very little to fall back on in the way of kits or ready built models. I have got my eye on a couple of other Japanese N scale buildings including one of those thin tall pagodas with multi levels, and a small petrol station which looks pretty close to some of the smaller establishments I saw in Saigon and Hanoi. (A slight change to Petrolimex signage and a couple of hundred motor bikes and we're away). The problem here in Oz is that while there are plenty of hobby shops dealing in Japanese N, they tend to only carry models that can be used on lots of different kinds of layouts, so mainly modern stuff. The models are also available fairly erratically. So if I want a pagoda as mentioned above it's not something that they carry. Looks like I'll have to get stuff from overseas.
I did think about the possibility of using French inspired colonial type buildings as well, there are certainly plenty of them left in most Vietnamese cities, but I'm still trying to find a source of French N Scale structures.Unlike the Germans, the French don't appear to be into N Scale in a big way, so there aren't any major manufacturers with French structures in their catalogues. If you know of any please let me know!
The alternative of course is to scratchbuild.and as I've got to scratchbuild or kitbash any rolling stock or locomotives that I want, this is going to be a slow process. In addition most Vietnamese houses, despite being very close to the house next door, are 'stand alone' structures, so no cutting corners and leaving side walls etc out. I still haven't decided whether to use styrene or card. The card sounds good, nice and cheap, and I've seen some fantastic models built out of card. But it may be difficult to recreate those fancy fronts in card I think.
Oh well, I suppose I'm going to have to bite the bullet at some stage and 'have a go' to use an Australian expression. My hotel is looking very lonely at the moment standing there all by itself with only the loco shed to keep it company.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Progress.......
Just a couple of photos to show that I've finally laid all the track on the module. Sorry photos aren't very good but they do give some idea of the layout. The track on the right is the main line.The other tracks are all part of the repair/loco yard. That's my one piece of DSVN rolling stock sitting outside the Tomix engine shed! The lonely building is the future hotel. It does have a Vietnam Airlines sign on the top!
Now for some ballasting!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
A Quick One...
Just a note to celebrate my almost completing my first piece of rolling stock! No, not the gondola, but rather the first container wagon. See the image below. The under body still needs to be painted matt black and details and lettering needs to be added, but it exists! The model is a modified NSW (Australian) kit I had in my workshop. Unfortunately not available any more, but I have several more, so at least one more container wagon can be built.
I'm also progressing with the oil tanker. Should have a photo in a couple of days, all going well.
Also I've come across a second DSVN steam locomotive in N Scale. It's a Micro-Scale model of a Japanese C12 steam locomotive. This is the DSVN 131 class. It only seems to come as a set with coaches unfortunately. I was alerted to this by Paul Ingram.
I'm also progressing with the oil tanker. Should have a photo in a couple of days, all going well.
Also I've come across a second DSVN steam locomotive in N Scale. It's a Micro-Scale model of a Japanese C12 steam locomotive. This is the DSVN 131 class. It only seems to come as a set with coaches unfortunately. I was alerted to this by Paul Ingram.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Never Ending Story....
I've been a bit remiss and haven't updated the blog for some time so here's a few more thoughts and ideas. I recently received an email from the co-ordinator of a group called AsiaNRail located in the US which is actively modelling various Asian rail systems. His email gave me a sort of kick in the behind to get some work done. There was an article in the US 'N Scale Magazine' about this group and the great work they are doing. The modeller's name is Paul Ingram. Thanks for your message Paul. They model Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean and Filipino railways and are planning to have a go at Thai and Vietnamese. They model in N scale using the Japanese 1:150 scale just as I am.
At the moment I'm concentrating on getting the track finished on the module I'm building and in the process have swapped the viewing side from one side to the other and slightly modified the track layout. I should have some photos up on the website this weekend. As well I found a Tomytec (Japanese) modern 2 track loco shed which should stand in for a DSVN one, at least until I get to scratchbuild a more accurate version. So many public buildings in Vietnam are painted that yellow ochre/'poo' colour that I'll have to have the same.
The houses are going to be interesting. No other country has houses that look anything like Vietnamese ones, you know the ones, about 6 feet wide and 5 or six floors (at least!)tall, with almost invariably a shop on the ground floor. I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and build my own from photos.
I plan to visit Sai Gon and surrounds at the end of July so should get some useful photos in the process. last time I visited I took nearly 500 photos! I'm aiming for a lot more this time.
Currently I have a part finished DSVN gondola/open wagon sitting on my workbench, as well as a US single dome tank car to be converted into the similar DSVN one, and also two types of Vietnamese container wagons. I also have a can of Tamiya 'French Blue' spray paint for that pretty container flat blue colour.
Soon I will have to bite the bullet and start scratchbuilding a locomotive, probably a D18E, which is quite big as metre gauge locomotives go, and is basically all flat sides and ends. Even my lousy scratchbuilding skills should be able to tackle that one! I'm going to have to produce some N Scale drawings first. I have some outline drawings, so will use those and add details from photos.
Wish me luck!
At the moment I'm concentrating on getting the track finished on the module I'm building and in the process have swapped the viewing side from one side to the other and slightly modified the track layout. I should have some photos up on the website this weekend. As well I found a Tomytec (Japanese) modern 2 track loco shed which should stand in for a DSVN one, at least until I get to scratchbuild a more accurate version. So many public buildings in Vietnam are painted that yellow ochre/'poo' colour that I'll have to have the same.
The houses are going to be interesting. No other country has houses that look anything like Vietnamese ones, you know the ones, about 6 feet wide and 5 or six floors (at least!)tall, with almost invariably a shop on the ground floor. I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and build my own from photos.
I plan to visit Sai Gon and surrounds at the end of July so should get some useful photos in the process. last time I visited I took nearly 500 photos! I'm aiming for a lot more this time.
Currently I have a part finished DSVN gondola/open wagon sitting on my workbench, as well as a US single dome tank car to be converted into the similar DSVN one, and also two types of Vietnamese container wagons. I also have a can of Tamiya 'French Blue' spray paint for that pretty container flat blue colour.
Soon I will have to bite the bullet and start scratchbuilding a locomotive, probably a D18E, which is quite big as metre gauge locomotives go, and is basically all flat sides and ends. Even my lousy scratchbuilding skills should be able to tackle that one! I'm going to have to produce some N Scale drawings first. I have some outline drawings, so will use those and add details from photos.
Wish me luck!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Planning a Layout
I mentioned in my last blog that I plan to build a 'diorama' type layout to display any models I build. I'll use this blog to provide a little more information about my plans.
The diorama is being built on a board 4 ft x 2 ft (1200mm x 600mm), N scale of course. The intention is to use the 'stage' type of arrangement where the layout is viewed through a frame which makes it look like it's on a theatre stage. This then accentuates the idea that things are happening 'off stage' as well as the activities you can actually see.
The layout depicts a small workshop/locomotive shed, somewhere in the Hanoi area. There is a single track main line towards the back of the layout, which will see trains 'passing through'. Trains will enter the work shop area from behind several buildings. This style of layout is quite popular at the moment. For more information on this and other 'micro' layouts visit The Micro layouts site at http://carendt.com
The back scene will be a combination of photos of buildings and actual model buildings with little more than the front wall actually constructed. There will be a level crossing (there seem to be very few road bridges crossing VNR tracks)and hopefully I can squeeze in one of those Petrolimex petrol stations, and lots and lots of motorbikes and bicycles. Anyone know how to make a cyclo in N scale?
At this stage I've given it the name 'Doi Moi', the legend that appears on most of the D19E class locomotives, and which according to my Vietnamese dictionary means innovation or new way. Whether that's the name of the non existent town, or whether it's the name of the layout I'll leave up to you.
The trains will be assembled off layout possibly using some sort of cassette system (not decided yet). I will need a fiddle yard on both sides to allow trains on the main line to enter and leave. An alternative ( and probably easier) would be to have a circle of track running around behind the layout with a fiddle yard. Decisions, decisions...
I have laid all the cork underlay for the track and have laid some track. I hope to have the rest finished tomorrow (I've got the day off). Hopefully I can put some images up on my website.
When I've finished this module I plan to have a go at a second module depicting a more 'rural' scene. Any ideas on how to depict rice paddies gratefully received.
BTW: I got hold of some additional photos of DSVN freight vehicles and I discovered a slight error in my DSVN gondola, basically with the doors on the sides. I need to make the doors go right to the top rather than have them under a continuous side. This will mean a slight delay in completion but nothing major. I'll have a go at that tomorrow too and I'm hoping a can put photos of the wagon in it's final red colour scheme up on the website as well. I'm still not sure how I'm going to letter the wagon, there being no commercially available decals, particularly as in most of the images I have a lot of the lettering is a bit 'fuzzy'.
The diorama is being built on a board 4 ft x 2 ft (1200mm x 600mm), N scale of course. The intention is to use the 'stage' type of arrangement where the layout is viewed through a frame which makes it look like it's on a theatre stage. This then accentuates the idea that things are happening 'off stage' as well as the activities you can actually see.
The layout depicts a small workshop/locomotive shed, somewhere in the Hanoi area. There is a single track main line towards the back of the layout, which will see trains 'passing through'. Trains will enter the work shop area from behind several buildings. This style of layout is quite popular at the moment. For more information on this and other 'micro' layouts visit The Micro layouts site at http://carendt.com
The back scene will be a combination of photos of buildings and actual model buildings with little more than the front wall actually constructed. There will be a level crossing (there seem to be very few road bridges crossing VNR tracks)and hopefully I can squeeze in one of those Petrolimex petrol stations, and lots and lots of motorbikes and bicycles. Anyone know how to make a cyclo in N scale?
At this stage I've given it the name 'Doi Moi', the legend that appears on most of the D19E class locomotives, and which according to my Vietnamese dictionary means innovation or new way. Whether that's the name of the non existent town, or whether it's the name of the layout I'll leave up to you.
The trains will be assembled off layout possibly using some sort of cassette system (not decided yet). I will need a fiddle yard on both sides to allow trains on the main line to enter and leave. An alternative ( and probably easier) would be to have a circle of track running around behind the layout with a fiddle yard. Decisions, decisions...
I have laid all the cork underlay for the track and have laid some track. I hope to have the rest finished tomorrow (I've got the day off). Hopefully I can put some images up on my website.
When I've finished this module I plan to have a go at a second module depicting a more 'rural' scene. Any ideas on how to depict rice paddies gratefully received.
BTW: I got hold of some additional photos of DSVN freight vehicles and I discovered a slight error in my DSVN gondola, basically with the doors on the sides. I need to make the doors go right to the top rather than have them under a continuous side. This will mean a slight delay in completion but nothing major. I'll have a go at that tomorrow too and I'm hoping a can put photos of the wagon in it's final red colour scheme up on the website as well. I'm still not sure how I'm going to letter the wagon, there being no commercially available decals, particularly as in most of the images I have a lot of the lettering is a bit 'fuzzy'.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Where do we go to from here.....
You might be aware that I am attempting to model aspects of the trains and railways of Vietnam.
I'm currently close to completing my first 'kitbash' of a DSVN gondola (open wagon) and have the plans to build a D5H and/or D13E class diesel locomotive. I have suitable chassis for both. One is a LifeLike SW9 for the DH5 and the other, an Atlas RSC4/5 for the D13E. As well I have a couple of US coaches that I plan to us as the basis for two of those green 'Chinese' coaches that DSVN still uses. Unfortunately my diorama hasn't advanced very much with track laying still to be completed.
All this is in 1:150 'Japanese' N scale. By using 1:150 I can use chassis which were made for the bigger US locomotives.
I realise that N gauge 9 mm track is wider than the metre gauge of most tracks in VN, and that I should be using 6.5 mm Z scale track, but that's the track I've got and it means I can use reasonably priced N scale chassis rather than the extremely expensive Z scale ones (if you can find them). Many Japanese railways are of course 3 ft 6 inch gauge and they use 9 mm track.
My primary modelling interest is modern Australian railways in N scale (1:160) and I have a layout to complete for that prototype as well. Not to mention that I collect Australian outline HO scale diesels as well, so there's not a lot of money to spend on the VN models. So scratch building and kitbashing appear to be the way to go.
There aren't any DSVN models to buy anyway, apart from the models of the German BR52 steam locomotives (TE class) which made it to VN but never ran anyway. A$450.00 is a lot of money to pay for a model that will just sit rusting on a siding somewhere!
I've also hunted out a couple of flat car kits in my shed which will pass as container wagons with a coat of light blue paint and a container on each.
My Kato Japanese boxcar is still as it was when I bought it, but I plan to attack it soon. Basically I'll file the details of the side and replace them with more Vietnamese style ones. Again it won't be a exact scale model but it should look OK. I still have plans to scratchbuild one of those green DSVN boxcars with the yellow stripes on the side. I'm in the process of creating some drawings, based on measurements from photos.
Until next time....
I'm currently close to completing my first 'kitbash' of a DSVN gondola (open wagon) and have the plans to build a D5H and/or D13E class diesel locomotive. I have suitable chassis for both. One is a LifeLike SW9 for the DH5 and the other, an Atlas RSC4/5 for the D13E. As well I have a couple of US coaches that I plan to us as the basis for two of those green 'Chinese' coaches that DSVN still uses. Unfortunately my diorama hasn't advanced very much with track laying still to be completed.
All this is in 1:150 'Japanese' N scale. By using 1:150 I can use chassis which were made for the bigger US locomotives.
I realise that N gauge 9 mm track is wider than the metre gauge of most tracks in VN, and that I should be using 6.5 mm Z scale track, but that's the track I've got and it means I can use reasonably priced N scale chassis rather than the extremely expensive Z scale ones (if you can find them). Many Japanese railways are of course 3 ft 6 inch gauge and they use 9 mm track.
My primary modelling interest is modern Australian railways in N scale (1:160) and I have a layout to complete for that prototype as well. Not to mention that I collect Australian outline HO scale diesels as well, so there's not a lot of money to spend on the VN models. So scratch building and kitbashing appear to be the way to go.
There aren't any DSVN models to buy anyway, apart from the models of the German BR52 steam locomotives (TE class) which made it to VN but never ran anyway. A$450.00 is a lot of money to pay for a model that will just sit rusting on a siding somewhere!
I've also hunted out a couple of flat car kits in my shed which will pass as container wagons with a coat of light blue paint and a container on each.
My Kato Japanese boxcar is still as it was when I bought it, but I plan to attack it soon. Basically I'll file the details of the side and replace them with more Vietnamese style ones. Again it won't be a exact scale model but it should look OK. I still have plans to scratchbuild one of those green DSVN boxcars with the yellow stripes on the side. I'm in the process of creating some drawings, based on measurements from photos.
Until next time....
Welcome
Welcome to my Modelling the Railways of Vietnam Blog. This blog is intended to complement my Modelling the Railways of Vietnam website which has been in existence since the beginning of this year.
I am still at a very early stage in my adventures, sort of just left the base camp, but I am progressing.
I will be adding my thoughts and ideas at regular intervals and I hope others will contribute as well.
I still get the impression that I'm the only person in the world taking modelling the railways of Vietnam seriously. If I'm not please let me know.
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