I've been reading Chris Ford's narrow gauge railway modelling book, in which he suggests the intriguing idea of converting old Tri-ang rolling stock into 7mm / O-16.5 scale narrow gauge wagons, running on OO track. I thought this was very clever and also a cheap option for narrow gauge modelling. The conversion process begins by stripping down a wagon underframe then building a body in plastic card, either a flat, open or van design.
I was thinking that this would be a good way to construct a Victorian colonial military themed layout, based on the Suakin to Berber railway, which was standard gauge but could be modelled as a fictitious three foot gauge line. I'd do this in 1/56th (5.4mm/foot) scale using wargaming miniatures, of which there are plenty to choose from. The obvious choice would be the inexpensive plastic box sets of Sudan era British troops and Sudanese Mahdist Ansar produced by Perry Miniatures.
It could also be based on the North West Frontier or Zululand, for example, but wherever it is located it would use converted OO gauge locomotives, perhaps the readily available Hornby Smokey Joe 0-4-0 being the obvious choice. It would be relatively simple to do this by rebuilding the footplate and cab using plastic card, brass wire and other bits, as the scale difference between 1/76th and 1/56th isn't excessive, with a 1/56th scale human at 28mm compared to 20mm for 1/76th or OO.
Captain DeCosson, the chief water officer for Graham's expedition from Suakin, left a good account of his time in the Sudan, including a review of the railway. Interestingly enough DeCosson was of the opinion that a narrow gauge railway would've been far quicker to build and just as efficient as the full-size version.
ReplyDeleteFascinating stuff AJ...you are a mone of useful information!
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