From Resin to RTR Excellence
With the recently announced XPT from Gopher Models and Frontline Hobbies hitting the Australian N Scale market, it is the perfect time to acknowledge how far Australian N Scale has grown.
Sample images of the Gopher Models XPT. Photo: Mark Jesser
N Scale.AU looks back to acknowledge what was available previously. In the early days, if you wanted an NR, you could source an etch from Paul Welshe, fold it up, and solder it together. But for many, this was too complicated.
In 2013, Colin Bolin produced limited amounts of the NR by hand. Masters were made, molds were poured, and then castings produced. Fine details from brass etches were applied, followed by paint, masking, and individually applied decals. Mechanisms were stripped from American locos (Atlas SD50) and placed underneath.
Pacific National NR made by Colin Bolin. Photo: Mark Jesser (2013)
This process was done for both the NR and XPT. However, with the XPT, more masters were made to allow for the different passenger cars. Windows had to be cast from clear resin with a tint applied at the final moment; while still soft, they were carefully inserted into the finished painted model.
Photos Colin Bolin
Beautiful locos were created—a home-made production line.
Now, factory-made models of these two locos have been produced thanks to investment by Auscision Models (NR) and Gopher Models/Frontline Hobbies (XPT). These are not that different from how Colin did his, except with machines helping do the work. Finer details can be achieved in both the tooling and pad printing, and custom mechanisms are now created.
