Italian Head End Power generator car

minesweeper Apr 22, 2020

  1. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Got a new project while I wait to take heart and finish the wiring for the second module.
    I have a kit for an HEP vehicle that was used by the Italian railways to be used when the diesel motive power had no HEP generator or there was not enough power available to give HEP and at the same time pull the consist.
    Italian diesels were all without HEP except one 2000HP class, as the axle load requirements were for 16 tons, therefore power averaged little more than 1000HP - no MU due to unions - therefore sometimes even the 2000HP D445 needed the extra HEP vehicle.
    Here the vehicle (450 HP generator with conductor and baggage compartment marked nDVrec) where
    n stands for "navetta" (cabled for push and pull)
    D is baggage compartment
    V is heating / generator
    rec is the italian for HEP (riscaldamento elettrico carrozze)
    View attachment 216356
    Lineamodel is the producer of the kit; which is also nice as I got most of the parts twice or three times around; I will anyway use 2 painted and decorated shells I got from ebay in the meantime to save time andalso have the possibility to build one or two more. The kit is what you can expect from a small series producer, not easy and plenty of work to be needed to get the parts together.

    Here some pictures of the WIP.
    One of the shells
    IMG_6655.jpeg
    The truck (a FIAT produced pivotless truck in real life, here with a screw as pivot)
    IMG_6654.jpeg
    And here the interiors, quite a lot of work to be done.
    IMG_6653.jpeg

    Please comment....
     
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  2. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Work is in progress, I had to fight the brilliant idea of the manufacturer to provide the windows cut to measure with the carbody.
    Of course these did not always match and it was really difficult to glue the windows (used white glue that leaves less residues).
    After fighting with the windows, there come the frames.... also here white glue comes handy.
    Anyway did not manage to have a very clean result, had to clean with vinegar, but some stains remain.
    3.jpg 2.jpg 1.jpg
    Please comment
     
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  3. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  4. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Mike, You are spot on. It is exactly that model.
    The livery is an example of the incoherence of the FS liveries in that period.
    The livery is the one for regional push and pull trains, but ironically, the sole diesel locomotive in this livery is the D445, which is the only one with HEP: therefore you will never see this car in a consist with the same livery.
    It was mostly used with old green and brown locomotives pulling slate grey coaches.....
    If you see my thread on the colors of italian trains you will see examples with three or more liveries in the same train (maybe also on the same coach type).
    https://www.trainboard.com/highball...talian-railways-regional-motive-power.111062/
    Right here the first picture is a D445 in the same livery (called "navetta", italian for push and pull train)
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2020
  5. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    I feel your window pain (sorry for the pun :rolleyes: ). You have frustrations somewhat common to all here. I think your overall work is excellent. You will appreciate the hard work when you see the equipment in operation. Good luck.
     
  6. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Thank You, I am also using the spares to build another one for my freelance.... got bored from the german cars I got at scrap price.
     
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  7. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    The FS version is almost ready, but obviously the roof did not match, so i had to rmove all the tabs form the roof and the body, and then fix it IMG_6694.jpeg
    In any case looks like the trucks are rolling and swiweling OK, and the NEM sockets go sideways as they should.
    The freelanced FRA is another story....
    First I had to cover the coupler sockets to avoid them sliding out of place
    IMG_6696.jpeg
    Balsa wood and a dab of white glue (this model has far more white glue than all others I built); for the windows, I followed the example of old Rivarossi coaches with the same two pieces window frame, by painting the frames on the body and trace a line on the acetate to simulate the frame.... not so sophisticated like the originals, but still satisfactory in my opinion if you are not a rivet counter. IMG_6695.jpeg
    Last issue when I tried the roof, no match like the other as expected, but since the body of the FS came from a different source, here the disaster, you can see the central part of the model humping up 1mm above the body top: will have to scrape quite a while with a big file to make it do, hoping not to damage the body.
    Morale for this: the kit is basically failed. I was lucky to have the bodies from the former maker of the kit as these were already painted, but do not know how is it possible to fail the mould this way. IMG_6697.jpeg

    Hope to finish these soon.... still wiring on the layout.
     
  8. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Final, not 100% finished, but enough for me to then go working on the layout.
    The seams to the roof are still visible from close by, but I can not do better.
    I was able to patch the FS car by using the decals from the kit (my body was already painted so actually these will tun out handy for a few projects), got a lighter tone of weathering to the roof, and a black on the grilles and the exhaust.
    Here the corridor side
    IMG_6802.jpeg
    Here the machine side
    IMG_6803.jpeg
    Then the freelance FRA, also almost complete as I ruined the decals with the reporting marks, so these will come on later. Same weathering, but with darker tones as the roof is lighter. Does the difference on the window construction with the FS stick out so evident?
    IMG_6801.jpeg

    Here the two roofs...., side to side
    IMG_6804.jpeg
     
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  9. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow I think those look fantastic! Very nice work.

    -Mike
     
  10. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Turned out very nicely to say the least.

    Great work
     
  11. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you folks.
     
  12. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Yep, looks great! (I think I see Luigi.)
     
  13. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    If it was for my kid, you would see all the Mario Bros band, including Donkey Kong :p. Maybe if he gets HO scale figures......
    Thanks anyway.
     
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