GC Model Trams Update

Scale 1:24 Track Gauge 59mm or 2 5/16"
This is an update on my model tram video made in 2013. You can see this on ( • Model Trams Gold Coast ).
Major changes are a new tram (seen under early test in a previous video), installing a controller from an old Sydney electric train, addition of 'people' to the trams, and in places growth of considerable foliage. There are also a couple of pointwork improvements.
Sorry about the jumps between some scenes but KZbin did that! They were not on the original.

[@bobpaterson5845]

I love how you have made the reversing section in the over head set up which allows reversing the trolley pole

[@tressteleg1]

Those trolley reversers were common in England when many short trams had only one pole. I first made mine to be temporary as the track was gradually extended. But it proved handy so was kept.

[@Hallands.]

Unbelievably charming!

[@tressteleg1]

Many Thanks 👍😊

[@tressteleg1]

The trams get all power from the overhead wire. Rails are bridged. Up to 35 volts are in the overhead wire. The first 12v are for the lights, the remaining 24 v goes to the motors. The motors are in series with 12v Zener diodes to do this.

[@nswrailvideos]

Excellent! and i loved how you incorporated the actual tram control.

[@garysmith394]

Excellent video of the excellent work you do. It is very realistic and these do not look like toys. I also found it interesting that on some of the cars the poles had actual spinning trolley wheels instead of the slider shoes. I am from Philadelphia and I have always loved trolleys/streetcars. Thanks for posting this video.

[@tressteleg1]

Glad you liked it. Actually it had been dormant for quite a while, but I have been getting it back into operation lately including some tramcar attention. As for the trolley wheels and skids, the skids are essential for cleaning dust, spider webs etc off the overhead wire so are the first cars to run each day. Afterwards, the trolley wheels can run ok.

[@marcconyard5024]

Nice to see the controller is the original chocolate colour. When I was very young my granddad got me a cab ride in a wooden driving trailer on the Carlingford line. Never forget that!

[@tressteleg1]

I did my best to match the new paint with a small patch which looked original. A fine memory for you with that cab ride. It was not hard to get them in the past but a sackable offence for a driver today.

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

These are very well made trams! I'd love to make an American interurban in this scale some day. And I like that controller being given a new use!

[@tressteleg1]

+RockyRailroad Animation Thanks for your kind words. It takes a lot longer than 'one day' to build a good model. Just make a start and do a,little bit more every chance you get. Yes, it is good to reuse the old controller which is in fine order. I use the track gauge of 59mm but I gather 60mm or 2 3/8" is used in the USA

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

+tressteleg1 Ah, thanks for the information! From what I've seen in various video, they take around a year each. By the way, are the poles held up by tension alone, as in real life, or is magnetism used assist the ends in staying in contact and conducting power?

[@jimsmoter4510]

Fantastic... I loved watching this video.. great job

[@tressteleg1]

Thanks. But I need to stop making these videos to find time to give it a run 😄

[@mediacityavid]

Great models. I take my Daughter to Crich for an era I never knew .

[@tressteleg1]

Thanks. Critch is quite a showpiece. If you can look through my videos, you will see some British Trams and trolley buses videos captured by the late Roy Hubble.

[@graememellor8319]

Great work mate

[@tressteleg1]

👍

[@roopcharlie6264]

that is amazing. What voltage do the trains run at? Is power fed only from the overhead?

[@rodrigaosvasconcellos8430]

What is country is this??? I love trolleys and I have model trolleys in HO, On30 and O scales. Your garden layout and your models is my dream!!! Best regards!! 😀👍🏻🚃

[@tressteleg1]

Hi. I’m pleased that you like my models, especially since you are a fellow modeller. I live at the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It’s amazing that as I write this, I’m a taking video of another scene for my next models video, probably ready Friday 21 September. Probably will be called ‘Gold Coast Model Trams gauge conversion and more’. 😊👍

[@CowboyJojosAdventures]

Love it! How wonderful.

[@tressteleg1]

Trams have not run for a while. It’s about time I ran them again.

[@dierkschurack-ye9kr]

Echt Super habe ich noch nie. Gesehen. LG. Aus Deutsch land

[@tressteleg1]

The trams are 1/24 scale but track spurweite is 59mm. LGB is less.

[@Callumrileyw4]

Lucky wish I knew how to build these. I am a massive fan of sydney trams and trains.

[@tressteleg1]

I started building model trams aged about 12. The R1 seen dates from around 1961. So if you are a lot older and have never made anything I don’t know how you would start except to get a plan for the vehicle you want to make, choose a material (balsa wood is the easiest) and start to build. If your first model does not look the best, don’t give up but try harder for the second one.

[@Callumrileyw4]

Know I’m a bit late to comment on this, but what tool did you use to cut the balsa wood on your trams?

[@tressteleg1]

I think I used those Gem single sided razorblades at that time but would probably use one of those extendable box cutters these days. The only balsa trams were the C, K, and ballast trailer and all had fibreglass applied to make the timber stronger. Brisbane 99 was the same. The R1 was built of zink coated steel sheet, and the others were all made of brass.

[@Callumrileyw4]

I’m probably gonna start on a p class, as they are for sure my favourite I’ll have a look at brass prices from Bunnings but probably build it out of balsa (besides the motor and undercarriage) I’ll most likely make the running board out of balsa

[@tressteleg1]

I wish you well with that, but you should be aware is that it will be quite a long job to build it. You will also have to start by choosing a gauge or scale for it. Personally I think Balsa is a bit flimsy, but you will just have to see what’s available. I know that some modellers choose a certain type of sheet plastic but I have not used that material myself. Finding a proper modeller’s shop rather than a toy retailer could also be a problem but if you are in Sydney and anywhere near Parramatta, Berg’s Hobbies may be a good place to start. You should also decide on a drive mechanism quite early, as if it is going to stick up through the floor anywhere, it’s best to know that before you build a complete body and then have to chop holes in the floor later.

[@wence25games89]

Do you build your models and overhead electrification? If so, how?

[@tressteleg1]

Well I largely follow full size practice. I just make miniatures of the various items used in overhead wire erection. A soldering iron is essential.

[@wence25games89]

@@tressteleg1 Ah. Those tram models look fabulous!

[@tressteleg1]

@@wence25games89 Thanks. The line has been neglected for quite some time but recently I have been rejuvenating it and hope to run the first trams within a few days. Just how dirty the track and overhead is remains to be seen. Normally the line is self-cleaning but after such a long time, especially the overhead may have troubles. I may have to resort to cleaning it with sandpaper, at least in some areas. Wait and see.

[@Tram177]

Класс, сейчас делаю модель трамвая серии Х, грузовой, в масштабе 1/20 из пвх пластика.

[@tressteleg1]

😊👍 Good Luck with your model!

[@Rail-Rody]

Very nice! What material/method was used to make the “pavement look” of the tracks? It looks too fine for concrete but plaster would crack to fast I can imagine.

[@tressteleg1]

I got very fine sand and mixed it with cement, 3 sand to one cement. Finished it with a steel paint or putty scraper.

[@Rail-Rody]

Thanks, so essentially it is the same cement-mixture as used with building brick-walls?

[@tressteleg1]

Yes, the same except that I went to a place nearby that sells all sorts of garden soils, wood chips and other gardening and builders’ needs and asked which is their finest sand. The first track laid had been the depot sidings and the sand used, which I already happened to have, was much too coarse so after that I got the fine sand. Are you about to build a line?

[@Rail-Rody]

Yep, I just ordered an OcCre kit and I am doing some research. I do have experience in garden railroading but not on the tramtrack-look yet. I am afraid that it would crack quite fast as the soil here is pretty soft. I will use LGB track and just cover that up with a cement type of stuff to get a similar effect as you got.

[@tressteleg1]

This is not the place to have long discussions. Perhaps you would like to email me using tressteleg(at)icloud.com Use the usual symbol instead of (at)

[@StaxRail]

Is this the tram layout featured in a 1968 British pathe film? Looks great mate, it's awesome to see trams being modelled as well as other railway locos

[@tressteleg1]

No it has not been featured anywhere. As I an in Australia, British Pathe would not know about it. Glad you like it!

[@aloysiusjones3985]

Why are all trams green and gold?🇦🇺

[@tressteleg1]

Because those were the colours Sydney used from the mid 1930s.

[@bred1921]

Awesome!!

[@tressteleg1]

bred 😊👍

[@denzel387]

nice work mate :)

[@tressteleg1]

the electronic man Thanks! It is nice when someone enjoys one's efforts.

[@nathannatedog82]

Where abouts r you located mate

[@tressteleg1]

As the title says, Gold Coast which is about 70 km southeast of Brisbane, Queensland.

[@nathannatedog82]

@@tressteleg1 yea thought so but i have been fooled with titles before i go to the goldcoast alot would i be able to see ur trams

[@tressteleg1]

Kindly contact me on tressteleg(at)icloud.com Use the normal symbol instead of (at)

[@thefireman2559]

is it a ACEC controller ??

[@tressteleg1]

+Vincent Hannart No, it is a British Metropolitan Vickers controller originally from a Sydney electric train which ran from 1926 until 1992. For the trains it had 4 notches but by filing down a stop block, a further 4 notches were available, 8 in total and ideal for models.

[@thefireman2559]

thanks

[@nztphotography5758]

It would be neat if you added a air brake.

[@tressteleg1]

It would be even neater if you made it for me and saved me the bother! But seriously, it probably could be done but could well be quite complicated and may not be reliable out in the weather even with a rain cover. But few people ever see it anyway. I look forwards to seeing how you have done it :-)

[@nztphotography5758]

Hahaha! I would love to make one, for my layout I am using a DCC Digitrax Zepyhr Xtra (think thats how you spell it!) because of it having tram like features on it, I am mainly using it because of this being my first layout

[@tressteleg1]

Good luck with it all. With my line voltage of 36v DC, not much is available in toy stores. When the track is dirty I boost it up to about 45v. That gets the power through all the gunk on rails and wire until it wears clean with use. So needless to say I make all my necessary parts out of junk or whatever. The controllers however put out a variable definite DC voltage. The big controller adds 3v with every notch. This works very much better than the traditional resistance control.

[@nztphotography5758]

Wow thats incredible! Have you watched the british pathe footage of a model tramway?? Reminds me alot of you layout here are the links kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6GTmJhoadKdb6s Model tram maker kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnbGdpugg6h_qZY I like the idea of the people in this one, mounting bells under the trams!

[@tressteleg1]

Thanks for those. I did go to an exhibition in London quite some years ago and they were running models like these. It’s surprisingly how much extra details you can fit in the larger scales if you wish.

[@Locoman3801]

Many Thanks for sharing these great videos ; we had a good family friend ( Barry N ) who used to be our old postie where I grew up in Sydney as a kid & he'd made a 2ft gauge tram which I still remember ( & treasure those memories ) today & I recall that he'd made his own trams in the same scale as you are making as seen in this video ; he went to Melbourne to be a tram driver & then he went to Brisbane & I lost contact with him some years ago so if you happen to know him - please get him in contact with me as I'd love to catch up with him again & show him my 7.25" railcar that I've been working on which is 24v battery electric powered & people can see it from this link here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnKqk6ycr7yKodE ; I hope that you won't mind me adding this link to the comments section & keep on doing the trams as it's a "talent" almost lost today . keep well & safe.

[@tressteleg1]

I have occasional contact with Barry and he is kept quite busy with family matters and other friends he is in regular contact with. Over time people move on in their lives and friends drift apart with new interests.