Johns Model Madness-Visit my model world!
Share my models, Kerr Stuart locomotive, Allchin traction engine, boats, OO railway and some drawings
I want to share some of my work with you. I am 82 years young and have made models of all kinds for more than 65 years. Many of these have long gone to the great scrapyard in the sky.
I illustrate recent work, some of which quite please me........... I am still learning however !
Click on the images below to go to the relevant pages.
I hope that the models illustrated and in some cases the description of steps in constructio n will tempt the visitor to try his/her hand at building the model they have been thinking about and which perhaps prompted them to visit this site.
On these pages I show some of the construction techniques and will later describe some of the problems encountered in the course of construction, describing ways and means by which they were overcome.
I enjoy using materials recovered from sources such as scrap and recycled objects, buying only items that I cannot make such as electronic components. For engineering projects I employ castings where I cannot fabricate. This provides practice in pattern making !
Site contents June 2010
Model Engineering topics
Building the 1 1/2" scale Allchin ....Click here
3 1/2" Gauge Loco 'Tich's' pedigree.. Click here
5" Gauge Loco 'Pixie's' background, survey and contruction... Click here
Book on scale model locomotive construction bookonbuilding.htm
Lessons 'Nostrums' learnt in 60 years+ of modelmaking.. click here modelengineersnostrums.htm
Model Boat topics
Building the 1/32" scale Rhine pusher tug 'Egrete'.. Click here
Scratchbuilding building two simple R.C. sailing boats click here..Click here
1/24th scale scratchbuilt workboat 'Free Lancer '.. Click here
The Clyde Puffer and other earlier boats.. Click here
1/24th scale scratchbuilt workboat 'Free Lancer 2'.. Click here
Scratch building the trailer / sailer ' Silhouette '..buildingthesilhouette.htm
Building a small pusher tug similar to the popular ' Springer ' class. buildingsmallpsher.htm
Workshop topics
Have a look at my workshop........workshops.htm
A model engineer's nostrums click here modelengineersnostrums.htm
Tools and things mainly from scrap workshoptoolsetc.htm
Model Railway topics
Looking back at OO Gauge Model railways click.. Click here
Traction engines
Allchin traction engine to 1 1/2" Scale An earlier ( 1910 ) prototype
A major project carried on over a period of six years was construction of the Allchin traction engine ( Road locomotive ) to 1 1/2" scale. The six year term resulted from shortage of spare time due to a job which involved lots of travelling !
To see the construction of the Allchin from plans produced by the late great model engineer W. J. Hughes and a description of the many parts click here BuildingtheAllchin.htm
Following contact initially built up over the Internet with my now good friend Peter Beck, Click here! a German model engineer, pictures of my models now appear on his site. Peter is an accomplished model engineer and we share many interests, he has also built the Allchin and a number of locomotives, so appreciates the hours of application required. Peter has recently built a 1" to the foot scale traction engine ' Minnie ' to a design by L.C. Mason. And is now building a model of the ' Rocket ' The high quality of Peter's work is evident from these images :-
The hornplates and gear assembly for 'Minnie '. The gears were individually cut in Peter's home workshop.
Many hours of work result in the engine standing firm on it's intricate wheels. Next the ' Engine proper '..... the cylinder block, valve gear and transmission which sit on the boiler.
Resplendent in its unique livery Peters finished ' Minnie '
Peter is currently making an model of the famous ' Rocket ' which is being illustrated on his pages. Follow the link above to view his elegant work in producing an extremely complicated subject !
Locomotives in 3/4" and 1 1/2"scales
 |
3/4" scale '
Tich ' for 3 1/2 gauge track (to LBSC drawings ) Click here for Tich's pedigree |
| 2 1/2" scale
'Pixie ' for 5"gauge track (from site survey and
drawings which I produced courtesy of the Leighton
Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway ) Click here ! for Pixie's background, survey and contruction. |
 |
Having reached this far you will be wondering what facilities I have for model making in the variety of materials shown. To see my present workshop and and read about some of the past locations click here John's workshops
I have recently been viewing a superb site for all with model engineering interests. The site http://modelengineeringwebsite.com deals with excellence in model engineering and has information, images, descriptive articles and practical advice on every aspect of the topic and will be of interest and value to beginners, intermediate and expert model engineers.
Radio controlled model boats, power and sail
Currently activities are focussed on building model boats........so a page on the site describes construction of the Rhine Pusher ' Egrete ' from drawings published in Model Boats magazine, a fountain of knowledge for all who enjoy Boats, and in particular model boats.
' Egrete ' A Rhine ' Pusher tug ' in 1/2" scale from free drawings published in Model Boats Magazine . To view construction.click here
The wheelhouse is raised and lowered to clear the bridges along the river
Martin Davis a great model boat enthusiast has a superb site at www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk where amongst a wealth of topics, show reports, construction features and so on, he kindly exhibits illustrations of other modellers work.
Back to my activities......................
A recent model boat building project was construction of a freelance model of workboat, aptly named ' Free Lancer ' constructed in wood as you might say,.' All out of my head '. The step- by- step build is illustrated here
Building RC model workboats
Test of the workboat under way in the bath ...where else? Whilst it is a scratchbuilt freelance model the details are all based on images on the web ' Free Lancer ' a 1/24" scale, scratchbuilt workboat ' .....own design based on details of boats taken from the 'web' to .To see the construction Click here
This is ' Freelancer 2 ' based upon lessons learned from the earlier build. To see the construction Clickhere
Building RC model sailing boats
A Recently added page which describes describing two successful radio controlled model sailing boats
| Both are built mainly
from scrap and reclaimed materials. To see the construction process Click here |
A Trailer / sailer
This page describes construction of a small trailer sailer / cruiser which
I used to sail with my sons and my father. To view the construction click here.
OO Gauge model railways
Small Cameos from my 18' X 10 ' OO Gauge railway which was enjoyed by three generations of my family now superceded by my new enlarged workshop.
To look back at my OO Gauge Model railways Click here
Artwork
' The beach '
' L'Isolabelle, Maggiori
' Safe Harbour ' Salcombe
' Cornish fantasy '
When time permits I will be adding a gallery of items from my sketchbooks.
Cartoons .
Each month for more than 25 years I produced a monthly ' quasi/technical ' cartoon page based upon my own 45 years in and about concrete construction which included detail, design and supervision through to management and consulting work for a number of well known firms and institutes .
Over the years I produced some 2000 unique sketches of construction activies featuring the activities of a mythical construction worker. He is my creation, devised more than 25 years ago and any similarity between him and any other character real or mystical is entirely coincidental.
On the left my main character ' Cubco man ' He found himself in many demanding situations
...............................................as on the right !!
The illlustrations showed him working in a variety of construction work, learning the possibilities (and sometimes the problems) of a range of construction tasks, methods, materials and emerging techniques.
His was a very extended learning curve,........................................................... just as mine has been !
Tiring of me always drawing Him.......................... .....................He .took his revenge on me ! We welcome your comments :-
To comment on this site, add to or discuss any of the content please click the link to mail John:-
I thank the thousands who have taken an interest in the site, particularly those from all parts of the world who have mailed. These mails have in a number of cases lead to ongoing ' Email friendships' and a useful exchange of ideas and methods.
It is great when you mail and tell me what you are doing, whether in Model Engineering , Model Boats and any modelling activities.
I will always acknowledge your mail and offer help if needed..... and if I have sufficient knowledge and experience to help !
Our mail address is :- jaygee@johnsmodelmadness.co.uk
Last updated 18th June 2010
Copyright John Richardson.
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