With all the exact scaled details in model locos (brass and plastic) where do model manufacturers get the blueprints? do locomotive manufacturers provide detailed construction drawings to the model makers? I would think some older locomotives drawings would be very scarce indeed, Anyone know the procedure to acquire detailed drawings before even starting a model project?
No, I’m not planning to build a 'Yellowstone" from scratch.
“Anyone know the procedure to acquire detailed drawings before even starting a model project?”
Your on a computer, right? Use it to search the Internet for photos and drawings of your future project. You may be surprised by what is out there. Leave no stone unturned when you do it.
I know the guys from Rapido go measure the prototype themselves. Luckily in their case a prototype is available. They were guests on Scotty Mason years ago, pretty interesting stories they told.
I meant the makers of Model Locomotives, where do they acquire their drawings and information, I’m sure there is not enough technical information on the internet to construct a model without truly accurate drawings, (photos will not do) I’m not building a model, I’ll leave that up to manufacturing companies.
Railroad historical societies may have drawings of locomotive appliances. Appliances were pretty much standard. A Worthington type E feedwater heater was the same no matter whose or what loco had it. Basic dimensions of the boiler and cab can be figured in many ways and many scale drawings are available.
Pete
Linn Westcott’s steam locomotive cyclopedia is probably a compilation of drawings from earlier model railroader magazines.
there are books that have complete drawings of locomotives for a particular railroad such as the Wiswesser book for the Reading.
greg
For locomotives that are still around (preserved or in service), some manufacturers will attempt to go out and measure the real thing. As was mentioned, Rapido is a great example. For their upcoming FPA-4, they even used 3D scanners to scan the entire locomotive! (the first time this has been attempted)
Often blueprints do exist. A lot of locomotive builders have them and may be willing to grant access to them. Some older blueprints may have been held onto by collectors, or sitting around in storage somewhere (if they can be found!).
In general, although blueprints may be attainable, I suspect a lot of the design work is done through measuring existing prototype examples, and in the case of older locomotives that aren’t around anymore, a lot of work from photographs.
Beg pardon?
A few thoughts from one who details kitbashes from photos.
Photos WILL do, if you have enough of them at a variety of different angles including overhead. I’ll grant that getting distances exact to the millimeter requires math somewhat more complex than counting on fingers, but it can be, has been and will continue to be done.
A lot of appliances and devices are standard, out of a catalog, parts. They have known dimensions (which can then be used to determine adjacent unknown dimensions.)
Surprisingly, so-called erection drawings aren’t as useful as you might think. In many cases they are simple line drawings. The only thing they have going for them is exact dimension data.
Can’t speak of my own knowledge about the present crop, but a LOT of early brass was designed from plans published in MR (not all of which made it into the Steam Locomotives cyclopedia volume.) In other cases, the people who wanted the product (importers) did the research and turned over the necessary plans to the manufacturers.
In the case of my roster, the plans and photos fill a five foot shelf of prototype and model publications accumulated over the years. That’s the Japanese language part of my research library, not the whole.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - to contemporary plans and photos)
Between Historical Societies, Locomotive and Car Builder Dictionaries, and University libraries there are lots of drawings. The dictionaries have separate drawings/pictures for sub assemblies and parts - possibly the others do as well. Many steam and diesel locomotives, as well as rolling stock have been preserved around the country for direct measurements. Couple that with pictures and you can come up with enough information for most projects.
I think the real questions are: How much trouble (expense) is a manufacturer willing to go to, to get it “right”? and of course: How much extra are we willing to pay for it?
Enjoy
Paul
Prints/dimensioned sketches are available from the mfg, RR, historical societies(which have direct access as these include current and/or former employees), NMRA(which has lots of proto info) and books. Different model mfgs go to multiple sources, some even go to the prototype itself. But, as we have seen there are misses particularly when RRs modify or originally ordered slight variations on a basic build.
Richard