My long story as a model railroader…
As my first train I received a box with a steam loco in sheet metal, some carriages with two axles, all printed with paint. Spring operated indeed! The track oval was to small, nothing to play… I was roundabout six years old.
The next experience was in H0 gauge, Trix Express System. I built mountains and galleries with shoe cartons and blankets. I was a layout builder with a lot of fantasy. Later then a lumberyard with a huge amount of tracks and switches.
Then my first real DC-system (Fleischmann?). Later I had some Roco, LIMA, Rivarossi, etc. After a break of any years, I began to modify industrial models into specials, not industrial obtainable. I manufactured more than 600 engines (steam, diesel and electric) for a small distributer with an exclusive clientele.
Time changes, I came into contact with the LGB-IIm trains. I saw the potential for a model builder hobby, so I moved to the bigger scale! Here I am, enjoying LGB since 1985. The first was an experiment, during a longer hospital visit. I developed some kits for oldtimer carriages from Swiss narrow gauge (FO, RhB), these go with the Rhaetian crocodile from LGB. Over the years I developed six different carriages kits.
Now in South Africa, I began to work with laser cut and water cutting parts in ABS. Quite a few different models came in to being in the last ten years!
My future projects are: PanoGEX (Glacier Express) from RhB (bogies are existent), a Transnet Class 35 Diesel engine based on a Aristo model SD45, a SAR Class 21 steam engine (tender already existent). And many more…
Pics of all this, see in my home page
www.trainmaster48.netI have also published a book, “Bahnen in Namibia” on the Namibian Railway system in German.
Thanks for your attention!
Trainmaster
