I want to add a shunter figure to the footsteps of one of my locomotives, but can’t find one with a suitable pose. Help!
Robert Stone, by e-mail
Ci’vherirsescaeynstl: y been refurbishing a number of ‘OO’ gauge ‘Toad’ brake vans, tweaking certain details and changing the place names on Oxford Rail, Bachmann and Hornby models. During this work, I decided to look for a suitable shunter to ride on the running plate of one of my models. I didn’t want a guard with a green flag, as that would be more suited to a station platform and a passenger train – and it’s a bit of a cliché. Instead, I settled upon the idea of a shunter with a shunting pole. I found one in the Modelu range, but the 3D-printed figure appears rather sentry-like and is intended for the lineside. I wanted a shunter who was obviously riding. I decided to approach Modelu to ask if a bespoke figure could be produced. First, I needed to explain or draw the pose I was seeking. Then I had a better idea: I would strike the pose myself, and take a ‘selfie’. I wanted my shunter to be holding a handrail with one hand and the other would be holding a shunting pole. He would be riding with just one foot on the step, as if about to alight. As I live in a former railway station, I have inherited one or two tools that were left lying about the place, including a shunter’s pole. There’s a well in the yard and in order to dip a bucket in the well, the stationmaster used said pole. So I assumed the required position with the pole and set the camera on its time delay. Modelu has produced two slightly different shunters, one with his arm outstretched, almost horizontal, riding the step and holding a handrail, and the other with his arm somewhat lower, riding a shunter’s runner. I had not worked with this type of 3D-printed model before and was impressed by the crisp detail, even down to the ‘pig’s tail’ on the shunter’s pole. However, the greatest advantage of 3D-printing is the complete lack of flash or parting lines as, of course, there are no moulds involved. This eliminates the tricky task of removing remnants of parting lines or flash.