Photos by author
Fabrizio Prudenziati, probably best known for his collection of 1/72 aircraft and Roadsters has started a line of trains. His first completed design is this fine little locomotive in N scale. This model was supplied by DeWayne Barnett, who distributes all of sgr. Prudenziati's models as well as models from other excellent designers. It will be available in the future on CD along with other rail models. A low resolution version of this model is currently available at Mr.Prudenziati's site located at http://digilander.iol.it/zioprudenzio/fokker.html.
DeWayne sent this model to me for download over the internet. I opened it in Paint Shop Pro and printed it out with my Epson Stylus Color 800 on 65 pound cover stock.
As this is a very small model, it is all on one sheet, with almost half the sheet taken up by the fine assembly drawings. The rest of that half page is a very nice section of track for display. Because this model has few parts, it will be good for a relative beginner, although the small scale means some very careful cutting. It also requires very good eyesight, or, if you are like me, some very strong close-up glasses.
I began with the biggest part, the main body. I studied it for quite a while before doing any cutting. This is because Zio was not content to make the body a simple box, but was careful to follow the shapes of the real thing. This means quite a few places that need scoring for folding, which should be done before any cutting starts.
After cutting out, please be sure to color the cut edges that will show. Nothing screams "paper" on an otherwise good model like white edges showing. My current favorite is to use watercolor pencils. They come in a wide range of colors. I keep a mayonnaise jar lid with some water close by. When needed, I choose the right color pencil, dip the point in the water, and gently stroke it along the card edge.
Closing the ends of the body is pretty straightforward, bending in the right places and gluing the tabs. After making sure the bottom will actually fit inside where it belongs, I like to put a small bead of glue all around the inside of the body, close the bottom, and quickly hold it down flat on the work surface. I gently stroke the sides for a while to make sure they are in contact with the bottom. Keeping it down on a flat surface till the glue sets insures that there will not be a twist in the finished body.
I cut out the raised part of the roof after scoring the folds. I prefolded all the folds, then laid the part out flat again and glued on the little vent sections. Then the ends get glued to the sides and the whole thing is glued in place on the roof.
The frame and wheel assembly is in four parts. The frame is a box, and the wheel assemblies are cut out, folded, and glued to the box. The spring assemblies that cover most of the wheels are folded double so they stand out a bit from the frame, giving a bit more depth to them. When these are all assembled, glue the whole thing in place on the bottom of the body.
All that is left now are the little bits that really make it look good. Score cut and fold the headlights, and put them in place. The cylinders that hold the buffers are pretty tiny, but it can be done. Pre-roll them around something small. I used the pointy end of a round toothpick. Then some sharp pointed tweezers and a bit of squinting, a tiny bit of glue and Viola!
The electric pick-up shoes and the arms that hold them are the most delicate parts to cut. A nice new blade and lots of patience are in order here, along with some more of that squinting. When these are glued in place the locomotive is finished. A few minutes to make the bit of display track, and you are in the train business.
I always finish my models with a clear acrylic spray. Many of the real things we make models of are kept in a shiny state by their proud owners or operators. A gentle gloss finish makes the model tougher, and easier to keep dusted. And I like the way it looks.
Thanks Zio-it was fun
| Model: | E633 FS locomotive |
| Designers: | Fabrizio Prudenziati |
| Scale: | 1:160 "N scale" |
| Availabilty | Check with DeWayne Barnett at http://teuton.org/dbarnett |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Number of Parts: | 24 |
| Instructions: | None needed |
| Diagrams: | Very good |
| Fit: | Good |
| Coloring and Artwork: | Excellent |
| Printing: | Depends on your printer |
This model is available from The genius of Fabrizio at http://www.teuton.org/~dbarnett
