News from the Workshops 1 March
New on the Website
We hope you are all enjoying the website! It looks like it is working pretty well. We like the ability to put articles on it, about things that you have been asking about, or stuff we have been up too. We recently added an article about flux, what we use and how you can make your own. If you haven’t seen it yet and are interested in a quick read, find it here Flux-ing Around — VCC Models.
For those of you that have relatives asking you what you want for that upcoming birthday, there is the gift card. Its better than getting socks. The gift card comes in several denomination’s, and in a price bracket to suit all occasions.
The YouTube channel.
Like the website, we have been enjoying reaching out through the YouTube channel. We initially had some concerns that it would soak up a lot of time, but so far it hasn’t been too bad. We hope you have all been enjoying our armature video’s. In our most resent video we managed to get an invite to the Wellington Marklin Clubs, 50th birthday. While we were unable to make it to the whole weekend, we did go along for a couple of hours to catch up and see what was happening. You can see it here https://youtu.Wellington Marklin clubs 50th birthday
Thanks to Ian and the Marklin club for giving us an invite.
CB Decals
CB decals are being worked on. The decal pack will include both types of reflectorized stripes, wagon number, max load, tare weight, yellow hand brake dots, coupler type and OH dates. We are hopeful that they will be available in the next 5 weeks.
From the Research department – DJ Cabs
As with every locomotive on the NZ Railway network it doesn’t take long for modifications to take place, the DJ’s were no exception to this. One of the first mod’s done to this class of loco was to move the tablet exchanger from the rear of the cab closer to the sliding window on the cab. Most loco’s were done in the mid 1970’s. The next mod to the cabs were the addition of footsteps and small hand rails to the front of the cab, allowing engine crew to gain easy access to the windows above the short hood. Again this mod was done in the mid 1970’s . DJ’s 1208, 1209, 1210 and 1211 were most likely done when receiving their overhaul (paint job) for the Southerner train. In the 1980’s nearly all the all the DJ’s receive main line aerials on the cab roof for crews to communicate with train control. In recent years DJ’s 1222 and 1240 (Dunedin Railways locos) have had their cabside windows replaced with gilbert style windows. Michelle is slowly drawing the different variations of the cab for the DJ kit with the first prototype arriving in the next couple of weeks.
Not a train show – Matariki Woodville model building weekend
It has become a fixture in our calendar that we look forward too. If you want to know more about what happens, there is a small debrief of last year’s Woodville weekend on our website here. Woodville Model Building Weekend - Matariki 2025 — VCC Models.
We still have spots available. Get in now, to not miss out on a spot.
All the Details and booking can be found here.
MODEL BUILDING WEEKEND - Matariki 2026 — VCC Models
Dates: 10th – 12th July 2026.
Woodville Railway Station.
On the workshop bench
We thought all drawing of parts for the GM DFT / DFB were complete. Unfortunately we run into a few manufacturing issues right on xmas. It has taken a couple of months, but those issues are now looking like they are resolved. So, while delayed we are back on track.
The TBC Container, required some drawing edits to get this complete. Those edits have been done. Hopefully we can send the drawings off in the next couple of months, to get masters made.
If you have been following our YouTube channel, you would have seen the new side quest. That is the Public Works Department dog box station (plan number PDW 23251). So far other than the raw materials all the manufacturing of this kit is happening in NZ, which is great to support local manufacturing.
On the Dj front. We have been tasked with a commission, (you can follow its progress on our YouTube channel). It is being built out of the dead stock parts that we got out of the purchase of buying the On Line range, which is already providing a lot of valuable information on the good, bad and ugly parts. At the point of writing, the new cab (drawn from the Manufacturers plans) has been drawn up and is with our manufacture. This will serve as the prototype for our production, on this commission.
In the below photo are our new castings for the GM DFT and DFB they have come up looking great! The detail in the parts comes with doing several hours of research, drawing and design work but the end product is all worth it!
That’s it for this one Folks !!!
Thanks for your Support
