Having recently acquired the 4ground Western Train set, I enjoyed assembling the models but found a few points that for me could do with improvement/modification. First was the fact that the wheels do not rotate; secondly, the couplings are not flexible enough to allow for connecting the carriages on a curve, even with the innovative method for allowing the bogies to accommodate a curve and finally; the track, the six inch lengths had no connectors and the fibreboard rails were easily distorted. To me these were areas I thought I could be improved on, so, I set myself the challenge of finding a way to do this.

As the track was 32mm or O gauge I investigated the possibility of using commercial bogie units and track, although feasible the cost was rather prohibitive, that was until I discovered another way. I visit Model railway trade fairs on occasion as they are often a good way of getting hold of cheaper parts for my games. American O gauge I discovered is 1/48 (British O gauge is 1/43 running on the same 32mm track) this is a lot closer to my wargamers 28mm of 1/56. A very popular version over there is On30, in other words O gauge on narrow gauge representing a 30 track width”. This is great as everything runs on track to OO gauge standards and all the accessories I require are so much cheaper. Narrow gauge lines are very common around the world and especially in America where they operate/d in a similar way to main line systems (just look on You tube for On30). In the American Civil war one of the drawbacks to communication by rail was the lack of standardisation between many of the Railway Companies and this works in my favour. Much of the MDF rolling stock is convertible by replacing the bogie units with commercial OO gauge units. .

Looking further, commercial On30 American outline rolling stock can be expensive, a suitable coach currently retailing in the area of £70 but again at a railway fair I picked up a good one for only £15. (I later obtained a suitable locomotive for £55 on Ebay) I also managed to find some old Hornby Toy Story rolling stock (three for £10), just toys but with the virtue of being cheap. (Goods stock in America was not just the standard Box Cars we are used to seeing, (look at Charles Bronsons’ arrival by train in Westworld) there was also a whole range of other styles on these narrow gauge lines, there and around the world both in the 1800’s and into the resent day. This gives us as wargamers plenty of opportunity to make our own.

Having removed the bodies from the running gear, just 4 lugs to unclip, I had some useful chassis to work on. Here I used my imagination and using a mixture of spare MDF bits, plastic card and artist mounting board offcuts I was able to produce some vehicles which would be at home in most of the areas our games are set. Not on just the North American continent but also The South; Africa; India; Asia; the far East and Australia as well. Planning and making your own rolling stock will depend mainly on the chassis units you decide to use, especially for the length of the units. However, I would recommend that the max height of the body would be 5.5cm. and the max width 4.7cm. My motive power for my new train is currently the Hornby Toy Story Locomotive from the set, it is a little small but will do until I design and build a new body.

Hope you found the above of use!

Uncle Ken