Friday, April 18, 2025

Flat-car conversions followed by another "Day out"

Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway

It's spring and the season for more outdoor activities is about to begin again. -Like running trains in the garden, and preparing rolling stock for the coming season.

Flatcar 1

A fellow garden railway modeller was recently downsizing his collection, and I know he has a lot of hand-built items and scratchbuilt rolling stock. Among the items in his collection he was getting rid off there was a flatcar built after a Norwegian prototype from the Aurskog Hรธland Railway. I've always liked this flatcar, and he made me an offer I couldn't resist:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway

There was only one challenge; He's been running trains on 32mm gauge, while I run my garden railway on 45mm gauge. I didn't think this was a problem as I could just change bogies, so while at Modellbau Schleswig Holstein I bought a couple of LGB bogies (in 45mm gauge) to replace his 32mm bogies. 

But, when finally trying to fit my new bogies on the flatcar I saw that it wasn't so simple as I'd imagined as my new LGB bogies were too large and long and came in contact wit the truss bars on the underside of the wagon, making it impossibel to fit or turn:

Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
The original 32mm gauge to the left, and the new LGB 45mm gauge bogie to the right

Since I was eager to bring this new wagon to our next running section I actually didn't have time to order any new and smaller bogies from UK. I found a free file on Thingiverse for a 'bogie kit' I could 3D-print. My metal wheels were larger than the kit was made for, so some adjustments were necessary: 
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
Finally fitted the bogies to the flat-wagon. I think the result turned out just ok.
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway

Flatcar 2 and 3

I got a couple of LGB G-scale flatcars built to 32mm gauge really cheap last year. These were LGB originals, so here I could just replace their bogies with LGB ones. I've been running them occasionally behind my War Department live steam locomotive, but I wasn't too happy with them as they were in a American and civil livery:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
First of all, they were missing buffers, so I found a couple of free files on Thingivere again which I could 3D-print:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
The new buffers were assembled and superglued to the wagons. I wanted them to look both more generic and military so I could run them behind both my British W^D locomotive or my German Heeresfeldbahn. I painted them in 2 different grey shades, and made one look a little 'older' than the other. The light grey one was fitted with spooked wheels and older buffers, while the darker one got more 'modern' buffers and disc wheels. The old one got a deck of aged wood, while the newer one got a newer one. I also made them ready for3-link couplings:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway

Time to take the new flatcars for a Day out

Heine invited to another running session in his garden. So to haul my new flatcars I brought my Roundhouse W^D Billy livesteam locomotive, with the new driver:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
I assembled my rake in the fiddleyard. First the hand built flatcar with the new 3D-printet bogies:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
Then the 'new' flatcar:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
And the the 'old' one loaded with a Jeep for the occasion:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
The rest of the member making their trains ready in the fiddleyard:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
And then it was finally time to take it out for a ride:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
There is a large variation of trains and scales among our members, ranging from German...
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
...Swiss...
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
...American...
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
An American Shay
...German(s) again...
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
This is actually a German military Heeresfeldbahn locomotive in civilian postwar livery 
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
...And finally another British. Whats particular with this model is that it's a Gauge 1/ 1:32 scale model (which again is the same as 54mm figure scale). As it's a Standard Gauge model, it will run on the very same 45mm gauge tracks that the G-scale narrow gauge model runs:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
A Gauge 1 Terrier:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
The Terrier is a small steam locomotive, but side by side my 16mm/ 1:19 scale narrow gauge locomotive it becomes tiny despite being Standard Gauge. The scale is different, and they only share the same gauge of 45mm:
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
Another peculiar detail of Gauge 1 and 'G-scale', is that below there are 2 Standard Gauge models which are both made to run on 45mm gauge track. -So in theory these should both be to same scale. It's obvious that's only in the theory though, as the locomotive is a true Standard Gauge model, but the Thomas-coach is a G-scale model made as 'standard gauge' and somewhat too large for a 'standard gauge' model, but at the same time too small for a G-scale model.
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
During our break. Heine is is a very caring host, and kicked off the BBQ-season.
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
Note the 'Terrier' ON the dining table. At home we usually have a 'Terrier' UNDER the dining table (during meals):
Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway
Linus

Thank you for the invitation and your hospitality Heine!
Great photo he captured too:

Rebuilding and repainting some civilian SM32 flatcars into SM45 military flatcars. A day out running G-scale trains on a garden railway in Norway

 ๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿš‚

Blog PostScript

By the time at posting this, there seems to "be a thing" at Facebook where everyone is using ChatGPT to generate images of "toy action figures" of them selves or their fields of interests. I wanted to try it as well, and "there is a prototype for every thing". It would be cool to see it in production though:

Military Garden Railway Action Figure

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Norway 1940 in model - 85 year since the invasion of Norway

Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Courtesy to Major Andreas Hauge for making both the illustration and the diorama. They're from the same battle. 

Today it's exactly 85 years since the German invasion of Norway (Operation Weserรผbung) and the Norwegian Campaign started (8th of April - 10th of June 1940). This battle and campaign is covered at 'Norway's Resistance Museum' located in Oslo, and opened to the public in 1970. The museum doesn't change their exhibitions very often, so it's been pretty much the same since I was a kid. The museum has a row of small dioramas showing the German attack on Norway in 1940, and like the museum exhibits, these 'dioramas' are old and made with what was available on the Norwegian market at the time. -Mostly various Airfix figures and Vinyl toy cars. Despite being 'simple' these dioramas was like a starting point to military modelling for many of us back in the 70ies. The dioramas gives a brief story about the battle of Norway.

Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
The Sinking of the German cruiser 'Blรผcher' in the early morning of April 9, 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Sola airport (Stavanger) seized by German parachute troops on April 9, 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
German units halted at Midtskogen near Elverum on the night of April 10th in an attempt to capture the King and the Government:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
ร…ndalsnes bombed as British reinforcements are landed on April 20th 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Kristiansund or Molde bombed 1940 by Germans:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
A Norwegian unit stood its ground at Vinje svingen in Telemark until May 5, 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Namsos bombed and fired after Allied landings on April 20, 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Bodรธ wiped out by terror bombing on May 27, 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
German positions at Lรฆigastind north of Narvik overrun on May 7, 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Narvik recaptured by Allies on May 28, 1940:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
In the final stagees of the Battle of Narvik the Allied forces were suddenly withdrawn to Europe, which left Norwegian forces facing the superior German forces alone and eventually Norway had to capitulate. 

The Resistance Museum also shows what the German occupation was like in Norway, about the Norwegians who resisted to the occupation and how they resisted. I'm not going to show it all, but I'm going to show you some of the models telling the history. 

The German occupation authorities arrested all teachers that resisted to follow orders and teach Norwegian children the Nazi ideology. There were rumours that the ship was going to be sunken by a German submarine, but it wasn't:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
The teachers and all others that resisted to the occupation and participated in illegal activities were imprisoned in German concentration camps. One of the larger ones in Norway was Grini:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
But some were sent to KZ-camps in Germany or Poland:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
To escape German authorities and imprisonment many Norwegians needed to flee the country. Some of them passed German units and managed to escape to neutral Sweden by foot:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
And some Norwegians escaped to Sweden or UK by fising travellers. My Granduncle was involved in this kind of transport to Sweden:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Many of those who escaped to UK and Sweden recived military training and went back to Norway to train and arm the Resistance movement and to perform sabotage actions:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
The Heavy Water production facilities on Vemork, Rjukan was targeted for several sabotage actions to prevent Nazi Germany to develop nuclear weapons:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Fishing-vessels we're not only transporting refugees into safety, but were also used to transport military equipment, weapons and saboteurs back to Norway and supplies to the Resistance movement. They risked to be controlled by German patrol boats when returning to the Norwegian coast:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
More often they were playing 'hide and seek' against German patrol boats along the Norwegian coast to avoid German controls:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Norwegian raiding units from SOE were often landed along the Norwegian coast to perform different sabotage operations...
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
...or raids on industries the German forces benefited from, and therefore was heavily guarded:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
The industrial railway of Thamshavn was often targeted for sabotage operations, as it was important for the Germans:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
...and when trying to repair locomotives, they were sabotaged at the workshops. It was so critical for the Germans so they needed to bring narrow gauged locomotives from Germany to operate the Thamshavn railway. 
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Military equipment, weapons and supplies for the Resistance movement was also delivered from UK by air:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Preparations to sink the German ship SS Donau:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
In November 1944 the very offensive communist resistance unit called 'Pelle Gruppa' launched a major sabotage operations against 2 wharfs in Oslo and destroyed 6 ships, 2 dry docks and one crane. One of those old wharfs is located next to the museum where I work, which now has become a shopping mall:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Blowing up Jรธrstad railway bridge and derailing a German troop train arriving later on in January 1945. The operation led to firefights between German and American units in Norway in the aftermath:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Operation Polar Bear; The Resistance movement stole 13 vessels from German control and sailed them to safety and out of German reach in neutral Sweden in February 1945:
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge
Towards the end of WW2 in Norway there was a couple of skirmishes between the Norwegian Resistance Movement and German forces assisted by Norwegian SS volunteers. One of them was the Battle of Haglebu. Due to better weapons the Norwegian Resistance won these firefights and managed to withdraw to safety. 
Norges Hjemmefront Museum, Norway's Resistance Museum. Operation Weserรผbung 1940. WW2 dioramas Norway. Diorama hjemmefrontmuseet. Major Andreas Hauge

This post was not meant to be a history-lesson, but if you followed this post so far and the links to the different events and operations I added here and there, you probably know more about WW2 in Norway than the average population in Norway now...

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