5 (NZ) Light Railway Operating Company

[30sqnatc]

Later in WW1 NZ was requested by the British to form a Light Railway Operating Company (LROC) for service in Europe which the NZ Government agreed to and it was soon formed in England from soldiers who were classified as unfit for front line service. A few weeks later it moved to Poperinge in Belgium and began operating the 60 cm narrow gauge military railways that provided the transport the link between the standard gauge Belgian and French railways, and the rear of the trenches. As they were within the range of German artillery and aircraft they operated primarily at night.

I've decided to model the NZ LROC in 1/35th scale so an initial purchase of relevant kits has been made.



Along with a few motor bogies that are built to order in Victora, Australia.



The first piece of rolling stock I'm building is a Crewe Tractor which was a Model T Ford that could be operated on both road and rail. Envisiged as a small locomotive it was a failure but still saw service as a runabout type vehicle.



I will update this thread from time to time.

[30sqnatc]

Unfortunately the green is still not right. Masking tape still covering wheels.

[30sqnatc]

Ah thats a more realistic colour.

[30sqnatc]

Progress on the Crewe Tractor driver and a pair of Armoured Simplex 40 HP. One is still waiting for it's Blackbeetle motor bogie.

[30sqnatc]

I declare the Crewe Tractor just about done. I still need to paint the correct Engineer colour on the puggaree

[30sqnatc]

For many months on and off I have been building a 1/35th Roden Holt 75 tractor. The kit build definitely was not a labour of love but is now ready for weathering. The photo shows the size of the road tractor compared with the Model T rail tractor. It's a big beast.

[Dave Homewood]

That's pretty cool!

[30sqnatc]

The tractor is now nicely sunk into the mud aka plasticine. That lifting roof corner is now firmly clamped down as the glue dries.