Above: Wholestick cane train on Greg Stephenson's freelance Queensland 009 layout.
Greg Stephenson and Bob Dow collectively had the most influence on my modelling Queensland sugar cane railways. I'd been a modeller of North American short/branch lines, particularly logging lines, in HO/HOn3 so cane railway concepts came easily.
However, Bob's early convention clinics and Greg's modelling examples really boosted me along.
They are both freelance modelers in 009 scale, ie 3.5 or 4mm to the foot operating on 9mm gauge track. Bob produced a line of cane equipment (bins, locos and shire wagons) in the 1990s that may still be available at swap meets and his plans for the Jenbach diesel formed the basis of my Handbook article on building a 009 Jenbach loco.
Greg's weed sprayers and other models provided inspiration, particularly his use of commercial wagon chassis kits for freelance navvy wagons. His slide collection and other technical information provides a significant portion of the CaneSIG image collection and inspires us all.
Lynn Zelmer
Greg Stephenson's weed sprayer train on Bob Dow's 'Dowmont' layout.
- Modelling tips: wholestick trucks - bottom dump wagons.
- Other models: wholestick train in yard - brake vans - sprayer wagons - Innisfail Shire-style carriage - Queensland-style houses.
last updated: 9/07/08.