Building a WR360 C12 Diesel locomotive (scale 1/35)

In our new cabinet, we have about 3 large glass shelves, each 90 cm x 90 cm. The idea came to mind to put some “big” locomotives on these shelves. So, I started looking around, and noticed that “gauge 1” or “LGB” or “G-scale” locomotives where in fact “to expensive” to just use is as “decoration”. Why buy a complete engine with all electronics in it and a motor, if you are only going to use it as a static model ?

So, I looked a bit further, and I found some interesting kits in scale 1/35th, from Trumpeter. One of these kits is a BR52, which, once finished, will measure about 89 cm in length. If I put this locomotive diagonally on the shelve, I will even have about 30 centimeters left 🙂 After a while, the idea became even “bigger”: Why only put a locomotive on rails in the cabinet ? Why not create a complete diorama around it ?  Due to a mistake of an Ebay seller, and just plain luck, I became the (proud) owner of a WR360 C12 kit from Trumpeter, also in scale 1/35th ! So, we still have no “real” idea how this diorama is going to look like (in contrary with the BR52)

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The original trumpeter kit.


First experience in this “large scale” for me (Friday – october, 16th – 2009)


The first pieces glued together, I really like the details of this scale.

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Another view, the pieces do fit nicely tight together.

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A closeup of the underside of the locomotive.

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the wheels painted red. This is done with an airbrush. I never used an airbrush before in my life, after “strugling/experimenting” with it for 15 minutes, I decided to give it a try. The result turned out very nice 🙂

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After letting the wheels dry overnight, I decided to do a “dry-fit”. (e.g. they still can be taken off)

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A closeup of the wheels connected to the body.


Bottom-view of the locomotive.

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The “motor-housing” also completed, but not yet glued to the bottomplate. The white spots on the picture, is actually “Tamiya Putty”, to cover-up some damages on the parts. Next step will be to take the wheels and motor-housing off, and paint the unter-body red. After this I can start painting the buffers and coupling, and put them on. The wheels still need a touch of “blank metal” paint 🙂


Some paintjobs and first steps in weathering (Monday – october, 19th – 2009)

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The underbody, completely painted red. The wheels still need some shiny varnish !

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Front-view. Those “white”-pieces on the black paint, is actually some bright light shining on it.


I already started with the rails 🙂

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First, I painted the rails with “oily steel”, next I added a wetwash of “rust”-paint.

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The top of the rails is rubbed in with “graphite powder”, to make them look like shiny blanc steel. (The photo doesn’t do justice to the final result)


*Almost* finished (Thursday – october, 22th – 2009)

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Frontview, I still need to add some SMD LEDs into the headlights.

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Sideview, upper part is painted in “somber gray”.


Backview …

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Inside view of the cabine. I even made some needle-gauges ! (I painted it with a real needle, lol)

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This set does not come with decals, so I ordered them separately.

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Aah, my tracks. It’s starting to looking good … (still some work tough)

Next, I will add some SMD LEDs for head- & tail-lights (and also an SMD LED into the drivers cabine) After that, I will surely add the decals. Also, With 3 full pigment sets of vallejo (each set containing 4 different pigments), I will make the locomotive look “more realistic” (e.g. “dirty”)


Lights installed and weathering almost done (Monday – october, 26th – 2009)

Next, I started adding lights (SMS LEDs) into the front- & backlights, and also in the driver-cabine. Those SMD LEDs are only 2 millimeters width ! (0.078 inch) I still need to add a driver inside the cabine, so the roof is not yet “fixed” on the loc ! Also, I’m still waiting for some clear (look-trough) red, yellow and orange paint to arrive, to put on the white SMD LEDs, So don’t mind the “white lights” at the moment.

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The little yellow “thingy” is the SMD LED, for comparison, a green square is only 1 cm x 1 cm (0.39 inch x 0.39 inch) I need to solder a wire at both sides of these LEDs 🙂

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On the left, the SMD LED is installed, on the right you see how I did put the wires trough the headlights.

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Frontlights and cabine light illuminated ! (I ordered some red, yellow & orange “clear” paint to put on the tail-, front- & cabine LEDs)

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Backlights and cabine light illuminated ! (Also here, I’m still waiting for the clear paint to arrive)

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Backview, you have a nice clear view inside the cabine.

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Closeup of the inside of the cabine. (picture taken with the cabine-roof removed)

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Even with a sideview, you can see the interior of the driver-cabine.

The initial weathering is also done. I’m happy with the results on the cabine & engine-block itself, but the “chassis” still needs to be a bit “darkened”. Bear in mind that this is my first weathering ever ! (I used Vallejo pigments for it) (the following pictures are taken with the SMD LEDs “off”, so they don’t “interrupt” the view)

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The same sideview as the previous picture, but with the lights out 🙂

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The other side.

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Front view.

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Back view.

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View from above, I really like the “rusted” look.

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Detail 1: upper part looks good, but lower part needs a bit more of an “oil & greace” look.

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Detail 2: Even the nummer of the locomotive is “worn out” 🙂

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Detail 3: Dirt and rust all around …(the wooden parts of the rails still needs to be weathered correctly)

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