Sierra Valley 1:20 SCALE LOG BUGGY
Manufacturer: Sierra Valley Enterprises, 2755 Saratoga Avenue, Merced, CA 95340. Price: LBE-16 ready-to-run wood and metal log buggy complete with trucks and couplers $69.95 each; log load $7.50 each. Price includes shipping and handling. California residents please add 7.25-percent sales tax.
HAVE YOU NOTICED? 1:20.3 scale is growing. At first, Little Railways line of detail castings, figures, and rolling stock stood alone. Then LGB offered the Porter, Ozark Miniatures has begun offering detail castings in 1:20, American Model Builders came out with the Whitcomb diesel switcher, Bachmann promised a Shay, and now Sierra Valley Enterprises presents an exquisite little log buggy. In case you are new to large scale, in 1:20.3 scale (15mm/foot), 45mm Gauge 1 (LGB) track works out to exactly 3 feet between the rails. So those wanting accurate 3 foot narrow gauge models to run on Gauge 1 track prefer 1:20 scale.
The Sierra Valley log buggy is of freelance design. Sierra Valley's owner, Gary Watkins, based the design on Barnhart Loader type standard gauge cars from the Grasse River Railroad in Conifer, New York. He dimensioned the length and width of his models to capture the overall proportions of the standard gauge prototypes but to run on narrow gauge track. Coincidentally, a former employee of the West Side Lumber Company, George Hard, saw our sample and pointed out it was remarkably similar to kiln cars on the West Side.
Gary Watkins seems to be another of those talented builders offering very high quality, limited production models at virtually bargain prices. While the photo probably says more about the model than words could, here are a few of the model's features:
All wood parts are mahogany with weathering, staining, and distressing by hand. The builder also has hand "rusted" all "metal" parts. Trucks and couplers are from USA Trains but the car's frame will accept Kadee® 835 body mount couplers without modification. Knuckle couplers are standard but the manufacturer also includes LGB compatible hook-loop couplers. The Delrin wheels by Miniature Railroad Products have closer-to-prototype contour flanges but are fully LGB compatible. The cars come complete with log chains and hooks. Each car comes with its own number reflecting the order of manufacture. Finally, while the cars appear fine as they come from the box, they invite superdetailing such as outside hung brake beams, underbody brake hardware, and additional nut-bolt-washer castings.
Direct comparison with the prototype would be meaningless since the car is of freelance design, but a few scale dimensions would be helpful: The length overall is 16 feet 4 inches. The width is 7 feet 8 inches. The maximum height off the rails is about 4 feet. The rails for the Barnhart loader are code 250 aluminum and 49 inch gauge. The main frame timbers scale 14 by 6 inches, the main bunks 14 inches square, and the center cross members are also 14 by 6 inches. The builder has notched the main frame timbers for the deadwoods, has drilled through the "metal" hardware, and inserted individual bolts or rivets. The brakewheel and rachet and pawl castings are from Little Railways.
The car will negotiate even the tighest radius LGB track flawlessly.
The workmanship on our sample is excellent. The finish is very good. The weathering on the wood parts is superb. Gary has even scribed each piece individually to enhance the wood grain. The rust color of the "metal" parts is understated and very realistic. Many very good modelers are unable to produce rolling stock with as much overall realism.
The logs are real wood with real bark and real moss. I have seen nothing more convincing in any scale except 1:1.
Sierra Valley soon plans to produce models of specific prototypes and we eagerly look forward to reviewing them. Considering the intent of the builder, and the simplicity of the model, we have no criticism of the log buggy; our sample is outstanding. We also think it is a genuine value.-RR
