I would really like to have a go at doing a better cab for these wonderful machines and I would like to know where I may be able to get some photos of the cab. I live in NE Victoria so Adelaide is not 5 minutes away although I would come over if I knew I could get the shots I want.

Lindsay, the problem with the Blue Bird cab is that you need a VERY wide angle lens on your camera because the cab is so small - tight - or what ever you want to call it. The best way might be to get some pics and build a cab rather than photoreal.
I think I have a pic or two in my archives and you are welcome to them, but they are side shots for obvious reasons.
I have not been down to the museum for over 12 months now and the last time I went, we made up a bed in the front seat of the car for the trip down and back. If I am up to a trip, I will let you know - I actually need a few shots of a couple of locos' cabs.
Cheers
Allan

I rather assumed there was not a lot of room. In Vic the sprinter cabs are a real shoe box also to the extent that at least some drivers complained (Note 1). I am quite prepared to build a cab using photographs as reference. If you are up to a trip a would love to know and come over. I have only ever been to Adelaide twice.
I have considered doing a model of the VLine sprinters, the only way of doing the cab on these will be a 3D model. In fact for these a 3d modeled cab that is close (not perfect though) already exists being the one for the British 150 class sprinter which is the DMU VLine used as a reference.

Note 1: They recently been rebuilding the sprinters, one of the things they have been doing is moving the drivers seats to give them more room, this has been accepted with REAL enthusiasm.

Hi Lindsay,
You have an email with cab pics.
Cheers

Hi Lindsay,
My wife made up my bed in the front seat of the car and we made the trip to Port Adelaide to the NRM yesterday. Totally stuffed me for the rest of the day, but very satisfying nonetheless.
I took 143 photos and specifically several in the Blue Bird cab. I hope they will be good for your purposes. I will email them later today. Please let me know if they are OK.
Cheers
Allan
PS you are still Very Welcome to come for a trip to SA if you have the urge.

Completely perfect for what I wish to do. Good shots considering it was so dark, 1/2 sec at f 2.5, Wow, could I assume that was holding the camera on the back wall of the cab because there is almost no sign of movement. Do you know what the two gauges on the dash are both look to be pressure gauges. The one on the left looks to have a 4 digit display under the needle. Main reservoir is top right, the gauges could be brake line pressure, and brake pressure. Making that in the cab view would make the Bluebird much better to drive. Have to see what I can do about a brake handle, will have a crack at making one in Blender. From memory the railcars in the route used in the Adelaide metro area use a simliar brake controler will have a go at the sim and get some ideas. Will have to have a wander down to the museum in Newport and see if I can get some shots of suitable brake handles.

It is getting a bit to close to the summer period to travel, I usually do my holiday travel in the spring or Autumn, I hate the heat . I will save some money and come over in march and have a good look around SE South Australia.

Hi Lindsay,
Glad the shot is OK.
I have shot many thousands of feet of movie film over the years and I developed a simple system of attaching a monopod to the camera and resting it in a belt hung around my neck - rock solid movies - even when riding the cab of a steam loco. This has spilt over into still photography. I attach a mini tripod to the camera and even when hand held, it is very stable - tripod in my left hand and camera in the right. The stability comes from each hand working in a different plane - one vertical and the other horizontal, whereas when we normally hold a camera, both hands are in the same plane.

I also cannot stand hot weather - and we get more than our fair share over here. Look forward to you getting over some time.

I will go hunt through my archives and see if I can hunt out a brake handle. I have a feeling that I saw one somewhere yesterday.

Cheers
Allan

Check the forecast before you do. We had a 15 day heatwave here in March in 2008 (most of it saw temperatures over 38), and the odd 40 degree day isn't out of the question. It's usually much cooler here at the end of March compared to February though

I live in NE Victoria, unfortunately get quite used to stinking hot conditions made far worse by an very occasional cold front bringing temps down to 15 degrees (A couple of summers ago it went from 41 to 11 degrees in around 15 hours killed 1,000s of animals). I usually plan these trips carefully so I will heed the advice. ALL of my recent time in SA has been doing various specialised work both bridge repair and track work as part of a private team (Note 1) for Pitchi Richi. (Smokers creek bridge along with others, New 3 ft 6 yard at Port Augusta)

Note 1, that is not members or workers from the railway.

Still pretty good for a shutter speed of 1/2 sec, very little sign of camera shake. I have been threatening to build myself a monopod for use under those sort of conditions. Mind you I now have a Nikon D700 cost the absolute earth but will give excellent pictures down to an ASA rating of at least 12,000, a major help in these sort of conditions.



Be good to say hello,
Lindsay