Workbench Challenge

Was wondering what i was going to post about tonight, then remembered that its December tomorrow, and the 'finish a project month'. I'm going to start here, by saying, I will finish the signal box fort he south end of Paikakariki. Photo's to come tomorrow night.
Other projects I'm going to commit to finishing by the end of the month are to mould my Lc3 master(which may have something to do with the prizes..) and finish the design work for the A3 module system.

OK, whats everyone else going to do?

Something different

Just for a change from all the 50's and 60's stuff I've been prattling on about, tonight we actually have something a bit more modern. Actually, it couldn't possibly get more modern.

7008 in new paint on the Hillside traverser. No idea who took this.

Comments include 'They must have gotten a bulk discount on the cab side windows at Mitre 10.'

' And would like to raise a motion for pure red sides without the grey. All that grey is looking a bit depressing. Trains are supposed to be RED.'

Steam loco's part 3

I've been looking through http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html which is an amazingly useful site (and one which I should add to the sidebar) for inspiration on general layouts for putting together a steam loco chassis. The best stuff comes from the brass steam locos section.

The first is a very old loco from the 1970's, with an open frame motor, and a very simple chassis. This does show that things do not need to be high tech to work. it might be nice to come up with something better than the huge arse screws holding the siderods together.

The second photo shows a more up to date loco with a can motor and enclosed gearbox. It could even be a larger scale model

A challenge

Tonight I've lined up my unfinished railway (yes there are other fields as well) projects. Its crappy but...


From left to right; De mech needing some better pickups and a lid, possible Wa mech, Ja awaiting a boiler, Uc14 , Z15 on express bogies, G, lc top awaiting moulding rubber, 2 Da's in need of couplers. In front is the Signal box that needs a bit of TLC and a set square.
This sorry collection is also set against the fact that I have not actually done any modeling in the last 2 weeks.

To try to do something about this, and taking a leaf from other forums, I'm proposing a December 'complete a project' month. Entrants can announce a project that they wish to complete ( or start and finish) in the month of December. Weekly updates will be encouraged so that we can all see how everyone is going. At the end again we'll have a show of hand's to pick a winner. prizes will be whatever I can get the neighbourhood cats to give up.

So whos in then?

New E-mail scam?

This turned up in the mailbox today.

"Hello! This is Candy, member of Shenzhen kadler Mould manufacturing Company (KDL), which is a direct and professional manufacturer of die casting mould, injection mould and their products.

As knowing from your website, we can produce most kinds of product you want. For example, plastic products. You can see the photo attached.

You know that the material and labor cost is very low in china. We well know about DME and HASCO standard, we have passed ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Its our pleasure if we can do something for you!

If you need further information, please refer to our website: http://www.castingmould.net or feel free to contact me. "

And I've looked; there's no porn, or a shed full of diamonds, or any bank accounts with 20 million dollars.
(Her English skills are just as good as mine though).
I wonder what they are like making Nz120 wagon underframes that are 2" long....

Short post

Just to add onto the other nights post about steam loco's, which seems to have left you all completely speechless with its breathtaking brilliance :v)
Here's a link with a list of steam loco classes, a list of the numbers and the occasional plan and picture.
A good simple reference. http://www.trainweb.org/nzsteam/classes.htm

Steam locos part 2.

'Are you sure we've got the right wheels on then?'

I've been doing a bit more thinking on this topic this weekend while making more beer.
Pretty much any six coupled steam loco from the 50's and 60's can be modeled using a basic chassis that is 5' + 5'. there were differences of a few inches either way, but this is only plus or minus 1mm. Likewise the wheels are really only 2 sizes; 48" and 54", again with a few inches either way. Walschearts valve gear is standard on all types. The cylinders are either Ab type, or Ww/Wf that look almost identical from a distance. Above the footplate, things improve markedly. All the pacific locos (including the Aa and Q's) wound up with Ab boilers in the 50's, so one size fits all. This means that for these classes the cabs and tenders are the only major bits of kit that need to be modeled. Ok, its not that easy, but far simpler than having to redo all the powered bits every time.




So what does this all mean. Basically, that with a generic set of parts, someone could make any 6 coupled loco for the late 50's and 60's. This includes the actual drive train, which in modern n scale style would have gearing on all axles with the rods just on for the ride. a 10mm diameter can motor would fit inside the boiler.

Now, what about wheels. The British 2mm association do some excellent work, but there is a problem. To do all the wheels for a 4-6-2 plus tender split frame chassis would cost you the princely sum of $158 at today's exchange rate, without any gears or frames. Doesn't really sound like a good idea does it. However a brass plated wheel on a steel 1/2 axle could be made locally, for what I would image to be a fraction of the cost. The coupling rods, crossheads and valve gear could be etched.

The 8 coupled J/K classes are similarly dealt with, as the wheel spacings are the same, and the only difference is the valve gear and cylinders. the wheels can be recycled from the project above. Bigger motors can be fitted due to the larger boilers being available.

It all sounds so easy doesn't it. :v)