Rob, That is one way I was thinking of doing it. The other possibility is solder: https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/carrs/solderpackets/c1001 Also there will be a hump running most of the length of the shell, I will be using a solid piece of aluminum or brass that will be screwed into the top. That will act as a spine to help hold it all together. Scott
I looked at that solder and it looks promising. I have 6 locomotive shells made of Nickel Silver that is compatible with that solder, so I got to get some to try out. I'm thinking I can solder corners with regular solder and use that low temp to fill in and round sharp edges or gaps without the whole thing falling apart.
I ordered up some AZL PA trucks. These are more prototypical. I have to options, 1. Slice off the outsides on AZL and Marklin and swap, 2. Try to fit the truck onto the chassis with some mods. I think #1 will be easier, not sure. #2 will take reworking the mating parts and reworking the worm gear shaft. Scott
My father is enjoying the double ended baby face build. He suggested I do away with the four idler gears and use coupler to create a straight shaft. I had already cut out the motor supports, so I was reluctant, but it did seem to simplify things. So what the heck, I laid out some new supports. The purple lines indicate the new motor location, above the original location. Then I started to make the couplings. I used two sizes of brass tube, soldered one inside the other, then drilled out the smaller shaft diameter first. After I drill out the larger diameter for the motor shaft, they will be super glued on. Scott
Man, so glad you inherited alot of your Dad's pioneering traits! Good to see kitbashing and good ol' engineering aren't a dying art!
Trucks...I finally got some free time and started on the trucks. I'm using the outside portion of the AZL PA trucks and attaching them to the sanded down Marklin trucks. I stared at these for awhile before I took an approach. I also came across an article in a model railroad magazine about the same kit bash in N scale. First I disassembled the trucks. I cut the sides from the AZL truck with a razor saw, and sanded down the inside. Then I sanded off the side details on the Marklin truck. I used a jig I made from scrap wood to hold the truck while filing and sanding. After I initially fit the AZL sides to the Marklin Truck, I realized I need to remove more material from the Marklin truck sides. Here is what it looks like with the AZL side set against the Marklin truck. Next into glue into position. Scott
Put together the first truck(center). I'm happy with how it turned out. Just need to paint the red wheel centers black. Scott
I have been working on the laying out the roof and side details in Illustrator. I try do a little bit at lunch time. The heavy black line boxes are overall dimension scale checks. I roughly figured out the curve of the roof to get the correct widths of the roof panels I also started laying out the side panels with the vents and doors. I will be using mesh sold by Ngineering. I found a really nice drawing in my dad's collection of Model Railroader magazines from 1952.(lower drawing) Scott
WOW, nice to see more of the engineering aspects laid out before us, and the work required to pull such a project off. One can't really appreciate the labor that goes into such a job, unless they see it being built in stages. Although, once complete and running around a layout, folks will say "Wow, that's cool....I wonder where he bought that? Unless you are a TRAINBOARD member that is.... then you know what it takes.
