Yes. They are under 1/8" diameter and just over 1/8" long. They are 120 DP which is small but with a good fit, is actually still pretty robust for this application. They could probably be smaller yet and there may be a future chassis where they are but we're going with this for now. The mating worm gears are next. They will be a partially enveloped worm gear design mated to this. I'm making two different reductions. One for the mine loco and those future chassis' with under 33" wheels and another as an option in a chassis with over 33" wheels. Then some spur gears in a few options for the primary reduction on the higher speed chassis'. The really low gear reductions will have to be a belt for the primary reduction in the really small units. I can get them down in the 133:1 range that way affording scale speeds around 20 +/- MPH tops and outstanding low speed control. The fine tolerances make for some near silent running mechanisms that are just as smooth operating as can be. At least that's the plan (and thousands of hours of testing to this point has agreed with that plan). This is all for the first production run of twenty-five chassis, still all for testing but hopefully pretty final. At least for the mine loco.
I am an old custom machine design and builder for industrial automation. I had my own place for thirty years and now in my retirement, I still do some consulting and this is the shop of one of my customers. They do some pretty nice stuff and have the toys to get it done. I'm doing all of this development in my spare time and as I can get access in a pretty busy shop. But once all is done, things just like this, it will become just another scheduled job and production can begin. This is really more of a fun project, doing it because I can, but I think it will really open up some previously unavailable opportunities for modeling small locos. And not just small but with really outstanding performance. At least that's the goal and the loads of work this far suggest that goal will be met. Let me assure you, it hasn't been easy. And those who've been there will thoroughly understand that statement.
Yeah, definitely one of those, but maybe in a Gorre and Daphetid scheme. Didn't I see that on some other board, somewhere?
This time, the recently acquired Key Imports BigBoy. Dropped a screw while running yesterday, allowing the front and rear driver sets to come apart. Found screw between rails, when I picked up locomotive. However, part of the universal drive shaft between drivers has gone MIA. And I do NOT know when/where it may have fallen out!! Only choice, is to pull front worm, and let front drivers freewheel. Unless I can find the missing piece, a replacement piece, or an alternative drive shaft! Think a Denver run may be needed, to see IF. they have a possible solution to the problem!
Finishing to paint my second L1. Working on PRR X29 design. A PRR passenger depot design and starting on a H8/9/10 conversion shell for Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0
I've got a Rock Island U25B, Lehigh Valley FA-1/FB-1, and a Texas & Pacific F7 in eagle passenger colors.
I've been working on my Walthers N scale co-op shed that will be part of a feed mill/elevator/fertilizer complex. Here's the model painted and the walls cemented together on the base: 003 by WPZephyrFan posted Mar 26, 2016 at 4:38 PM And here it is with the paint touched up and the roof added. Next will come some light weathering: 010 by WPZephyrFan posted Mar 26, 2016 at 6:18 PM
More modeling today. I painted my N scale Rix Guthrie Grain kit's Butler bins: 005 by WPZephyrFan posted Mar 27, 2016 at 3:21 PM I also started assembly of the elevator parts of the kit: 003 by WPZephyrFan posted Mar 27, 2016 at 3:21 PM
I've got the elevator and it parts painted last night: 010 by WPZephyrFan posted Mar 27, 2016 at 5:17 PM
Doing or rather finishing decoder install into an Atlas/KATO SD-9. If you are interested in the sound file used check out my thread in DCC section. Carl
I had a chance to replace the Bachmann E-Z-Mate couplers with some MT 903/905 Z scale couplers. It's not a real difficult task as the entire MT coupler actually fits right into the box used by the Bachmann coupler. One must remove the screw mounting post, then use an appropriate length screw; I used a shortened MT screw. Also, the MT 905 box is longer and the back protrudes to the rear a little more, so I milled notches in the 'shelf' part of the mechanism frame to allow easy clearance when removing the shell from the mechanism. I also removed the cast exhaust stack so I could replace it with one available on Shapeways (generously provided to me by Otto!!!) I simply masked around the roof panel then removed the stack with a chisel blade. The styrene is suitably soft and careful chiseling produced a smooth surface.( This is going to be far more difficult to do on the Atlas S2) I filed the base from the Shapeways stack, sanded the correct bevel, the CA's the stack to the panel. Before I applied the stack, I was concerned that it was too short; but it doesn't look bad once it's in place...I'll mask the panel, spray it black, then carefully paint the stack Tamiya Flat Aluminum... I also plan to add the canvas sunshades to this one; I'll make sure to document the progress. Once again, a very nice offering from Bachmann, and a STEAL of a deal, with DCC! Bruce
Is it a late build u25b or early build u28b? We won't find out til her numbers are applied! Also, some other equipment waiting on decals as well...
Now, I have supports to add to an animated Rio Grande billboard. Just need to decide final height before cutting supports to fit.
Arbomambo, I recently purchased those same stacks to put onto my Western Pacific models. I'm looking forward to the results if I could just find the time to do them.
