adrian
Flying Squad
Correct - Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer - stunning and very thought provoking film - well worth viewing.
A speeder - finescale of a sort!
- Thread starter Peter Insole
- Start date
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
It is Indeed! Was the first bright flash with shades image I could find online...
Turns out you put it out in the garden it's not so bright... More to come on that soon!
Tom
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Yesterday afternoon I made a start on a new pair of practical flat wagons, one of which is intended to be provided with a removable seat in order to double as a dedicated driving truck for the speeder, as well as an additional load carrier if the the need arises. I had acquired some fairly hefty steel angle specifically for the purpose, and decided that rather than make too much noise during a weekend, I would take full advantage of Friday's remaining "window".
I have not put my shoulder into some serious cutting through heavy metal for some time, and it showed! I had just slumped in my armchair for the umpteenth time... when our Tom turned up on the doorstep! (Looking back, I may have missed a trick - so the fit young man avoided having a hacksaw thrust into his hand!) Very shortly thereafter however, another motor arrived, this time bearing Rich, Mrs. Rich, Mr. E., and little Miss L.R.! Then Mr. O came home from work, followed by Glenn and Mrs. I - with the shopping! Wow... an impromptu party!!
Our small, 10' by 12' living room was getting a bit crowded, so I suggested to the boys and girls that we retire to the garden - for another "vital testing session" of course!
It wasn't too difficult to persuade anyone, but the clincher was pointing out that this time we have drawgear fitted... and the rails are nice and dry!
The first off down the line was Rich, (after all, he had lugged the machine across the road and set it all up) declaring that he was "going to give it some beans!".
And he did!
Accelerating at a rate of knots - and accompanying the rapid progress with many shouted "Yahoo's"!
The second place in the driving seat was offered to Young Mr. E - and the lad "baled out" after travelling less than four yards! (You think I'm joking?!) The poor boy had opened the taps fully, and in the process had scared himself almost witless! Only after his little sister keenly showed him that it could be done, and survive without injury, did he pluck up sufficient courage to try again!
He quickly got used to it though!
Even one occasion when he forgot how to stop at the end of the line failed to dampen his enthusiasm!
Managing to take photographs of small persons, let alone adults, whizzing up and down in the lowering light of an autumnal evening proved to be quite difficult... but I happily did get what I like to think was a classic shot of Miss L.R., in motion:
Despite the roller-coaster effect of coming down off the gradient and lurching through the junction points at full tilt, she was still confidently sitting upright, hands free, and adjusting her hair!
Oh dear?!
I am not quite sure whether her insistence on wearing shades throughout was because of the dazzling effect of the loco top, or just wanting to be seen as "cool"?
I rather suspect the latter to be the case.
Having said that:
It does almost look as if Tom is suffering from the glare...?!
What a lovely, joyously noisy, hilarious, way to end the day for everyone involved - although I bet it was an absolute nightmare trying to get the kids to calm down before bedtime?!
If the truth be told; Mrs. I had the same trouble with me!
Pete.
I have not put my shoulder into some serious cutting through heavy metal for some time, and it showed! I had just slumped in my armchair for the umpteenth time... when our Tom turned up on the doorstep! (Looking back, I may have missed a trick - so the fit young man avoided having a hacksaw thrust into his hand!) Very shortly thereafter however, another motor arrived, this time bearing Rich, Mrs. Rich, Mr. E., and little Miss L.R.! Then Mr. O came home from work, followed by Glenn and Mrs. I - with the shopping! Wow... an impromptu party!!
Our small, 10' by 12' living room was getting a bit crowded, so I suggested to the boys and girls that we retire to the garden - for another "vital testing session" of course!
It wasn't too difficult to persuade anyone, but the clincher was pointing out that this time we have drawgear fitted... and the rails are nice and dry!
The first off down the line was Rich, (after all, he had lugged the machine across the road and set it all up) declaring that he was "going to give it some beans!".
And he did!
Accelerating at a rate of knots - and accompanying the rapid progress with many shouted "Yahoo's"!
The second place in the driving seat was offered to Young Mr. E - and the lad "baled out" after travelling less than four yards! (You think I'm joking?!) The poor boy had opened the taps fully, and in the process had scared himself almost witless! Only after his little sister keenly showed him that it could be done, and survive without injury, did he pluck up sufficient courage to try again!
He quickly got used to it though!
Even one occasion when he forgot how to stop at the end of the line failed to dampen his enthusiasm!
Managing to take photographs of small persons, let alone adults, whizzing up and down in the lowering light of an autumnal evening proved to be quite difficult... but I happily did get what I like to think was a classic shot of Miss L.R., in motion:
Despite the roller-coaster effect of coming down off the gradient and lurching through the junction points at full tilt, she was still confidently sitting upright, hands free, and adjusting her hair!
Oh dear?!
I am not quite sure whether her insistence on wearing shades throughout was because of the dazzling effect of the loco top, or just wanting to be seen as "cool"?
I rather suspect the latter to be the case.
Having said that:
It does almost look as if Tom is suffering from the glare...?!
What a lovely, joyously noisy, hilarious, way to end the day for everyone involved - although I bet it was an absolute nightmare trying to get the kids to calm down before bedtime?!
If the truth be told; Mrs. I had the same trouble with me!
Pete.
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Ahem, yes Tony, I think such a feature might indeed prove to be a requirement!
Discussions have already taken place about the prospect of more than one locomotive being operational at the same time - especially with them having such distinct hare and tortoise characteristics!
LT style Train Stops and tripcocks might be the only answer?!
Pete.
Discussions have already taken place about the prospect of more than one locomotive being operational at the same time - especially with them having such distinct hare and tortoise characteristics!
LT style Train Stops and tripcocks might be the only answer?!
Pete.
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
They should really have a spring Chigley, and I had designed them to accommodate one, but I have not so far got round to fitting it! The points have worked perfectly reliably without, even for facing movements, for two whole seasons without mishap - so I'm probably showing my own degree of "Corporate" negligence, wilful or otherwise here?!
Thanks for posting the film clip Tom. I'm sure that many folks may be forgiven for thinking that I have been telling tall tales, and trying to kid everyone all the way along?!
Pete.
Thanks for posting the film clip Tom. I'm sure that many folks may be forgiven for thinking that I have been telling tall tales, and trying to kid everyone all the way along?!
Pete.
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
Of course fitting the last bit of the points could be something for after winter....They should really have a spring Chigley, and I had designed them to accommodate one, but I have not so far got round to fitting it! The points have worked perfectly reliably without, even for facing movements, for two whole seasons without mishap - so I'm probably showing my own degree of "Corporate" negligence, wilful or otherwise here?!
Thanks for posting the film clip Tom. I'm sure that many folks may be forgiven for thinking that I have been telling tall tales, and trying to kid everyone all the way along?!
Pete.
You know... In spring! ;-) hehehe
I'm sorry I couldn't resist.
I'll get back in my box.
Tom.
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
While access to the railway remains somewhat restricted by the presence of a construction site, along with reclaimed materials blocking the pathway and filling the station building right up to the rafters, locomotive work that had been scheduled for Winter, has been brought forward!
Being quite happy that the "Speeder" has proven itself to work in principal, there still remain a few essential improvements to further enhance the performance.
Apart from the rather "scary" acceleration capability, I had noticed that adhesion is a major issue: It is still a fairly lightweight machine, so I have been assuming that additional ballast would be an absolute requirement - although I have yet to find anything suitable that takes my fancy! In the meantime, I decided to attend to improving the first "guesswork" gear ratios chosen, and obtain some more chain sprockets. Rather than ending up with a "waste" set, I decided to order two - one with a maximum number of teeth that would fit on the secondary drive shaft, and another, being of the same size as the original, when fitted to the leading axle, would provide a means of coupling all wheels to drive!
Oddly, the cheapest 25H chain that Rich could find was a gold plated one instead of the regular variety?! I assured him that such a peculiarity didn't really matter, as none of the chains will be easily visible when the cab floor and control pedestal are installed!
There was a fair amount of chopping and changing links to fit the new bits - and amazingly, throughout the entire process, I managed to "ping" only one of the awkward little circlips... and that just happened to be the solitary "gold" one!
No problem this time though: It was fairly easily located... glinting merrily where it had landed, (an unusually short distance away!) and on a heavily patterned carpet!
As a retrospective fitting, the long coupling chain turned out to be a reasonable fit - without having to alter the existing wheelbase - although it is not quite as taught as I would have liked. It does droop slightly below the frames when reversing - i.e., when pushing the driving truck, but I am not sure what kind of tensioner (if any) would be the best option? I do think a chain guard, also doubling as a drip tray would be a jolly good idea - and that might alone be sufficient for safety?
I just couldn't resist the temptation for a thorough test of the new arrangements on the first clear morning afterwards... Just before Mr. O got started working again on the "Goods Shed" - and requiring my assistance - I had a few minutes for some trips!
Now, the very first trial was on a dreary, drizzly afternoon, with notably wet rails - so there was much slippage - and whist the engine showed it had plenty of reserve power, it clearly struggled to haul a single adult! The second time, with the children, the conditions were sufficiently dry, and adhesion was not so much of a problem - but still not particularly adequate either. This time, the state of the road was absolutely abysmal!
Not only were the rails soaking wet again, on a typical Autumnal morn - with a loads of additional fallen leaves scattered thereabouts, but Mr. O., had been regularly tramping up and down in his muddy, clod jammed, building site boots! After the initial few feet of movement, all the wheels became a slimy, slithery mess! Yet did they slip...
Hardly a bit!
I set the controller at the start of each trip... and just let it go! The little engine even comfortably managed the top curve - with barely a murmur of complaint! Lovely! It was only supposed to be a quick test, but errmmm...!
Just as I was (eventually) packing up, Mrs. I., came down to see where I had got to, and asked me;
"Have you taken any pictures?"
"Oh... no!" I replied.
"Well put it back and go round again, while I take some" she insisted!
So trying to be a good boy - I did as I was told!
The three, full circuit film recordings she made on her mobile were great, but as yet, unfortunately I don't know how to put clips from them up on here! I'm afraid that some frustratingly low-resolution "screen grabs" is all that I can offer at the moment:
The pictures don't really convey how much fun the "old git" of a driver, squatting side-saddle on a "hop-up" wagon was actually having!
Nor the discovery that, despite the increased gear ratios, the sprightly performance of the loco is unnoticeably affected!
Pete.
Being quite happy that the "Speeder" has proven itself to work in principal, there still remain a few essential improvements to further enhance the performance.
Apart from the rather "scary" acceleration capability, I had noticed that adhesion is a major issue: It is still a fairly lightweight machine, so I have been assuming that additional ballast would be an absolute requirement - although I have yet to find anything suitable that takes my fancy! In the meantime, I decided to attend to improving the first "guesswork" gear ratios chosen, and obtain some more chain sprockets. Rather than ending up with a "waste" set, I decided to order two - one with a maximum number of teeth that would fit on the secondary drive shaft, and another, being of the same size as the original, when fitted to the leading axle, would provide a means of coupling all wheels to drive!
Oddly, the cheapest 25H chain that Rich could find was a gold plated one instead of the regular variety?! I assured him that such a peculiarity didn't really matter, as none of the chains will be easily visible when the cab floor and control pedestal are installed!
There was a fair amount of chopping and changing links to fit the new bits - and amazingly, throughout the entire process, I managed to "ping" only one of the awkward little circlips... and that just happened to be the solitary "gold" one!
No problem this time though: It was fairly easily located... glinting merrily where it had landed, (an unusually short distance away!) and on a heavily patterned carpet!
As a retrospective fitting, the long coupling chain turned out to be a reasonable fit - without having to alter the existing wheelbase - although it is not quite as taught as I would have liked. It does droop slightly below the frames when reversing - i.e., when pushing the driving truck, but I am not sure what kind of tensioner (if any) would be the best option? I do think a chain guard, also doubling as a drip tray would be a jolly good idea - and that might alone be sufficient for safety?
I just couldn't resist the temptation for a thorough test of the new arrangements on the first clear morning afterwards... Just before Mr. O got started working again on the "Goods Shed" - and requiring my assistance - I had a few minutes for some trips!
Now, the very first trial was on a dreary, drizzly afternoon, with notably wet rails - so there was much slippage - and whist the engine showed it had plenty of reserve power, it clearly struggled to haul a single adult! The second time, with the children, the conditions were sufficiently dry, and adhesion was not so much of a problem - but still not particularly adequate either. This time, the state of the road was absolutely abysmal!
Not only were the rails soaking wet again, on a typical Autumnal morn - with a loads of additional fallen leaves scattered thereabouts, but Mr. O., had been regularly tramping up and down in his muddy, clod jammed, building site boots! After the initial few feet of movement, all the wheels became a slimy, slithery mess! Yet did they slip...
Hardly a bit!
I set the controller at the start of each trip... and just let it go! The little engine even comfortably managed the top curve - with barely a murmur of complaint! Lovely! It was only supposed to be a quick test, but errmmm...!
Just as I was (eventually) packing up, Mrs. I., came down to see where I had got to, and asked me;
"Have you taken any pictures?"
"Oh... no!" I replied.
"Well put it back and go round again, while I take some" she insisted!
So trying to be a good boy - I did as I was told!
The three, full circuit film recordings she made on her mobile were great, but as yet, unfortunately I don't know how to put clips from them up on here! I'm afraid that some frustratingly low-resolution "screen grabs" is all that I can offer at the moment:
The pictures don't really convey how much fun the "old git" of a driver, squatting side-saddle on a "hop-up" wagon was actually having!
Nor the discovery that, despite the increased gear ratios, the sprightly performance of the loco is unnoticeably affected!
Pete.
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Thank you Tony, something like that would be the perfect solution.
I carefully inspected the chain and bearings after the testing session to see if there had been any movement and/or "relaxing" of the links that might cause problems. It had settled a bit, but not enough to create a risk of any links overriding the sprocket teeth. That might be OK under normal circumstances - but I do fear that while out in the big, wild world, an accidental incursion of herbaceous twiggery into a high speed system with considerable momentum may be potentially catastrophic?!
Thank you too Mike!
Contentment?... Yeah, not 'arf!...
Even from an entirely selfish point of view; it has only taken me a full, fifty years worth of dreams (plus another ten before that of slightly more vague notions!) to finally reach moments like this!!!
Pete.
I carefully inspected the chain and bearings after the testing session to see if there had been any movement and/or "relaxing" of the links that might cause problems. It had settled a bit, but not enough to create a risk of any links overriding the sprocket teeth. That might be OK under normal circumstances - but I do fear that while out in the big, wild world, an accidental incursion of herbaceous twiggery into a high speed system with considerable momentum may be potentially catastrophic?!
Thank you too Mike!
Contentment?... Yeah, not 'arf!...
Even from an entirely selfish point of view; it has only taken me a full, fifty years worth of dreams (plus another ten before that of slightly more vague notions!) to finally reach moments like this!!!
Pete.
Tim Watson
Western Thunderer
Well done you!
Tim
Tim
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Please may I apologise to everyone for going AWOL over such a long period of time? I still do not yet feel able to share my excuses, (if indeed I have any at all?!) but would like to tentatively re-start posting with a few, hopefully heartening pictures of the "speeder" in some lovely Spring sunshine:
Tom came over on this occasion, bringing with him some tools and bits to complete the wiring of the loco. As the weather was perfectly conducive, a good test running session - with all available rolling stock coupled behind, was undertaken!
For the very first time, the engine proved itself more than capable of hauling two adults, and I was able to enjoy a few trips riding as a passenger...
The next three weekends turned out to unusually bright and warm, so the railway ended up providing a rather full service, with train running almost continuously between 10AM and 4PM on each day! Not only did the majority of our family have the chance to ride, but several other friends and visitors were able to enjoy themselves too!
One young lad, of around four years of age, who was only permitted a single, round trip by his busy father, declared the train was "so cool"!
I told him that next time, he would have to learn to drive it!
"Oh" He said... paused thoughtfully for a moment, then he suddenly pointed at his head and gleefully declared:
"I need a hat"!
Of course he will!
Pete.
Tom came over on this occasion, bringing with him some tools and bits to complete the wiring of the loco. As the weather was perfectly conducive, a good test running session - with all available rolling stock coupled behind, was undertaken!
For the very first time, the engine proved itself more than capable of hauling two adults, and I was able to enjoy a few trips riding as a passenger...
The next three weekends turned out to unusually bright and warm, so the railway ended up providing a rather full service, with train running almost continuously between 10AM and 4PM on each day! Not only did the majority of our family have the chance to ride, but several other friends and visitors were able to enjoy themselves too!
One young lad, of around four years of age, who was only permitted a single, round trip by his busy father, declared the train was "so cool"!
I told him that next time, he would have to learn to drive it!
"Oh" He said... paused thoughtfully for a moment, then he suddenly pointed at his head and gleefully declared:
"I need a hat"!
Of course he will!
Pete.
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Hi Pete. I'm so pleased to see you on here again.
Brian
Brian
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Thank you Matt, Tony and Brian - I am hoping that a bit more sunlight and green stuff sprouting all around will help disperse the rather persistent "fog" that keeps descending...??
Pete.
Pete.