Giles' misc. Work bench.

Giles

Western Thunderer
Having finished soldering up at the front end of the body (making and fitting a hinged smokebox door), I was able to print and fit all the bolts that secure the smomebox to the front tank plate,

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And with a waft of black primer so I can see what's going on

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Giles

Western Thunderer
I have been pottering on with the handbrake and the reverser, working from photos, but I think they're not a million miles out (hopefully). It also means hot works are completed on the whole thing, bar soldering electricals, so the whole body can get a coat of primer so I can see if there is anything ghastly that needs dealing with before it's too late. The body still needs all boiler, tank and backhead fittings designing and making, which is still quite a task, as well as the ultrasonic steam system building and fitting. The chassis requires lubricators making, a chuff disc with wiring and battery selector switch with wiring fitting. Oh, and couplings. So it's still a way from being completed.



The reverser pole was a N/S fabrication with silver solder to give strength, as is the quadrant.

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The handbrake column is brass bar turned on my Unimat 3, taper turned by twiddling the feeds simultaneously, and then a final dressing with a file and emery cloth whilst still in the lathe



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I was going to fit steps, until I saw that they didn't seem to be original Decauville equipment..... so I didn't.



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Giles

Western Thunderer
I've done the last batch of prints, which includes the whistle and couplings, and while I was waiting for those to print, I got round to making the gauge glass (singular on this loco)



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I have done this style in 7mm, but i don't think i would do it in 4mm!
 

Giles

Western Thunderer
Having done what I wanted to do in 16mm, I've opened I file I've not touched for a while - that of the Industrial Garratt, which I've been drawing up in 7mm (and reducing to 4mm). I had previously drawn and printed (in 4mm) the boiler unit, Cab and cylinders, so the remaining big elements are the front and rear tanks. I had roughed out the shape last year, but not much else..... The front tank is I think complete, and the rear is on its way. Fortunately when I went up to Bressingham with Dave Andrews more than 35 years ago, I took a load of photos and some quite reasonable notes (I still missed a couple of things though!) but with works GA of the Vivian and my notes and photos one can work most things out, so they wont be a mile out.

Front Tank 7mm

Garratt Rear TanK WIP 7mm
 

Giles

Western Thunderer
I've run a print off of the tanks, and generally they've come out very well. The visible sheets are only 0.3mm thick, and are OK, although the front tank extension sheets will be extremely vulnerable. Sand boxes and tank fillers were printed separately, to A) mitigate failure risk and B) to provide drainage holes for the resin whilst printing.

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As yet I'm unsure what would power these units should they progress further, as there won't be a lot of length available. We will see....
 

Ian@StEnochs

Western Thunderer
As yet I'm unsure what would power these units should they progress further, as there won't be a lot of length available. We will see....

Central motor, cardans and remote gearboxes?

Simon,

That would be a perfectly practical way but not so good on the realistic operation front.

I have just been watching a few Youtube videos of operations on the Welsh Highland and on a lot of them the Garretts are seen slipping one engine while the other plods on! Not always the same one either. The ash train story, where they shunted half the train into a siding at Bedgellert, has slips alternating front and back in the same movement!

In model form a motor to each bogie would recreate that with a bit of deft finger control. But what about the plume of steam from the chimney?

Ian.
 
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