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Post by toolman1951 on Sept 22, 2007 5:04:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. The boiler is a ways off so I'll have plenty of time to look into the info you've given. I'll also have to design a riding cars that also houses a propane tank.
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Post by toolman1951 on Sept 27, 2007 17:37:08 GMT -5
I've got a lot of the material gathered. I was lucky on the wheels for the tender, as I found 10 round mild steel cutoff just a little larger in diameter and just the right thickness on our scrap rack. That will leave 2 extra in case I screw up one of them in turning(been known to happen). I've been looking at all those fake rivets that Kozo illustrates in the book. That looks like a lot of work. They must be hundreds. Anybody got any suggestions on another method? I may try to come up with sometime at the shop to automate this. I know I sound lazy but I'm always looking for a quicker way to do something. Also, I noticed that a lot of people wind their own springs. You can buy almost any diameter and wire size that you would wind right out of McMasters-Carr catalog or from a company call Lee Spring. If you just have to wind your own then that's great but if you would like to save time and not really spend too much(spring prices are very modest) then try one of those two places. I'll looking for other alternatives as I build my Switcher and I'll be glad to let you in on any modifacations I come up with.
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Post by Harlock on Sept 27, 2007 19:55:04 GMT -5
People do use off the shelf springs, but I think Kozo's point was to show you how to make EVERYTHING in case you wanted to learn how, including all the little plumbing fittings you can also buy from 3 or 4 different live steam vendors like locoparts and superscale. Depends what you have more of...time or money. -Mike
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Post by toolman1951 on Sept 28, 2007 2:58:17 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree with you. Kozo does show how to build his projects with just the raw materials so you can make every detail. I just figure there's a lot of people like me with not enough hours in the day.
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Post by pkastagehand on Oct 1, 2007 11:40:56 GMT -5
I would suggest that the mental approach makes a difference too. If you want a loco to get you out on the tracks as fast as possible you may take the approach of buying as much "off the shelf" as you can. For me it is the process more than the end I think. So speed is not as important. I'm not wealthy so cost is. I've been using steel where ever possible because I often have it or it is cheaper.
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Post by toolman1951 on Oct 2, 2007 14:04:26 GMT -5
I hope no one is taking my comments the wrong way. I commend Kozo on all his projects, his design and his approach. I followed his Heisler project from start to finish when he presented it in Live Steam Mag. back in the late '70's early 80's. I'm very much intrigued with how he goes about making the details look so much like the real component. I can only wish a had his patience.
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Post by Harlock on Oct 3, 2007 3:05:49 GMT -5
Toolman: Definitely not taken the wrong way. The project is totally open to how each individual builder wants to approach it, and I'm not so sure I want to make generic pipe fittings and nuts and bolts myself. I already developed an aversion to repetition while fabricating the tender wheels. Fortunately, that's the most of anything that goes on the locomotive, in repeat number. The only difference with Kozo's plans is that a complete machining novice can follow the directions in the book to the word and have a beautiful locomotive at the end. More experienced folks can go to town with their own adaptation. It's my hope that when I'm finished with the A3 I can pick up a set of rough plans, or prototype scale plans and produce another locomotive using the techniques learned on the A3.
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Post by pkastagehand on Oct 3, 2007 16:01:06 GMT -5
I certainly haven't heard any comments that I take exception to... mostly we are all open to what ever the other guys are doing. Safety issues will probably addressed by some/many...
Paul
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Post by toolman1951 on Oct 4, 2007 6:26:55 GMT -5
I've got the wheels made for the tender. I can see that this is going to be a long project even with CNC equipment. My 3 year old grandson watches my at the computer as I'm drawing up some of these details. He calls it Pa Pa's train. I'm seriously thinking of building some kind of quick and simple battery powered engine just so I can take him to the rails as soon as possible. He already love trains. Anyone got a suggestion on some quick and simple plans. I got a couple ideas off this site but the details were very sketchy.
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Post by siggy on Oct 4, 2007 14:54:50 GMT -5
toolman,
No doubt an A3 will be a long term project. Mine is probably 75-80% done and I've put over 1,100 hours of labor into it so far. Certainly, I'm no speed demon but I don't think the 1,000 range would be unreasonable, even with a CNC equipped shop.
Robert
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Post by pkastagehand on Oct 5, 2007 13:00:41 GMT -5
Toolman, Seems like the online magazine that supports this site (Discover Live Steam Mag) might have had something on it once like that. This guy's site has a fast built electric... www.saunalahti.fi/~animato/3003/3003bg.htmlThere are others out there. Can't think of names or sites at the moment... Paul
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Post by toolman1951 on Oct 9, 2007 18:20:39 GMT -5
Been out of town for several days. Thanks for the info. I'll keep looking around for something to build.
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Post by Harlock on Oct 10, 2007 2:07:12 GMT -5
Yea I second Jan Eric's design in the link, it seems to be a good one and straightforward.
My dad and I bought a used and run down 7.5" gauge Allen Models Chloe to restore. (pics and info in the general forum) He's doing most of the heavy lifting on that one, but come spring next year we should have a running steamer for not too much money. The A3 is super slow motion for me right now.
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Post by toolman1951 on Oct 25, 2007 10:13:07 GMT -5
I've kind of put my A3 on the back burner temporarily although I'm still collecting materials. I started last week on a battery powered switch engine based on some plans by William Gardei. I just wanted something quick and simple to start riding on with my grandson. I've got the frame finished and I'm working on trucks. They should be done this week. I'll order the motor, battery, controller, gears, sprockets and chain soon as I figure out how I'm going to make the cab. William made his from 1/2" plywood but I'm toying with the idea of a wire frame with screen and fiberglass. Someone suggested that I could shape it to a more realistic look. Anyway I'm hoping to have this thing up and running very soon so that I can take it out to the Cincinnati Cinder Sniffer track in Dover Indiana for a trial. I'll try to take some pictures and put on my My Space site.
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Post by pkastagehand on Oct 25, 2007 14:31:40 GMT -5
Sounds great. I have a chassis and wheels done for a gas/electric concept I was going to try. Need to finish the bearing blocks/springs and axles to get the base unit ready to roll on rails. Then I have to work out the motor mounting and chains/etc.
The plan is to have a gas engine drive a generator which will then drive the motor connected to the wheels. Speed up the engine it goes faster, idle and it goes slow or stops.... we'll see. :-)
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