Heisler project

[willjordan]

On Saturday, I was at the Model Engineering Show sponsored by the American Precision Museum in Windsor, VT. I went as much as anything to see the vendors. While I won't admit how much I spent, I did buy the Kozo Heisler Book.

I've already read it from cover to cover, and since one of my favorite engines was a 50-55 ton standard gauge 2 truck Heisler, I'm seriously considering my next project being a 1.5" scale Heisler.

While I admire Kozo's fabrication skills, there are a few items that I expect that I'd like to get castings for. The first of these are the drivers. The prototype needs 36" drivers, so that means 4.5 inch drivers. Does anyone know of a source for 36" Heisler drivers in 1.5" scale?

Of course, this means that I will have a stable of locomotives that clearly demonstrate that I'm focussed on logging, my first project being a Falk. I've seen a couple of Kozo Heisler's in 1.5" scale, and have been happy with what I've seen.

At this point, I'm looking for a liquid fuel alternative to propane, most likely using a vaporizing kerosene burner, or buring what was called "tractor fuel" where I crew up, a mixture of stove oil and kerosene.

I'll keep you posted as the project takes shape.

[Jamie Harris]

Hey Will, is the Heisler book the one where Kozo shows how to build his center test indicator? I tried to make one but there was something fundamentally wrong with it. I kinda wish he would have put that project in the Pennsy A3 book as well. If it is in the Heisler book would you mind telling me how it is made?

Thanks,
Jamie

[willjordan]

Yes, the center test indicator is in the Heisler Book.

It's reasonably simple to make, but you have to understand what it's doing or you can foul it up in a number of ways.

There are a number of similar plans out there including in places like Guy lautard's Machinist Bedside Reader, but I'll poke around and see what I can find for you.

If all fails, I'll try to explain the Kozo process, but there may be some other plans that will work as well.

[Gary Crabtree]

I own 1.5" Heisler built by the late Don McCormac featured in the Kozo book. McCormac's patterns for wheels and cylinders are now owned by a member of the Illinois Live Steamers. I don't know if he'd be willing to have castings made for you. I've owned this engine since 1997. It's an excellent running engine.

Gary Crabtree
[e-mail]
11/03/03

[dluse]

Will -
I am in the same boat as Jamie. In the Pensylvania A3 book, he mentions that the instructions are in the 'Building the Shay' book. From what you say, they are in the 'Building the Heisler' as well. If you find a place that describes how to build this for Jamie, could you please include me as well. Although I might be interested in those other books, I don't feel like trying to buy one just for the instructions on the dial test indicator.

Thanks for any help.

Darin Luse

[David T]

Allen Models has 5 1/2" Heisler Wheels. Maybe they would work at 1.6 scale. Rescale and then share the engineering with the rest of us.
David

[willjordan]

The standard wheels on a Heisler in the class of the Kozo plans is 36", in 1.5 scale this is 4.5 inches. The 5.5 inch wheels might be right for some narrow gauge application, but I'm pretty much committed (due to a prototype I knew and loved) to a standard guage, 50 ton, 2 truck Heisler.

But I'll follow this lead further. Someone out there must have a pattern.

[brian]

Will,
I see your stuck on wheel size. Prototype, 36", 38" 40" . In 1 1/2" scale, 4 1/2", 4 3/4", 5". Allens wheels that he offers can be turned down to 5 1/4" or up to 5 1/2". On my Heisler, which is the ones that the Allen patterns are from (Bill Esty). Lets look at one cold cruel fact that you will have to live with...
You are going to be running this engine on a track with other locomotives that are going to be on your butt all day long if you don't squeeze a little taller wheel under her and overdrive her a bit.
My Heisler(Esty) has 5 1/4" drivers and is geared 1 1/2:1. She can go slow as you want, pull all you can get ahold of, but you can travel at a respectful enough speed to stay ahead of trains till the next siding. All while keeping a good sounding exhaust unlike when you run a Shay in sewing machine mode to keep ahead of the Rod and Traction engined locomotives.
Hope that might help in the decision process. And remember even when it is done, it will still be unique, as a Heisler was and still is.
Brian