AVRR #14 Mark III or is it IV - "The Albatross"

[Mik]

I think every builder eventually finds that one project - that not only never gets finished, but constantly gets revised.....

This is mine.

It started out to be an 0-6-0

Then it was going to be a 2-6-0.... with a plow

see: http://www.gscalecentral.net/m11353...lbums/j371/AlleghenyValley/PC160009.jpg[/IMG]

 

[Mik]

A view of the Lionel driveline with the cover removed. The gears look sturdy enough - IF they don't crumble like B'mann ones. The can motor is about the same size as B'mann and Aristo use. The mounts are rather flimsey, tho. There is also a spring loaded 'clutch' on the axle to prevent the gears from stripping if the loco is pushed... While it sounds like a good idea for a toy for kids, I'm pretty sure it will be a problem with a snowplow. I'm thinking that drilling and pinning the two parts together may be the simplest solution.

It's together - except for the handrails. Since it will be pushing snow, I skipped all the usual 'jewelry'. What's the point if it will just get knocked off and lost?

Test run... I need to make the tender suspension a bit more flexible. And yes I have to pin the bloody clutch as it barely wants to pull the tender. I also have to replace one truss bridge with a deck type because it's just too close to a curve and the plow simply won't negotiate it.

 

[Mik]

We got snow... mostly sideways. So Kim and I decided to try the plow engine.... it started out OK

Then we hit the first "drift"... all 3" of it, and of course, the heavy wet snow stuck to the plow. (need to see if I have any wax or Armor-All, I guess... and add more weight to the loco, too)

We got about half way around before enough snow built up under the loco and tender that it completely refused to continue... I'm thinking a secondary smaller plow hidden under the main blade may help - even if it isn't protototypical.

Well, at least we got a few cool pictures, anyway....