From broken toy to live steam model

Mik

Steam tractors, good books, scratchbuilding models
About 2 years ago I picked up a broken Ertl Millennium Froelich tractor fairly cheap.
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It was missing a binch of details, So I decided to make something else out of it. Since I have a vertical boiler here -someplace-, I decided that a Westinghouse traction engine would be just the ticket. Between other projects and a bad case of galloping apathy, I just never got around to it.
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Yesterday I finally got my butt off dead center and actually started work on it. I decided the easiest course was to re-use most of the diecast Froelich frame. It won't be a perfect scale model, more steam toy than anything, but I think it's gonna work out just fine anyway.
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I was going to use a different engine assembly, but the Jensen 25 was here. Rather a shame to break a complete engine, but Patience is a virtue..... One that I don't have much of when the muse bites.
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I flipped the three countershafts, so that the drive is 'right'. It was a pain in the butt getting everything to mesh again with no slop or bind because the Ertl "bearings" are just simple straps with a lot of play. I'm still debating with myself whether I want to take about 1/2" off the nose because Westinghouse engines didn't have all that overhang. OTOH, cutting zamac always makes a huge mess.
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I managed to salvage the Froelich steering gear by extending the steering shaft with brass tube. The drive belt is a rubber band from Giant Eagle's produce department. It will do for testing anyway....
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Upon checking the measurements it has been determined that the scale is pretty close to 1".... maybe I'll eventually look at resin dollhouse figures for a suitable operator.

And, for those who are asking, "What as this to do with trains?" The gentleman who designed these traction engines was the father of the OTHER Westinghouse - the one who did the air brake thing
 
Well I guess someone has to say it........................different! :bigsmile:

Truely though, for a 'bunch of bits', it's going together very well. Should make a good talking point at your next open day/running sesh. :thumbup::thumbup:

It's good to branch out once in while.
 
Interesting . . .!!

The title says "Live steam", so how does 'zamac' [Which I take to mean white metal (or may be known as 'mazac' over here)] react to the heat. as I have heard that static white metal models can sag at normal temperatures
NOT a criticism, just a question arising in my mind
Love the melding from different sources
 
It's the same stuff Ertl makes all their tractors from and Chinese diecast cars. More potmetal than whitemetal. fairly hard, somewhat brittle if thin enough. Cuts really slow with a Dremel, and makes a lot of filings and more than a little stink.

The 3" dia copper bowl, that I'll mount the boiler to. stands off a bit from the frame, so it will act like a heat shield as well. somewhere I have fibreglas cloth I may use as well.
 
Excellent work. Nice to see an old model being salvaged. Re-cycling at it's best.
 
Day 3: Boiler still in hiding
Bobbed the nose. Still a little too much overhang, but better.
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Also started the spring mounting for the rear axle
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Day 4... Hoping the boiler is at my ex's.
Steering chains are hooked up. It takes 32 full turns of the steering wheel from full left to full right. Prototypical, but maybe not very practical. I may need to consider a larger winding drum.
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I happened to have a bit of 21/32 brass tube - A sliding fit right over the cylinder. Once epoxied in place it will be a dandy crosshead guide.
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Still longer than the prototype, and skinnier too, but IMO a big improvement
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Boiler found!!!

This was the very first one I ever built... almost 30 years ago. If it looks a little rough and scruffy, that might be why. IMO it's a little (ok, over an inch) tall, So I may have to come up with a 'plan B'....

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Boiler shortened. $14 for silver solder.
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I haven't found the top part. It was a cut down 2" copper reducer. So I priced a new one... ouch!
 
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