About 2 years ago I picked up a broken Ertl Millennium Froelich tractor fairly cheap.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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....
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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....
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