Paycar possibilities?

[trammayo]

Got a bit further - fitted cylinders and motion. The former made from dowel with a brass tube for piston rods and the latter suitably bashed into shape from 3.2mm welding rod. Also streamlined wiring - just one pair going to car now (and joining up with truck pick-up) - when completed the wiring will run under the car body.

Tested briefly in forward and reverse - behaves fine (thank goodness) - as the weather was rather soft. Although achieving roughly what I wanted it lacks the finess I originally intended (the crankpins have been removed and the bolts reversed with retaining nuts to the outside. Also the con rod to to piston rod is now rivetted but I had intended 2mm screws until I snapped the tap!

First pic at speed.....

 

[robsmorgan]

Getting there Mick - improving with every pic

but soft weather? it's like November here, across the Irish sea :impatient:

Regards
rob

 

[trammayo]

Well, whatever the weather on Wed, I've just seen a flutterby (must have awoke from hibernation). Mind you it is a little cool but, as the saying goes "onwards and ....".

Made and fitted truss rods to the car frame yesterday as well as the stays on the loco.
On removing the smokebox front it was evident that I had trapped in the container of sand so, stays out and container out but not before I weighed the loco. It came in at 514 g so it did need some more weight.

I rolled some lead up to fit nicely in the space, shoved the cap of the container down inside the boiler (to act as an insulator between the motor wires and the lead!), and wedged the lead in. When re-weighed, it was much heavier at 848g - so should improve traction on gradients.

Next, I had another go at making the smokebox mounted lantern brackets. I tried last night using 0.8mm ply but was far from satisfied so I used some scrap aluminium and made those in the pics. The tray needs to be added and then I will make a start on two lanterns - one for the front and the other for the roof mounted rear one. Judging by the photographs of the original, I'd estimate the lanterns were probably nearly 3 feet tall. Two old (and useless) torches have donated their reflectors.

The pics ....

 

[persistent_bodger]

I really like how this progressing, it is a fantastic prototype, very unusual. I like your resourcefulness in using various materials to construct the locomotive. Look forward to seeing it progress

Best

Tim

 

[robsmorgan]

Agree with the previous speaker....'tis a great job you're doing there Mick

Rob

 

[trammayo]

Thanks Tim and Rob. I'm beginning to realise that it will not be a very accurate model but (hopefully) it will have the flavour of the original. I made the first lantern which, while about the right size, sits a little higher than that on the prototype. This because I set the brackets to clear the (non-opening!) smokebox door. Lacking photographic evidence, maybe I made the door too large. Anyway, on a 12" to 1 ft basis it sits 3" higher than it should. The lantern (sise-wise) is based on a different photo taken much later in life. Its also the only photo that isn't adorned with people!

Anyway, once I had put it together, I gave it a test - the first two pics are at rest and the last is under power. The lamp feed is direct from the motor feed.

I need to permanently fasten the smokebox front now that things work so I can get on with the rest of the loco detailing - at least the bits that make sense from the pics. Then I will make a start on the car body. This will lift off complete with its fixed roof and maybe a small 2-pin plug socket for the roof lantern.

THen I've got to decide on a colour scheme. Might do some basic shape mock-ups and post on here for feedback

 

[robsmorgan]

You've gotta make more effort Mick, that lamp hasn't enough detail..... the revolving base for lighting is just a start!

This drawing may help establish the relative scale.... (sorry about the 'soft' focus though

All joking apart, who is going to know if you are right or wrong, they will most probably have only seen the same old pics.... keep up the imaginative work:admire:

Rob

 

[trammayo]

Like the advert for the light! You've got better definition on that drawing - I saved the thumbnail you posted but couldn't get it that good!
Its all a compromise really - the torch reflector and the bulb, with all pared down to a minimum still governs the size of what I made. All three pics show a different stage in the life of the paycar AND different lanterns (or lights).

I needed a bezzle, had no tube (plastic or metal) so ended up using a fibre washer! A lot of stuff is purely conjectural and only an original or high definition photo might reveal answers. And the other thing is the original was standard gauge whilst this is narrow gauge so that fact alone put paid to any notion I had that I could build a scale model. I just spend a couple of hours a day hacking away

 

[trammayo]

I just had a look at the pics I captured - resolution is poor but it shows two different lamps ....

I'm going to see if I can lower the height of the lamp by chopping away at bulb holder and possibly doing away with the base and gluing straight on to the bracket (which will save 1 mm!

 

[trammayo]

I womdered about the colour, yellow or green?

A very rough effort in green (maybe not quite that shade!

 

[C&S]

Fantastic progess - this really is one to watch growing.

I've just noticed in the last photo that there's an even larger lamp on the roof of the coach section. Perhaps you could use the existing model lamp on the coach and make a slightly smaller on for the front end. ??Given the lack of view rearward from the cab, reversing must have been fun ! Perhaps they needed a look-out on the rear balcony.

Like the colour version of the picture - perhaps a Pullman green, including the loco boiler (but not smokebox and chimney). Yellow also sound good. Not much help, am I.

 

[trammayo]

Hi Giles. Thanks & NOGreen is my second choice but I think green might be more correct. I wondered about the boiler - the smokebox black for certain (it certainly needs some relief from the green - the rear lantern looks like its the only painted part that has any decoration!). The original is supposed to have been named NAPA on the boiler side. As its "modelled" for a later period may letter the car for my line?

Following Rob's posting, I decided to remodel the light. The 12v push-in bulb and holder have gone (well the bulb has - when supergluing the reflector in place some ran down and cemented the bulb!) and I now have a six volt running off a couple of AAA's. I've now been able resize the lantern and remodel the top. I think it looks more in keeping (as the first pic above) and the rear lamp can have the bulb holder intruding into the car. I'll post a pic as soon as I can take one then get peoples' opinions (not that I'm going to alter it again).

Yes as you say visibility must have been pretty poor and it did seem to spend a lot of time in reverse - maybe there were no turntables on the mining line (or the original Napa line).

 

[trammayo]

So the headlight - work in progress! Also I spent 20 mins in Word making up a colour scheme. The brown should be red (cartridge dried up?). By clicking on the various component shapes I can alter the colour scheme - open to suggestions (about the colours anyway)....

 

[trammayo]

Made a substantial start on the car body - 1.5mm Obechi Ply and 3x1.5 stripwood, plus some 0.8mm ply and some 3mm scrap ply for internal bulkheads. When finished - a long way off yet - the body should (hopefully) slide into position on the floor/base frame. The front (cab?) need to be constructed, that part of the body may need some extra bracing because of the plywood's tendency to warp.

Windows need making (to be fitted after body is painted) and the (non) sliding doors need glazing and glazing bars.

The horizontal cladding is scribed into the plywood, sanded and then any unwanted wood fibres cleaned out of the "grooves" with the tip of a Stanley knife. So, its coming on - pity I have a two-day job to do in the garden

 

[trammayo]

RED FACE DEPARTMENT! Anybody spot the major mistake? I didn't until I went to get a tape measure for my garden job a couple of minutes ago! Doh!

 

[peterbunce]

Hi Mick, Pullman green came in at about 1912, and is very like 'Army Green' in the Humbrol military range. The earlier Pullman colour was an oily brown. Earlier colours were light yellow (cream) or maroon, or chocolate (plain NOT milk) colour. You could even have white (which is what the Eire Railroad used!. If you class it as part of the own railroads stock (that is non passenger vehicles, which it would be) it could even be red or brown oxide colour.

The early yellow (lighten it up the link photo is tooo dark!)can be seen at the following
http://www.pbase.com/d_berry/image/110545104


The Virginia & Truckee RR used a light green - here is a link to one of their coaches

http://www.redbubble.com/people/lynnbawden/art/4502130-virginia-and-truckee-railroad-car-16#zoom < Link To http://www.redbubble.com/...e-railroad-car-16#zoom

Aren't you glad you don't have to replicate that lining!


Re the headlights - I make some of mine from plasticard, with the top being made in layers, which are then smoothed off with a sanding drum. From 'ages ago' here is the headlight on My Mason Bogie

The reflector is from a kids toy (that come from slot machines I think ) its just the right size! The headlight glass by the way is 23"

Here is the inside of it, in a 'horribly close up' photo.

Yours Peter.

 

[robsmorgan]

I'm still loving this.... thanks for the detailed postings Mick

Rob

 

[trammayo]

Hi Peter, thanks for those two links. The colours I posted were not particularly any shade as I was pretty clueless as to what would be an appropiate livery! Thanks for those two links - I like both colour schemes but cannot imagine that the boiler cladding would match but I may be wrong (usually am).

Looking at monochrome photos of the period (1865 to 1900) I would say that it was a light colour so either would do!

I have never used plasticard but, even if I did, I doubt I'd equal your modelling!

Thanks once again!

 

[trammayo]

Hi Rob - did you spot my monumental mistake? I somehow managed to reverse the car body and glued the rear bulkhead on what will be the "cab" part. Didn't notice at all until after I had posted the pics!

 

[robsmorgan]

Hi Rob - did you spot my monumental mistake? I somehow managed to reverse the car body and glued the rear bulkhead on what will be the "cab" part. Didn't notice at all until after I had posted the pics!

I had noticed that the 'pay' windows were swapped forward but didn't think it through.... hope you can retro-fix it easily.... or you will have to site a permanent 'booking office' somewhere along the line :wits:
Best of luck
Rob