The Ditch Cleaner Train Thread

[fcnrwy23]

The Ditch Cleaner Train Thread

With the work on my TRT, coming to a close.  I have finally had the chance to take care of some of the "snags" on my Third and Last item on my original, Maintenance of Way, project list.    The Ditch Cleaning Train (DCT).

The Ditch Cleaner Train, is the smallest or shortest (in the number of cars, used) of the MOW projects that I had in mine.  It also, has been one of the easiest and quickest, builds that I have done so far.   I guess with all of the experience that I have gained, building the last three projects.  That should be expected! 

What this train does...
The Ditch Cleaner train, does just about exactly what it's name implies.  It used to facilitate the cleaning/clearing of "fouled" existing right-of-way, drainage ditches.  And is used to create new ditches, which are a must for the good drainage of water from railroad roadbeds.   Its a "Spade" shovel on steroids. .  As per the following video, this IS one of those "Dirty Jobs".  But, a needed necessity for the well being for healthy railroad roadbed and track work!

The Model...


Power Car

I again have dipped into the Spare Parts Engine box.  And am trying to use up "All" of those BXX-7 units, that I have acquired over All these Years..
The chassis will be left unmodified (So I can use a "Standard" DCC board) as well as the sill and walkway.   The handrails will be slightly altered as well as the fuel tank. (Side ladders  cut into it, will one of the mods).
The long hood is another Atlas Dash8-40B shell and styrene will be the material of choice for the Cab.


Conveyor Car

I had originally planned on making the frame for the Conveyor car, from scratch.  Since, in my earlier thinking I was afraid that the Conveyor booms maybe too, "top-heavy" in their construction.  And cause the car to tip-over in a curve or when being displayed with the booms, out of the cars' centerline.  The plan was to "Weigh-down" the car with some sort of metal.  Either, in it's construction or as a "Spine" as in the BCT conveyor car.  The other problem with building a car from scratch. Was the trouble, I always seem to have with the alignment of the car's bolsters.
So, After doing some weight calculations.  I decided the option of modifying an Atlas 50 flatcar body, was a possibility.  And if it didn't work, I would just start again from scratch. (Like I haven't done THAT BEFORE!  )   I figured I could always add weight later, so I made the allowances for this.  By using a Dremel tool and "hollowing-out" the Sill of all, of it's molded-on details.   (*Note* As I have found out with it's construction to date. The car is very stable, with NO ill-effects if I move the booms off the centerline.
   The rest of the car will be made from styrene, tube, rod and sheet, stock.  As I add new posts to this thread, I will go into more of the construction details.


Storage Car

Again, as with "Modelers' License" 
I am working with the materials, I have at hand.  So, a Atlas EV (Extend Vision) Caboose will be the stand-in for the Loram's  ex-Cabeese's of exSBD origin.  I plan on adding all of the storage and Rock shield details, found these cars.
Next time, we will start with the trains' construction...


First Up...    The Power Car...

Jerry G.

 

[SSW7771]

What you are doing to the SSW caboose saddens me.  This looks great, can't wait to see the finished product.

[Jbub]

Wow, I would love to be able to build something like this.  MOW trains are really cool to watch and when they come through town I try to stop and get a glimpse of what's going on.

Awesome job!

[fcnrwy23]

Jbub - Ya, MOW is Really Cool Stuff!!   

SSW7771 - Sorry    I am only working with what I had..

Jerry G.

[tehachapifan]

These MOW builds are just too cool! Menacing beast, the prototype is!

[jnevis]

Did anybody else notice that it was throwing dirt into the opposite ditch as well as the dump car
Cool build!

[aikorob]

is that a grill on the back porch of that caboose?

[fcnrwy23]

jnevis -  actually it is "relocating"    this waste ballast a few feet beyond roadbed.   I'm I not wrong in saying, that the right-of-way is 50 feet wide?? (somebody help me out here!  )

aiforob - yes, these guys do "cook" outdoors. 

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

August 3, 2017

Work on the DCT, is progressing pretty well.   The main elements are in place, and it is just a matter of adding the "Details"...




There has been a change of plans.   While, researching for the DCT, I have decided to replace the EV Caboose (Cotton Belt) with a "Bay Window-type", when I find one.
The EV caboose, will work better on the Schnabel Car train... 

Jerry G

[PeyRil]

Looks great! Are you planning on any flashing beacons or spotlights on these next two?  That would be icing on the cake along with your current level of detail!  I've got a Concor bay window caboose in my spare bin I could send you if you would like.

Dennis

[fcnrwy23]

PeyRil -   Thank you for the offer..  Sorry for the late reply.   
I just got back, last night.  From a nine day railfan trip, via car and train.  On the trip, I was able to secure access to as many of the Atlas Cabooses, that I require.  So, I will just modify the Atlas EV's to my needs..

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

The Ditch Cleaner Train Thread

August 13, 2017

As I have mention before, I have been away for a while.  But, Yesterday, was a "Banner Day" for making progress on the DCT train.  A lot details were added to the Conveyor Car and I started working on the Power Car.

Conveyor Car
I added, a control box, air tank and a "boom support" for the Digger conveyor, to the car's drawbar.   In making the drawbar, I had problems with the "swing" of the front truck.  My "Benchmark" for track worthiness is the section of curved track, around the Cranberry Bog near Wild Rose, on the FCN layout.  If it makes the curve, it will make it anywhere. 
In the final design, I ended up making two connections for the bar.  The first is at the Coupler pocket.  Here, I use a section of styrene stock (.030 x .156) that was just thin and narrow enough to give me some, operational "slop".  I then, layered additional pieces of stock to build it up, for support.  By layering this, I was able to "custom-fit" an old Micro-trains coupler pocket from one of their passenger car truck sets.  Because, of the "slop" I added an "alignment bar" from a piece of stock, which rests on a "shelf" piece that's on the rear pilot of the Power Car.  This keeps the couplers, correctly aligned, height-wise.  An thus, was able to make the curve!.
    The Digger conveyor, got most of its details at this time.   I used .010 strip stock for 'side rib support" details.  Any of "tubing or piping" was done with the smallest rod stock, I had (.020).
The "Bearing" details for the end of the conveyor belt rollers, was done with shaved pieces of rod stock, which were capped with smaller sized pieces to simulate their ends.  Details for the Digger conveyor turret, like the "Hydraulic Rams" used for turning, in its side-to-side movement.  Were constructed from 1/16th rod stock, which was drilled to accept .020 brass rod stock (simulates the "ram").  Also, a detail that I added previously, was to "lightly" drill, the small indentations into the side of the conveyor body.  These, will be painted a light gray, later-on, and will simulate the "openings" found on the side of the body.   These "holes" are used to save weight and to also allow "access points" for the belt's maintenance.
   The Discharge conveyor, also got it's details in the form of "Control Vanes" at the ends, along with some hydraulic "piping".
To help with the cars' track-ability, I added (one) 1/4 oz. weight to the underside.  This was accomplished by milling off the bottom details that existed.



Power Car
Detail work was finally started on the Power Car.  I installed the "stock" BXX-7 "side" handrails, then added "brass" side ladders to both sides.  The ladder stock was from a "man-cage" ladder set.  I measured the length that was required and then marked it.  I than, removed the top three "rungs", which gave me "side handrails".   I folded the top 1/16" of the "rails" into a pair of hooks.  I than cut the ladder to the marked length.  The ladder was installed at the decided location and I then "bent" or "closed" the hooks to fasten the ladder to the existing handrails.  To make the opening in the BXX-7 hand railing, I cut the material that was between the ladder rails.  some ACC cement was then added to secure this setup.  I tried to attach the ends of the "shorted" BXX-7 handrails to the front-end of the operator's cab, but the wall sides, proved to be too thick, I was hoping NOT to cut down the thickness of the styrene wall.  So, I opted to attach them to the "side" of the cab.   I did this by adding pieces of .010 x .020 styrene stock.
    In the photo, I state that the chassis is "stock".  I forgot to point-out that I had milled down, a portion of the front of the model, to achieve the "slope" of the body shell, that I wanted.  It was milled to within a few 1/8s of the front assembly screw, that holds the two chassis halves together.  I also wanted and did save, the portion of the "nose" or short hood of the body shell  that contains the front "mounting depressions".  This saved me from having to design a "new way" to keep the shell fastened to the chassis.  Doing this, I was able use the existing "dimples" from the original setup.



In the experimentation with the Conveyor cars' drawbar.  I found that I needed to add something to control the "swing" of the Digger Heads' movement, when going into a curve.  A guide pin was found to be the solution to this problem.  As mentioned before,  I added the "shelf" for the Conveyor cars' "alignment" bar, to keep the couplers at the same height.
Finally, the "wire" in the photo is for the "Beacon" light connection. It is actually the "Front Headlight" on the model.  As the unit  will be running, "Backwards" in normal operations and thereby, no need for it.

The Conveyor Car is ready for the paint booth, but I will wait until the Power Car and Supply Car (caboose) are done, before doing that...

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

August 20, 2017

The final body detail parts have been added, and the train went into the paint booth, early this morning.. (What you see is BOTH the RVT and the DCTs.)



It will sit the customary, three days before getting a coat of Gloss.  I will let it sit out in the open for a few hours, then place them in a box to keep the dust off them.  And then, it's on to the decaling...


A side effect...



Ya, I DO have some sterile gloves for this...  BUT, Hey!! Its only Paint!! 

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

August 27, 2017

The decaling and final paint touch-ups have been completed.  It is now time to apply the final protective coatings (Dullcote) to the train...
The prototype equipment has a lot less markings, data than I would expect.  Compared to the other trains, that I have done.  So, I have embellished things a little and added a little here and a little there.   

Both the DCT and RVT trains....



(Sorry for the same photo in both threads, but it is "easier" and more "efficient" to do this work together...).

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

September 01, 2017

The DCT is in its final stage of construction..

The main body assemblies have been assembled together, and ALL of the final paint touch-ups have been done.  The RAD section of the Power Cars' grille-work and the Caboose are not yet fully attached.  Since,  I still have the electrical work to do....


The Complete Train...

The Power Car, just needs A/C units and it's accumate couplers.  I am hoping to configure the DCC board this weekend...


The Digger Car, is near done.  Except for modeling the Digger Head.


And the Supply Car needs the A/Cs, as well as it's own lighting.  Since, The train rarely operates in reverse.  I may opt to just install a "Fred" type of lighting device, for now.




The Difco Dump car, is one of the four, that I built last year....


Jerry G.

 and