Weekend Update 5/5/13

[up1950s]

[VonRyan]

Pennsy does what Pennsy want. 

This weekend I begin the long process of fine tuning the MT trucks on my rolling stock. For now it will only be on those pieces of rolling stock that have MT wheelsets in them as no studies have been done on if the process is beneficial/harmful/pointless on those pieces of rolling stock with FVM wheelsets in MT trucks.

To not-so-briefly describe the process it involves a drill bit that has been modified into more of a reaming instrument (effectively making the bit useless as an actual drill bit) at such an angle as to minimize the contact between the axle point and the journal. The bit is inserted into the journal (the bit being held in a pin-vice) and twisted three times. If done correctly should only remove a minimal amount of delrin, and the bit should then be twisted the same amount of times in the opposite direction, backing off the "cut" so as to insure the journal is clear of any debris or burrs. Once all the journals of one truck have been done, the wheelsets should be put back into the truck, and when both trucks are done reinstalled onto the piece of rolling stock.

To test that the job has been successful requires a somewhat sophisticated piece of scientific equipment.
A length of track should be secured as a form of "runway" with a fair amount of it flat and level and about 1 foot (or more) of it elevated at a fixed and true angle. The piece of rolling stock can then be placed onto the top of the "ramp" and allowed to freely roll down untill it stops.
As you test each completed car, you should mark where each one stops with a pencil. If all your cars keep going off of the end of the track, lengthen it. If you want to insure you are obtaining the best results, preform this test before fine-tuning the trucks following the same steps (except with the pre-tuning test, the average distance has to be the overall representative)
For this next part it helps if all the pieces of rolling stock having been tested are similar (like 40' boxcars).
Find the longest distance that a car has traveled on it own after having tested about 20 or so cars. This spot should be a "guide" in a sense that this is the point that all future cars should at least reach in order to be considered as having passed inspection.
Now if very few (or no) cars reach this spot, it does not necessarily mean that these cars have failed. If you have been keeping track of where each car has stopped just as you have before you set your "goal-line", look for where the majority of the cars have stopped. This area may be more representative of positive results. At your own discretion you may choose either your longest distance or most common distance as your figurative "goal-line".  If all has gone well, almost every (if not all) piece of tuned rolling stock should surpass the line representative of the pre-tuning tests, and should come quite close to, if not surpass, the line used to denote whether or not the tuning has been successful.

Also note, If you have MT cars that have the older couplers that give the "slinky" effect, this tuning process combined with removing a decent amount (if not all) weight will greatly minimize the "slinky" effect, if not eliminate it entirely.


For anyone interested, i'll also see about taking some pictures of the set-up i'll be constructing as my test-bed, as well as the tuning process.



Hope everyone's weekends are pleasant and productive.

-Cody F.

[superturbine]

Richie-  thats a N Stars special K4 with tender power!


Well, its preproduction...... but is here is the Brass 2-10-2 frame base on using Kato Mikado parts.  Lost Urethane to Brass casting..... It works!!


The another experimental brass casting..... A MT4 pilot


And the progress on my second 4-12-2 #9000 ....picture is dark to see the casting.


Jason Smith
Tomball Locomotive Works

[RWCJr]

Have had the pleasure of watching two video's of Jason's model of 9000 in operation, it creeps, it can crawl, but to watch if move into and through curves with 6 powered axles smooth as silk is so impressive. And yes, I did take note of the brass 2-10-2 frame (drool).
Robert

[superturbine]

Thanks Robert....  You gotta show more pics of one of the finest N scale roundhouse out there.


Here is that video.  Of note the tender is not properly attached...It's just for power pick up.

[seusscaboose]

Heritage Night at my place tonight

[Leggy]

Jason, if you ever do a T1 or J1 2-10-4 as a complete 'kit' count me in!

[delamaize]

decoderized my atlas 4-4-0 this week, pictures later.
the girlfriend and I are going to the "Oregon trail Rally" this weekend.....

[Kisatchie]

I finally finished another Intermountain 40' box car today. That's the first kit I've finished in over a month, I think. I have 28 more assorted kits to go. I just can't sit still long enough to finish a kit in one sitting any more.

Give me a break, Dee!


Hmm... I can usually
knock out 10 in a row...

[chicken45]

Started working on AR Tower.



Busy weekend, though. Toledo has National Train day a week early. We got to tour some Superliners. Makes me wonder back to the glory days of the Broadway Limited. They had some private charter cars there, too. A dome and observation, but were not for touring. There was a lady smoking in the observation car, tapping her ash out the cracked deck door. It was odd. 
They also had  "great" displays of "model" railroads.

And perhaps the most mind blowing thing today, was meeting a childhood friend by chance. He's a detective for Amtrak and is based out of Pittsburgh. Amazing!

[strummer]

What a great photo.

Mark in Oregon

[superturbine]

#9000 received paint today. 


Is it just me or is there something really COOL about double headed 9000's/ 4-12-2's


Jason Smith
Tomball Locomotive Works

[RWCJr]

Congrats Jason, 9000 was already beautiful in her unpainted video clips. But with the so fine paint job, it is really a masterpiece, and double headed with her sister, that is a most excellent photo! 
Robert

[up1950s]

Jaw dropping Jason , too bad manufactures don't hire you to let you show them what can be done with the stuff they already have in their draws .

[ednadolski]

I've completed a few more cars with the etched coupler pockets and Z-scale Bowser couplers.  I'm also going to order up some more of these parts, which I would like to make available to anyone interested in trying them out.  More details in the pocket thread here:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21980.msg318267#msg318267




Ed