The first picture shows the locomotive being operated on the layout through all of its paces and grades. From my past experiences working with the bronze boiler weight I was concerned that the smaller motor in this locomotive would not have enough gumption and withdraw too much amperage. But to my surprise, it barely drew4 to a half amp at the most during operations even over the grade. Since it was not carrying a train, which I don¡¯t believe would be more than eight cars 10 max. I went ahead and held a coupler on the tender until the wheels broke loose. I believe this would simulate the amount of amperage. It would take at the most. Through the DCC specialties a?meter the locomotive never drew more than 3/4 of an amp to create wheel slip. The way to the boiler gave it a heck of a lot of tractive effort. This locomotive is going to be great for switching in the yard and may even get some mainline usage.
The next picture shows the boiler sitting on the frame starting to get lined up. It¡¯s not been attached or anything like that just trying to determine where the cylinder exhaust pipes would breach the center of the smoke box and length of the firebox on the back. I really like the taper on this boiler its what I was going for when I was looking to create a boiler out of wrap. Right now the boiler is sitting down on the drivers but when it¡¯s done, it will be sitting with the fire box just above the tires on the rear driver. The cab is soldered up all four corners and has been formed to fit snuggly over the top of the Crown sheet. I haven¡¯t quite determined how far back I want the cab to sit as I¡¯m thinking about doing a back head on the locomotive for GP.
The last picture shows the brakeman on the deck of the tender next to the doghouse really cool. That¡¯s probably where he¡¯s gonna ride once the locomotive is completed. When I painted the inside of the dog house, I decided to go with a darker green then I normally do more on the seafoam with the other locomotives. I think that¡¯s gonna kinda set this locomotive apart from the Mopac locomotives I¡¯ve built for the layout since this one¡¯s going to be a Meramec Valley lines locomotive.
So if you¡¯ve read this far down, I have a question for you guys. The question is I¡¯m thinking about air pumps since this is a small locomotive. I really wasn¡¯t thinking about a cross compound but to singular air pumps like you would possibly see on an older steam engine or in narrow gauge steam engine in the C class. So the question is which air compressor would you guys put on the side of the boiler. And more importantly, when a locomotive is being used to switch in the yard, they don¡¯t pump the air up on cars when they move them do they? So I wouldn¡¯t really need a lot of air pressure in storage so I¡¯m thinking of one air tank under the running board a large one, but not one on each side. Again question to the masses.
Mike Swederska?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 11, 2024, at 5:37?PM, Mike S Scale <mikesscale@...> wrote:
?
Here is some more pictures to gaze upon showing today and yesterday¡¯s progress. I did cut down the coal slop sheet radius. It was to high. Now there is a 802 instead of a 5 on the pilot.?
<image0.jpeg>
<image1.jpeg>
<image2.jpeg>
<image3.jpeg>
<image4.jpeg>
<image6.jpeg>
Mike Swederska?
On Dec 10, 2024, at 1:37?PM, Bob Werre via groups.io <bob@...> wrote:
?
Gentlemen, I'll testify that Mike knows
how to solder seams in "tender makin--senior Class".? When I was
switching from Dynatrol to DCC, I was attempting to remove a large
receiver from the tender wall of my custom made Mikado (yes the
same one in the NASG/RMC ad).? The double stick foam tape I used
was way too strong so I ended up breaking the seams to the point
of turning it back into random parts.? Mike took on the
responsibility of making everything one piece again!?
Bob Werre
Phototraxx
Today I sat down and started to build the tender for the
Mutt. I did take some photos as I went today to post to those
that are following the build. The wrapper is a photo etching
from SSL&S and the deck is a stamping. I had never seen a
photo etched wrapper from SSL&S and was very surprised at
all its details etched into it. I did fabricated the floor, coal
bunker front of coal bunker and top of the water legs. The deck
needed fabrication also to fit how I wanted it to go on the
wrapper.
?
This project did not take long since I knew what I wanted and
have learned from my mistakes building other tenders. I have
just under a full day in it to the point in the pictures. To
some modelers dismay, I don't use sophisticated tools to make my
tenders. Since I get asked often as to what I use to cut brass
sheet or bending I took a couple pictures of the paper cutter
and two wood blocks. I also use a Pana Vise.? The parts were
soldered with 446F solder paste
<IMG_4424.jpg>
using
a torch.?
?
The deck was soldered first from inside, then the floor was
soldered in from the bottom. Next was the front coal bunker
between the two water legs. All my tenders have removable coal
sheets to give access to the inside of the tender for any wiring
for lights, DCC decoders and sound speakers. Latter if I did put
a speaker in the tender that is when I would cut the appropriate
hole in the floor.? ?The Coal sheet was made to sit on the front
of the coal bunker between the water legs and the back of the
tender deck. Then the water leg tops as one piece were made to
tie everything together in front and then soldered in place. The
tender shell is now sound tight and ready for detailing. There
will be two holes drilled in the bottom coming up through the
frame into the tender floor to attach the frame and shell
together. Everything is always kept removable. As I have built
enough of my own to know that keeping it easy to take apart for
maintenance is key in designing and building from the
beginning.?
?
I forgot to say that all the needed brass was precleaned
before starting the project. This made soldering prep easier.
Once done the tender shell went into a bath of Simple Green full
strength for five minutes in a heated sonic cleaner. This got
all the fluxes and excess solder off and out of the inside of
the tender shell. Rinsed in water and that is what you see in
the pictures. I most likely will not get back to the tender for
several days.?
?
?
?
?
?
?
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model
railroading fun!
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
