Locomotive Making?

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

I was thinking of making some locomotive designs out of plastic. Naturally, I have some questions

Has anyone here have expiriance with plastic casting?

do siderods (On items like a industrial switcher) require at least one of the wheels to be powered?

where could I get motors and locomotive trucks cheap? (Besides eBay)

any recomdations? [:D]

[Anonymous]

Well, they are not cheap, but a lot of scratch builders by their motors, trucks, etc from NorthWest Shortlines (NWSL).

Andrew

[nfmisso]

Chris;

You are attempting a bit too much.....

There was a series in Mainline Modeler on building a steam switcher from scratch, mostly out of plastic stock and resin castings. See the Index of Magazines above.

A small lathe and milling machine are very useful.

Also in the '40's and '50's Model Railroader ran several series on scratch building steam locomotives, not much plastic then. Materials were mostly brass stock with some card stock, tools were included a hand drill (like this onehttp://www.epinions.com/Stanley_Hand_Drill_03_105_Shop_Tools), a bench vise, files, sheet metal shears, clamps, clips, rubber bands, and a soldering iron. If you followed these today, a resistance soldering system would be most benifical, and using a variety of solders with different melting points.

You may want to join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brasslocobuilders/

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I should have been a little more specific

I am looking to build a Diesel switcher. It has side rods on the sides of the trucks.

Since I probably need to take a page from the steam loco making anyway, thanks for the links

I have (And my dad has) a very extensive shop. 2 lathes (One big and one small) and 1 milling machine, plus countless tools. You might say I am more fit to do metal anyway. [;)]

[nfmisso]

Chris;

It sounds like you only need plans...Which specific switcher do you want to build? And what scale? You may want to try to get photos of a Bachmann Spectrum F-scale GE 45 tonner.....

[Anonymous]

Pretty much! [:D] I am planning on making a CLC DT-2 in HO (I might later consider making a N-scale varient for my bro...[;)]) have a 1:87 (HO) drawing from the Railroad paintshop:
http://paintshop.railfan.net/images/other/dt-2.html

That's pretty much all I have. I actually have 2 DT-2's about 45 min. from me (That's what sparked my interest in them! [:D])

I also have some pics of them here:
http://www.geocities.com/puffie40/Switcher.html

The motorized part is was I am most concerened about right now. secondly, the siderods. I could probably just make a dummy, but that sort of destroys the Idea of somthing to rival the GE 44 tonner (By the way, the DT-2 is also a 44 tonner!)

[nfmisso]

Hi Chris;

For HO, I'd use a single motored Spectrum GE 44 tonner (cat # 80035 or above) for the chassis. For the counter weights and rods, those off a MDC HOn3 outside frame 2-8-0 might be adaptable, see:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/480-472

To mount the counterweights, I'd drill out the Bachmann side frames and add tubular extension to the axles. The extensions would have the counter weights cut out of brass (for one loco solder 8 sheets of the right thickness together, and then to a thicker larger base plate, machine all at once, including drilling holes to attach them to the axle extension and for the connecting rods), The connecting rod mounts should be drilled and tapped for 00-90 screws. The connecting rods would be made the same way, all at once. They would an enlarged hole at one end so as not to bind the gears in the mechanism.

For the body, sheet brass, soldered to a brass wire frame, or it could be thin styrene bonded to a brass wire frame.

If you want to go into limited production, this become your master for making latex molds to cast resin pieces. See: http://www.micromark.com/ and use "resin" as the key word.

Have fun!!