Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

How can the Diesel smoke exhaust be accomplished?

16042 views
20 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Friday, May 27, 2016 3:50 PM

The Black smoke would only be possible in 1/29th scale or 1/32nd scale where the fine carbon particulate matter could be blown by a fan.

 

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, May 27, 2016 11:35 AM

zgardner18

I've seen all of his videos on Youtube.com and his smoke effects are great.  I just wish he'd share his little trick

You can always ask the on youtube under the comments section.  He hasn't posted a video in a year so he may not answer.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 27, 2016 9:32 AM

Andrew Falconer
The black smoke can be created by puffing carbon powder.

Ask a miner what that stuff can do to your lung! That´s an absolute no go!

ESU of Germany now offers Diesel locos (only German prototype so far) with a built in smoke feature involving a two speed fan - similar to what you get in steam locos, so not the old Seuthe stuff. It looks much better, but not yet fully realistic and is certainly not black.

Like all smoke features, it leaves an oily residue on the loco and the track.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Friday, May 27, 2016 8:28 AM

Could you create smoke by pulling apart some pieces of a cotton ball and and wrap it around wire to keep it straight?  You can glue that to the loco and paint the smoke gray or black.  That's the only way I know to mimic smoke.  Smoke is the last thing I want on my layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Friday, May 27, 2016 3:04 AM

The black smoke can be created by puffing carbon powder.

 

You would need enough room inside the shell for a tank of black carbon power and a small pump to propell puffs of it in the air.

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Sunday, September 25, 2011 6:14 PM

 I am not as dumb as I spell. Still a great video!

            Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Anaheim, CA Bayfield, CO
  • 1,829 posts
Posted by Southwest Chief on Sunday, September 25, 2011 12:40 PM

You guys are being sarcastic about the "smoke effect" in those Southwest Chief videos on YouTube right?

It's so clearly a digital effect that I'm surprised if anyone would think it is real.  Pretty much the same thing he did with the sounds.  Looks and sounds great in the video, but it's not real.

Here's a link to the video:

Fake smoke effect

 

The big problem with smoke effects, in addition to no black smoke, is you can't scale down smoke.  So no matter what you do, it will never look right with model trains.  Similar with real water.  Can't scale it down, so that's why it never looks right with models.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
Click Here for my model train photo website

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,299 posts
Posted by Dave-the-Train on Saturday, September 24, 2011 9:38 AM

Grey smoke can be done in 0 Gauge (1/43).  It needs a lot of body space - so no go in H0...

What was done involved some electrical wizardry but the guy had two smoke units (or 3?) and 2 small fans.  When on tick-over the loco just made a small haze of smoke.  When the throttle was opened the smoke burners kicked in followed by both fans.  This blasted a pall of smoke nice and high.  As the loco got under way the system dropped back to one burner and one fan.  When the load changed the second set cut in again.  Very impressive.  I saw it work - but I have never seen anyone else try it.

As for faking smoke - lambs wool or accoustic wadding for speakers is the way to go.  The wadding is easier to spray paint.  Just tease it out thin, hang it up in the wide open or against something you don't mind spraying (like the wife's new outfit) and spray: then leave to dry.  Wadding doesn't clog or matt - at least the stuff I've dug out of dead speakers doesn't.  (It's also supposed to be fire retardent - subject to what your painting it may do to it...).  Once painted it can be set to make pretty good "smoke" for photos.

The next thing is how to do those flames bursting out the top???  Stick out tongue

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Saturday, September 24, 2011 8:53 AM

 I just spent a half hour watching there video's, I think the smoke was digitally added. Just looks to real, and we know HO smoke units don't look real. Layout, sound dubbing and video angles are great.

              Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Kannapolis North Carolina
  • 86 posts
Posted by joe27 on Saturday, September 24, 2011 8:38 AM

I once had an Athearn SD60 with a MRC decoder that smoked out the exhaust. It looked cool but didn't run after that!

 

Joe

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Glendora, CA
  • 1,423 posts
Posted by zgardner18 on Saturday, September 24, 2011 12:51 AM

PennCentral99

Well, someone has figured out a way......Go see the  HO Southwest Chief  video in the "user submitted videos"

I've seen all of his videos on Youtube.com and his smoke effects are great.  I just wish he'd share his little trick

--Zak Gardner

My Layout Blog:  http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com

http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net

VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: S.E. Adirondacks, NY
  • 3,246 posts
Posted by modelmaker51 on Friday, September 23, 2011 11:36 PM

Seuthe is the only company that produces smoke units anymore.

Other than the issues others already have mentioned, there really isn't any place to put them in HO or N. Right below where the exhausts are, are the circuit boards/decoders and motor.

Jay 

C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1 

Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Friday, September 23, 2011 10:37 PM

PennCentral99

Well, someone has figured out a way......Go see the  HO Southwest Chief  video in the "user submitted videos"

I'll skip the videos, the smoke generators and sound effects and just fill that part in with my imagination just as I have done for the last 40 years.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 893 posts
Posted by PennCentral99 on Friday, September 23, 2011 9:58 PM

Well, someone has figured out a way......Go see the  HO Southwest Chief  video in the "user submitted videos"

Inspired by Addiction

See more on my YouTube Channel

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, September 23, 2011 9:53 PM

gandydancer19

Welcome to the Forums.

I haven't heard of anyone doing that.  White smoke is available and in wide use on HO steam locomotives.  Diesels usually put out black smoke or none at all.  I don't know of anything that can make black smoke (and not be toxic).

Maybe others will have more information.

Actually EMD puts out  blue smoke as did the FMs..Alco,GE,Lima and Baldwin belch black smoke..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, September 23, 2011 8:58 PM

Smoke from my diesels? My bronchitis would love that! I'd be on the floor inside of two minutes. Been there and done that with steamers many years ago. I quit going to a couple of modelers homes because they insisted on using the stuff when I was there. I have a friend near here who uses the smoke in his steamers but not when I'm there. When he does use it he does so sparingly because it settles on the scenery and leaves an oily film on the track.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Friday, September 23, 2011 8:23 PM

Welcome

Welcome to the squirrel cage.  Watch out for low-flying nuts!

While black smoke (which was far more common from steam locos than the little white wisps one usually sees) might seem to be a good idea, I wouldn't even consider it within any enclosed space.

In addition to creating grime on railheads and filth on scenery, it also fills the air you and your family, friends and fellow railroaders breathe.  My wife wouldn't be able to take it for more than two breaths without needing emergency attention.  I might last longer - but not much.

My advice?  Forget trying to make it part of operations.  For photos, either mock up some painted cotton or photoshop it.  (And be sure to paint the cotton in a well-ventilated area.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with smoke-free coalburners and diesels)

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Weymouth, Ma.
  • 5,199 posts
Posted by bogp40 on Friday, September 23, 2011 4:01 PM

Although "smoke" might be a nice effect, Using it regularly on your layout can have some really bad consequeces.  The residue that settles all over the layout is terrible for the scenery, structures and especially coating the rails.  These have been banned from use at our club just for this reason.

I still haven't seen real looking smoke from any of the smoke generators as yet. The smoke just rises from the stack w/ no prototypical effects coinciding w/ the operation of the loco.

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: Cresco, IA
  • 1,773 posts
Posted by ChadLRyan on Friday, September 23, 2011 3:37 PM

Hey Jerrye,

Welcome, & yeah that would be a pretty neat effect.  I like mine to run clean, but my weathering suggests they be a might smoky too! A slight condrum! As a former 1/24 model trucker, a few drops of Diesel on the display base went a long way to make the suggestion...

If you do find out how to make a model train smoke badly, I would like to hear about it, as I have a really dirty GE Dash9 that would look really neat if it did this in HO !!!     Taken from www.railpictures.net   - a great resource!

 

Good luck, 

Chad L Ryan
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Eastern Shore Virginia
  • 3,290 posts
Posted by gandydancer19 on Friday, September 23, 2011 2:32 PM

Welcome to the Forums.

I haven't heard of anyone doing that.  White smoke is available and in wide use on HO steam locomotives.  Diesels usually put out black smoke or none at all.  I don't know of anything that can make black smoke (and not be toxic).

Maybe others will have more information.

Elmer.

The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.

(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: AZ
  • 1 posts
How can the Diesel smoke exhaust be accomplished?
Posted by Jerrye on Thursday, September 22, 2011 10:59 PM

My question is how can the diesel smoke exhaust be accomplished for an HO diesel?  Is there a kit that can be installed a HO diesel?

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!