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Upgrading a Tyco Plymouth CR-4 Switcher (plus off topic crane talk at end)

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Posted by Bernd on Saturday, December 19, 2015 7:33 AM

7j43k

 It took this long to spot that error?

Heading changed.

Bernd

 Well, no.  I spotted it on the 15th and said so in my post of that day.  I was either too subtle, or my post went unread.

 Ed 

Ed,

Yes I see you did. Perhaps if you would have led with saying is was a CR-4 and skipped the other chatter I might have caught it.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by Bernd on Saturday, December 19, 2015 7:43 AM

Southgate,

I like you experimental drive. Looks very viable. Checked out the rest of your pictures and videos. Neat uncoupling system. Have you tried super magnets?

I saw a crane in there to. Something you're building? I did an Athearn crane a while back.

Nice to see some other modelers coming up with inovative ideas.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by Bernd on Saturday, December 19, 2015 7:46 AM

hon30critter

Sorry,   Off Topic

I wonder if there is a prototype for the rubber band motor mount!ClownLaugh

Dave

Well that kept it on topic. Cool  Yes

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, December 19, 2015 8:56 AM

Bernd
 

Ed,

Yes I see you did. Perhaps if you would have led with saying is was a CR-4 and skipped the other chatter I might have caught it.

Bernd

 

 

Yes.  Good point.  

The next time I see you make a mistake, I will have to be more direct with you.

 

 

Ed 

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Posted by Bernd on Saturday, December 19, 2015 5:20 PM

7j43k
Yes.  Good point.  

The next time I see you make a mistake, I will have to be more direct with you.

 Ed 

I have no problem when somebody tells me I'm wrong as long as they are 100% correct. So next time I mess up I expect you to correct me. Thanks

I think I can finally call this project complete.

I wasn't happy with the speed of the engine. It just didn't seem fast enough at 12 volts. So I made two new pulleys, 1/2" dia. and .3" dia. I made plugs to plug the motor wire leads into. Makes it easier to disassemble and assemble the motor and frame. Plus I changed the pick up wipers to .015" phosphor bronze. I almost melted the .010" on the previous version when something jammed the in the gears. Here's a picture with the up-grades.

And a video showing just the chassis running a 2.5 volts and then with the shell on pushing 8 hopper cars at 12 volts. Speed looks about right for a wide open throttle.

That's it for now. Can't believe I started this project one week ago today and it's finished. It's a record for me. Ok, back to TT scale modeling.

 

Bernd

 

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, December 19, 2015 11:11 PM

Bernd

 

 
7j43k
Yes.  Good point.  

The next time I see you make a mistake, I will have to be more direct with you.

 Ed 

 

I have no problem when somebody tells me I'm wrong as long as they are 100% correct. So next time I mess up I expect you to correct me. Thanks

 

 

 

You are quite welcome.  While you may, of course, expect a correction, I may miss something.  And, for that, I apologize.

All that said, I will say that I like the work you have done.

 

 

Ed

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Posted by Southgate on Sunday, December 20, 2015 4:31 AM

Bernd, I haven't tried super magnets, considdering I don't know what you mean by them. Rare earth? Anyway, I probably won't do any further developement on these, since I have a few spares, and that aspect of my layout is pretty much complete, thankfully!

Ah, The Crane... I could write a book. Just might. Thumbnail sketch: Wanted to build a crane in 1/25 since I was 20. At about 48 I jumped right on it. At around 6 years in*, it's 33 pounds of steel, brass, aluminum, styrene, small handful of kit part for detail, little wood, plus RC recievers, servos, gearheads, batteries, blood, sweat, tears, tantrums (some real whoppers), victories, failures, victories over those failures, evolutions, refinements, learning new skills, (bought the lathe and v-mill to build it) and POOF! A crane!

That IS the short version... Wanna know more?

Here's a blow by blow account on a forum that takes it  from the very beginning with commentary. You can jump around to see as much of the evolution as you wish.

http://s13.zetaboards.com/TheModelBuilders/topic/89997/22/

Or skip the blahblah, go just to the pics:

http://s343.photobucket.com/user/Southgate_08/library/Model%20Crane%20pix?sort=3&page=1

And a quick cheesily made video or 2:

http://s343.photobucket.com/user/Southgate_08/library/Model%20Crane%20Videos?sort=3&page=1

 

 

*I burned out on it about 2 years ago, got back into model RRing. I do operate it and keep the batteries up, but have slowed down considderably. It's not done, and I'm not dead on it, just taking a break.  But it works great, and will work better when I add a new digital radio and reciever to the upper unit. The carrier is upgraded already.

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Posted by Bernd on Sunday, December 20, 2015 8:58 AM

7j43k
 You are quite welcome.  While you may, of course, expect a correction, I may miss something.  And, for that, I apologize.

All that said, I will say that I like the work you have done.

 Ed

No apologies necessary. Thanks for the kind comments.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by Bernd on Sunday, December 20, 2015 9:13 AM

Went through the thread of your crane build. Just looked a the pics. I'm flabbergasted by the work you did. I can understand your pain. All I can say is you've eraned my respect as a scratchbuilder. Also picked up a couple of tips on that build.

I know I'm going Off Topic here but it's the end of the project so a quick journey into the ding weeds.

Next to an O scale RS3.

I've been contemplating adding motors and radio control. Perhaps someday.Confused

Here's a link to my Athearn crane I modified with radio control.

http://kingstonemodelworks.com/crane.html

 

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by Southgate on Sunday, December 20, 2015 3:41 PM

Man, Bernd. That Athearn crane is amazing! Likewise, you definately have my respect as a scratchbuilder. I thought the spaces in my crane were cramped! HO?!!! I followed the build until I hit  "X"s. I'd like to see the receiver.

Great work on the exterior detailing too. Off topic? Change the topic name to include cranes too!

Nice Manitowoc too. Dan

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Posted by Bernd on Sunday, December 20, 2015 4:30 PM

Southgate

Man, Bernd. That Athearn crane is amazing! Likewise, you definately have my respect as a scratchbuilder. I thought the spaces in my crane were cramped! HO?!!! I followed the build until I hit  "X"s. I'd like to see the receiver.

Great work on the exterior detailing too. Off topic? Change the topic name to include cranes too!

Nice Manitowoc too.

Dan

Thanks much Dan. Ya it is quite cramped in the crane.

You probably got "X's" because the page is picture intensive. Hit the refesh circle arrow and it should reload with all the pictures. One of these days I need to split the large page in several pages.

I use a reciever made in England. Here's the link.

http://www.deltang.co.uk/

He makes them small for all scales.

The Manitowoc is a 1:50 scale. Close O scale.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, December 20, 2015 10:37 PM

Bernd:

The Athearn crane is simply amazing!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Bernd on Monday, December 21, 2015 6:20 AM

hon30critter

Bernd:

The Athearn crane is simply amazing!

Here is the clickable link for the receiver supplier:

http://www.deltang.co.uk/

Dave

Thanks Dan. Spent some time last night reading your trials and tribulations on your crane project. Sounded very familar when applied to my Athearn crane build.

I fixed the link on my post. Thanks for catching that.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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