SouthPennWhen I worked construction, the water pipes were still copper. The plumbers had small ~12" high oxy-acetylene sets that were carried to each job.
I know that there are lots of 'mini' oxy-acetylene torch sets out there but I can't see someone in a roundhouse working on a full sized steam or diesel locomotive ever using one. The tank would run out before the metal got hot enough to do anything with.
I know that from experience actually, well sort of. I used to have a VERY primative 'welding set' that used some form of pellet that you burned in a cylinder to create oxygen. To call it a welding set was totally misleading. It would braze ok but trying to weld anything with it was a non-starter. You had to work FAST! Either the pellets would burn out or the moisture that they generated along with the oxygen would drown out the flame. It should have been called a "spit and braze torch". It was a very frustrating process, but I managed to rebuild my rusted out MGB and a friend's really, really rusted out Datsun 240Z with that so-called torch. (His driver's seat fell out of the bottom of the car just after he bought it - somebody saw him coming). At least the pellets were cheap. Those were the fun days when you made do with what you could afford!
"Thanks for the memories...."
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critter"Thanks for the memories...."
The '66 VW Bug I drove had a Penn-Central speed restriction sign as the floorboard! If you let up on the clutch too fast the pedals would flop forward and the clutch cable would become disengaged. I learned how to "shift-on-the-fly" and back then I could shut off the engine after coasting to a red-light, then put 'er in first and crank the engine when the light went green... try that with today's interlocked systems!
Friend of mine had a brand-new 1971 240-Z. That was one neat car to a 15 year-old kid!
Fine memories, indeed.
Here's a few more photos of the Herpa cylinder banks I was mentioning in the earlier threads, Dave.
I used to fill banks like these back at GE. We made rare gases and shipped them by rail and truck all over North America. Loose cylinders are also shipped on skids like these. One side of the skid would flip down so you could roll the individual cylinders into it. Many of the banks we used had manifolds on them so none of the cylinders were capped.
I'm planning to customize that Cushman into a "Welding Buggy" with an engine driven welder and a set of tanks on it. Also spools of welding cable. We had one like that at GE, too. We shipped Hydrogen in "torpedo-Tube" gas trailers like the one in the background. I forget where I got those tanks but it was Herpa, Faller or one of the EU manufacturers.
I sure wish one of the main-stream manufacturers would make a Helium Car. I have a very old (Tyco?) AHM/Roco plastic one. Brass models go in the neighborhood of $4-500.
Actually, as far as gas cutting cylinders, the Woodland Scenics set is not all that bad and you get a pair of pipe roller stands, just like the Ridgid ones and a pretty close copy of a Lincoln Idealarc-250 plus two figures. You would need to make your own cart. Still, they look nice because they have the regulators on them and pretty close to scale gauges.
Those jack stands are Tichy and I don't recall who made the car-jacks in the background but you might want a few of those around the shop, too.
I don't mean to dominate the thread but I share the same interest in shop scenes and machinery. Thanks for letting me show off
Regards, Ed
hon30critterI just got a response from Christel at Shapeways. She has given me a store credit for the HO welding sets.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
gmpullmanthe Woodland Scenics set is not all that bad and you get a pair of pipe roller stands, just like the Ridgid ones and a pretty close copy of a Lincoln Idealarc-250 plus two figures.
HA! I have two sets! Bought them years ago. Forgot all about them! I'll blame it on the drinking - too much water!
Thanks Ed! More nice excellent scenes by the way!
I’m afraid if it had been the Bear, he’d have probably replied “Caveat Emptor”
Hi Bear!
Christel asked me to send a photo of the welding set next to a scale ruler and she said after she saw it that she definitely understood my point. She initiated some sort of quality control procedure that included contacting the designer about the issue. It should be a simple fix. All they have to do is scale up the program about 25% and they will get the proper size for a large set.
So, HERE IS A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO CHRISTEL MAURMAIR at SHAPEWAYS!!!! By the way, she credited the shipping costs too which I thought was fantastic!
Cheers Bear!
hon30critterThanks Ed! More nice excellent scenes by the way!
Thanks, Dave! Glad you enjoyed ...and that I jogged your memory.
Now where did I set that drink down...
Cheers, Ed
gmpullmanI don't mean to dominate the thread but I share the same interest in shop scenes and machinery.
Dominate away! I'm getting lots of great ideas from you and I'm sure others are too.
Just a quick update.
I got the 1/64th scale welding sets today and, as I suspected, they are pretty close to HO scale. The taller tank measures 4 1/4' tall in HO scale, and the tanks are about 9" in dia. The only thing that is out of scale for HO is the cart handle. It is too tall. However, I don't think too many people would notice if the handle was removed. If you wanted to get really fussy, you could re-attach it lower down. They are very finely detailed.
JL Innovative has stuff like this. Their sets of gas station equipment will give you parts which look good in any shop settings.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi Mr.B,
I do like JL Innovative stuff. I have a bunch of their oil drums. I couldn't see any oxy-acetylene torch sets in their line, and I already have a bunch of oil hiboys from Scale Structures. I am going to have a gas pump somewhere in the service area for refueling vehicles.
Thanks for the suggestion.