Hi gang,
Some of you may be aware of my attempt to build an oddball rotary snowplough with two blades that sit at 90 degrees to the track.
https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/291158.aspx
I need to build a model of a steam powered engine to sit inside the plough body which is basically a repurposed freight car.
There was a forum member who built some pretty impressive steam locomotives using basic styrene sheets and stock. He hasn't posted for a while as far as I know. I can't remember his name but I would really like to be able to review his methods for making a boiler and firebox. Does anyone know to whom I am referring?
Any other suggestions on how to build a stationary steam engine would be appreciated.
Thanks for your help.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hi Dave. I believe you are referring to RDG Casey.
Simon
Hello All,
Short of scratch building a boiler have you considered 3D printed ones from Multiscal Digital LLC?
Several boilers are offered in various types and scales.
These are designed as flatcar loads. The HO scale ones might be too big for your application but the N scale might fit the bill.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
As for the boiler, I would use parts from a donor engine. If you are not looking for a motorized engine, the Civil War Bachmann 4-4-0 with old tooling is probably the smallest one out there. The Mantua and Rivarossis were wider, I believe. Some basket cases of the Bachmann can be found used if you don't care about motorization. I can take measurements of mine if you are interested.
There are also other options, such as the Matchbox 4-4-0. Less details, but lower cost on the used market.
On the 3D option, there is this:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/9BV4WWJNB/horizontal-boiler-stationary-ho-scale?optionId=63728242&li=marketplace
snjroyHi Dave. I believe you are referring to RDG Casey.
Hi Simon,
I believe that is whom I am looking for. Thanks.
I had initially thought about using a donor engine for the snow plough, but It turned out that I was outbid on everything I tried to buy. The cost of shipping to Canada was a factor. It is typically more than $20.00 Cdn for shipping whether it is from the US or Canada. The engine will barely be seen because it will be inside the plough body. Buying a 3D printed engine would cost about the same.
Something else that I have to keep in mind is that I want to be able to put an electric motor inside the steam engine. The 3D boilers suggested by jjdamnit look great but I'm not sure that they would fit. Definitely the N scale ones are too small. Building an engine from scratch will make that easy, and it will also be fun.
Thanks for your suggestions,
Cheers!!
Dave.
Are you wanting to build a steam engine or a boiler? There are many types of steam powered engines but boilers are either horizontal or vertical. Boilers can be simulated by wrapping a brass sheet around a dowel and soldered. Boiler fronts can be found from Carry, Bowser, PSC, and others. The steam engine on the other hand will need a cylinder casting, piston, rod, valve, flywheel and more.
Pete.
hon30critterThe 3D boilers suggested by jjdamnit look great but I'm not sure that they would fit.
Thank you for considering my suggestion and your kind response.
Good luck with your build and I look forward to updates.
wrench567 Are you wanting to build a steam engine or a boiler?
Hi Pete,
I need a steam engine as opposed to just a boiler. The plough blade will be driven by a pair of cylinders which I already have, so what I need to build is a firebox/boiler. It has to be big enough to fit an electric motor inside which actually turn the blades (I hope). The motor is 5/8" in diameter and about 1 3/4" long including the flywheel.
I found one of RDG Casey's threads on how be created his modified steam engines using styrene and that showed me a lot (thanks again Simon). I now have a pretty good idea of how to build the firebox/boiler system. I'm going to have a look at Carry, etc. for details as you suggested.
I would like to suggest that any further comments regarding the boiler construction be made on the original snow plough construction thread. This thread has served its purpose which was basically to find RDG Casey's moniker.
Here is the original thread:
Perhaps the moderators could lock this thread so we don't have two threads running on the same topic.