Don't forget about these "Scene Master" gears. For all that trouble, these things would sure make a good starting place.
Cog-Life-Like by Edmund, on Flickr
They measure 1.3795 OD. If you wrap them with grooved material you can get to your 1.900 (1-½" pipe OD).
Ed
gmpullman Don't forget about these "Scene Master" gears. For all that trouble, these things would sure make a good starting place. Cog-Life-Like by Edmund, on Flickr They measure 1.3795 OD. If you wrap them with grooved material you can get to your 1.900 (1-½" pipe OD). Ed
This little project is already costing me more than if I had just purchased the CMR double track lift bridge like Frank did. Frank warned me that the sheaves for going to be an expensive add-on, and he was right.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrainYep, I do like those a lot. The problem for me is price.
I feel your pain, there, Rich. I figured the casting route wouldn't be cheap, either, after all the silicone and resin, so these might balance out.
Come to think of it, old Tinker-Toy hubs... oh, wait, those are rare, vintage collectables, now. Maybe some of the craft stores would have wood wheels or craft doo-dads that you could drill and carve?
Still trying out ideas.
[edit] Hey, look at this, first try out!
https://tinyurl.com/y5gbb5lc
I Googled "wood craft wheels"
Buck a piece at Hobby Lobby (the 2" are 50¢ each):
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Painting-Surfaces/Wood/Birch-Wood-Tread-Wheels-with-3-8%22-Hole---2-1-2%22/p/23024
You could cut out a styrene disk cap for the sides.
Cheers, Ed
Ed, I am going to have to paid you a finder's fee for all of the good work that you are doing on my behalf.
I do have resin casting materials, thanks to Mel who was instrumental in helping me with an alternative to Walthers Modulars when they were no longer available. My problem with resin castings, though, is that I have been totally unsuccessful with finding an adhesive for resin castings.
I have thought about using Tinker Toys. In fact, Shapeways has a sheave that looks a lot like a Tinker Toy. LOL.
Those wood spools look excellent. I am going to make a trip over to Hobby Lobby to check them out.
Thanks for all of your help, Ed. And don't stop looking. Remember that finder's fee.
Rich,
I think I may have found a viable answer..........take a look at all these. They may just have the size You could use and it would not be too hard to drill holes into them, they are plastic. I have used similar ones before. It also looks like you get 10 pc's for the price...........I for one would surely try them and get them to work...........
https://www.amazon.com/slp/plastic-pulley/upeuzpqdpeyt67b
Take Care!
Frank
Hi Rich,
Interesting challenge with the pulleys.
I'm wondering if you could draw up a side view of the original pulley (you might have to use your imagination because you can't see much of it), and then make photocopies to glue to either side of the plastic pulleys that Rich suggested.
Just speculating.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Frank, Ed, Mike, Dave, et. al.,
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions to date on possible sheaves. I cannot thank you all enough for your interest in this project.
I am seriously considering a contest to select the best sheave for the towers. All of your suggestions are good ones, and I am having trouble deciding on the best alternative, even disregarding cost as a consideration.
Stayed tuned and keep searching.
zstripe Rich, I think I may have found a viable answer..........take a look at all these. They may just have the size You could use and it would not be too hard to drill holes into them, they are plastic. I have used similar ones before. It also looks like you get 10 pc's for the price...........I for one would surely try them and get them to work........... https://www.amazon.com/slp/plastic-pulley/upeuzpqdpeyt67b Take Care! Frank
gmpullman One of the gears I showed in this photo from March 30 looks like it would make a good starting place (the one that looks like a telephone dial?)
One of the gears I showed in this photo from March 30 looks like it would make a good starting place (the one that looks like a telephone dial?)
I PM'd you on this issue.
Those do look good. Shapeways has lots of "solid" sheaves, at about $7 a piece. I thought you wanted the spokes
You could do the rivet decals, like what Dr. Wayne uses, to make them more prototypical, probably only have to do the outside sheaves, that show.
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewi I thought you wanted the spokes
I thought you wanted the spokes
richhotrain zstripe Rich, I think I may have found a viable answer..........take a look at all these. They may just have the size You could use and it would not be too hard to drill holes into them, they are plastic. I have used similar ones before. It also looks like you get 10 pc's for the price...........I for one would surely try them and get them to work........... https://www.amazon.com/slp/plastic-pulley/upeuzpqdpeyt67b Take Care! Frank Frank, those are excellent and the price is right. I need to give serious consideration to that alternative. Thanks for the link. Rich
Frank, those are excellent and the price is right. I need to give serious consideration to that alternative. Thanks for the link.
I just ordered 10 of these, will be here Thurs. and I figured with the appropriate size holes in the neighborhood of 1/4'' or larger in size for the holes, which would be drilled in a five point star pattern, (like wheel lug spacing for auto wheels) would make a pretty good looking sheave for that bridge. They are 38mm in diameter or 1 1/2'' and that is an equivalent of 11 scale ft. in HO scale. The prototypes are 15ft. so that shoud be pretty good. It does have a 4mm center hole, but that can be filled in with a Evergreen plastic tube for a smaller hole. When I get them, I'll do what I said above and You can make up Your mind.........I'll even send You the master or more.
https://www.amazon.com/Ajax-Scientific-Plastic-Pulley-Diameter/dp/B00EPQMOH2?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4
zstripe Rich, I just ordered 10 of these, will be here Thurs. and I figured with the appropiate size holes in the neighborhood of 1/4'' or larger in size for the holes, which would be drilled in a five point star pattern, (like wheel lug spacing for auto wheels) would make a pretty good looking sheave for that bridge. They are 38mm in diameter or 1 1/2'' and that is an equivalent of 11 scale ft. in HO scale. The prototypes are 15ft. so that shoud be pretty good. It does have a 4mm center hole, but that can be filled in with a Evergreen plastic tube for a smaller hole. When I get them, I'll do what I said above and You can make up Your mind.........I'll even send You the master or more. https://www.amazon.com/Ajax-Scientific-Plastic-Pulley-Diameter/dp/B00EPQMOH2?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4 Take Care! Frank
I just ordered 10 of these, will be here Thurs. and I figured with the appropiate size holes in the neighborhood of 1/4'' or larger in size for the holes, which would be drilled in a five point star pattern, (like wheel lug spacing for auto wheels) would make a pretty good looking sheave for that bridge. They are 38mm in diameter or 1 1/2'' and that is an equivalent of 11 scale ft. in HO scale. The prototypes are 15ft. so that shoud be pretty good. It does have a 4mm center hole, but that can be filled in with a Evergreen plastic tube for a smaller hole. When I get them, I'll do what I said above and You can make up Your mind.........I'll even send You the master or more.
Here's a better photo of those "steampunk" gears, Rich.
Sheave-group-A by Edmund, on Flickr
Sheave-group by Edmund, on Flickr
And yet another choice. While rummaging through my "stuff" I found that Chooch flywheel!
Sheave-chooch_dia by Edmund, on Flickr
1.5 inch diameter, 5/16 width. The back side is sanded smooth (with extra material that should be removed)
Sheave-chooch_dia-B by Edmund, on Flickr
The downside is that the flywheel is part of the 120 ton steam boiler flat car load. I wonder if Chooch would be willing to sell some separately?
https://tinyurl.com/y3nj7ag3
I'll reply to your PM with a suggestion.
Sheave-chooch by Edmund, on Flickr
Chooch has several similar flywheels BUT some are cast with the pallet and would have to be cut off.
So many choices, none perfect but we're getting close
Good Luck, Ed
richhotrainKeep it up, Mike. Expose me for who I really am - - - an indecisive bridge engineer!
Please Mr. Pratt, not indecisive, but constantly searching for the correct solution.
I've worked with plenty of structural engineers. I have lots of erasers.
mbinsewi richhotrain Keep it up, Mike. Expose me for who I really am - - - an indecisive bridge engineer! Please Mr. Pratt, not indecisive, but constantly searching for the correct solution. I've worked with plenty of structural engineers. I have lots of erasers. Mike.
richhotrain Keep it up, Mike. Expose me for who I really am - - - an indecisive bridge engineer!
gmpullman While rummaging through my "stuff" I found that Chooch flywheel! Sheave-chooch_dia by Edmund, on Flickr 1.5 inch diameter, 5/16 width. The back side is sanded smooth (with extra material that should be removed). The downside is that the flywheel is part of the 120 ton steam boiler flat car load. I wonder if Chooch would be willing to sell some separately?
While rummaging through my "stuff" I found that Chooch flywheel!
1.5 inch diameter, 5/16 width. The back side is sanded smooth (with extra material that should be removed).
richhotrain I have contacted Chooch to inquire about purchasing 8 of them separately, as opposed to the entire kit.
I hope they can come through for you, Rich You're welcome to this one as a master if you decide to make your own. It really is a neat looking piece of "heavy" machinery.
Regards, Ed
gmpullman richhotrain I have contacted Chooch to inquire about purchasing 8 of them separately, as opposed to the entire kit. I hope they can come through for you, Rich You're welcome to this one as a master if you decide to make your own. It really is a neat looking piece of "heavy" machinery. Regards, Ed
So, the search continues.
Still working on the towers but, meanwhile, I spent the last few days working on the bridge tender's shack which sits on top of the bridge. The shack is still a little rough, so I need to do some finishing work on it.
Here are the counterweights. I strung one up on the tower temporarily just to see how they look. I like them.
Counter weights look good Rich, just need some "weathering/aging", which I'm sure will come, as you progress with the complete bridge. , I'm buying, have one!
I agree, nice job on the counterweights, massive and imposing but not overwhelming.
Carry on, Rich
Thanks, guys. Weathering is not my strong suit, but I will give it a try.
The bridge tender's shack was a somewhat easy build. I used Evergreen Scale Models Metal Corrugated Siding for the walls and roofs, which closely simulated the prototype shack. The grooves made it easy to keep things square and plumb. I used Walthers Modulars for the windows and doors.
I will be installing pulleys on each corner of the bridge tender's shack, as shown in the prototype photo.
Good Morning!
Well, I only got one word for this project............
"OUTSTANDING" !!!!!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I see You changed Your mind about the shack......I kinda' figured You would. Looks great so far!
I did not get the pully's until today, but I did manage to make a test one. They are 11 3/4ft. HO scale tall, by 1 3/4ft wide. Three of them together are a scale 5 1/4ft. wide. Here are three pic's of the one I drilled out and next to the CMR ones which are 7 1/2ft tall. The brass rod is 1/16'', the holes are 5/16'' drilled with My shop drill press. I can drill six at a time but I will just do three at a time:
I will make all of them for You if You like......there is a learning curve with getting the holes cut that I learned from cutting the first one. The plastic appears to be a composite, which will flake if not cut properly.......not for a first timer. Let Me know and I would recommend three (3) cables, which means you need 24. Two more packs of ten, plus what I have, FREE.
Frank, those pulleys (sheaves) look fantastic. I will definitely get back to you on your most generous offer.
Remind me what you mean by me changing my mind about the shack. I had always intended to build it as part of the bridge/towers project.
Maybe it was the hoist platform shacks that You were not going to do!
A couple of pic's with three sheaves together. I have a bolt & nut holding them together. I will be making the center hole smaller. I have a light coat of primer on them to aid in sanding any imperfections, before final painting, which is air-brushed. I'm thinking black but can be any color You want......
zstripe Rich, Maybe it was the hoist platform shacks that You were not going to do!
I have been studying photos and drawings of the sheave platforms. On the PRR bridge at 18th Street in Chicago, my prototype, there are no platform shacks, just the bridge tender's shack on top of the bridge itself.
There is also no "platform" between the two sheaves on the front of each tower and the two sheaves on the back of each tower. The sheaves rest on girders and the girders are connected by narrow walkways with handrails.