I like

It's nice to see things being repaired instead of replaced.  And you know I like shiny metal bits in anything!

That's a sharp looking model, by the way.  Any idea of a prototype, or just having fun with spare parts?

Prototype + Spare Parts

I've always liked heavy electrics, or Juice Jacks as they are known by. I also like the boxyness (spell check had a problem with this one) of steeple cabs.

My version is based on the Great Northern Y Class for the shell.   http://www.davesrailpix.com/gn/htm/gn05.htm  and the W class for the wheel arrangement. Same link. Click on the "next" button when there and it will show a picture of the W class.

Here's another railroad that influences my like for electrics. http://www.davesrailpix.com/vgn/vgn.htm Many black and white pictures. This railroad was later merged into the Norfolk & Western.

And the final railroad that has a influence on me. http://www.davesrailpix.com/cmstp/milw.htm I really liked the the "Little Joe's". These electrcis were to be exported to the USSR but never got there. I believe there were only 6. I snagged a brass model of it off of e-bay for a good price.

Since I call myself a protolancer, which is basically following prototype building practice but coming up with my own version. I enjoy building engines like that box cab electric. The body is an Athearn Alco PB-1. I modified the frame to set the trucks closer together and then added the porches for the 4 wheel trucks at each end. It doesn't follow any specific prototype but incorporates ideas of what could have been. So actually you can call the locomotive I'm building a prototype since it's never been built as either a model or a 1:1 locomotive.

Personal opinion, I don't think this thread will get much "traction". (pun intended) since a majority of the members aren't interested in something like this. But will see. Right now it's had 77 views. I have more plans on the back burner and an interesting drive train for my box cab locomotive. Stay tuned, details at 11.

Bernd

Traction...

I'm following along but beyond sending an atta-boy your way, I don't have much to add to the discussion.  Still an interesting topic all the same.

Maybe you need an A and B unit juice jack!

I'm definitely staying tuned!  I'm also interested in any sort of home-brew drive train.  One of the things that I find frustrating is having to rely on commercial mechanisms to power my models.  It would be great if there was a simple, reliable, inexpensive, modular system that would allow me to power any model (within reason, obviously) without spending a fortune.  The NWSL parts come close, but they're pricey!

As for the electrics, I've always been a fan.  I even seriously contemplated building an HOn3 traction line with miniature versions of the NYC T-Motors.  I think what stopped me was the price of parts, and my lack of skill at the time (I was still in high school).  I also work under the end of the Virginian electrification, in Roanoke, VA.  There are still a few traces of the overhead, but not much unless you know what to look for.

By the way, didn't you bet that Little Joe in a thread about quartering?

Not so Traction oriented

I'm not talking about modeling traction. I'm talking fixing a motor or fixing a drive train or building something like I am. It doesn't have to be a traction model. It could be a modern diesel. As you go through the threads you'll notice not much is discussed about doing mechanical projects such as I mention above. Observation has shown that interest is high for pictures of finished layouts or modules of highly detailed and weathered equipment. Anything DCC  and computers is also high on the list. I could count on one hand how many people are doing any type of such projects here. You are the only other member on MRH that is modifying an Athearn wreck crane. Anybody else that I don't know of?

I'm not looking for atta boys. I'm looking for modelers who are trying to do the same thing and asking questions. That's more of value than an atta boy in trying to help a fellow modeler such as you.

Ken has done some wonderful work on modifying his 2-6-0. Even Benny has posted how he made a better looking narrow gauge engine. This is the type of material I'd like to see here. I'm trying to do what Joe asked. I'm hopeing my pointing the way will get others involved.

Bernd

  By the way, didn't you

Ya I did, but I'm an Indian giver.

The drive I have in mind is a friction drive that I tried out on a On30 critter I was developing. Here are some pictures.

The only commercial parts are a motor out of a B'man 44 tonner, the worm and wheels sets that I picked up many years ago at a swap meet, an O-ring and two miniature bearings on either end of the worm shaft. I need to write this up and post it on my web site.

I plan on using something similar for the electric locomotive. The nice thing about a friction drive like this is that you have an infinite amount of  speed ratios. I don't have a need for CV's to tune each engine. I'll do it  mechanically, not electrically.

Bernd

Overcoming friction

I'm very curious to hear how the friction drive does in a larger locomotive.  I can see the application in a critter, but I wonder how it will stand up to something with a little heavier load.  Also, doesn't the friction drive have a significantly lower efficiency than a gear drive?  If so, could that impact the available pulling power, or is the difference too slight to worry about?

I agree with your points about leading by example.  I don't know how many people will get the gumption to try modifying something or doing any major mechanical work, but hopefully somebody out there will say "Hey, I can do that!"

Standard Drive trains

Ken,

No so long ago, the standard diesel drive was the Athearn drives. There were gearing kits, motors, side frames, custom engine frames, and even custom bodies. You could pull a truck out of a U30B and replace the bad truck in your F7A.  The Athearn blue box engines had some problems, but were a good foundation for some good looking, good running engines. They usually ran OK out of the box and with a little time and money, they ran great. Many of the parts were common and thus interchangeable. Until a short time ago. the parts were plentiful and cheap. The first Life Like F3's I purchased were so close to the Athearn Line, that I was able to repair the trucks with Athearn parts.

The old Model Railroading Mag carried many articles on how to improve and modify Athearn models. The content is on this site. I will warn you it is not as easy to use as Model Railroad Hobbyist's web site is

http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/browse?search=&title=2&year=0&order=creation_date&page=&tag=&start_date=&end_date=

The new Chinese diesels may be superior to the older Athearn, but I miss the availability and the interchangeably. of the parts. In short I miss Irv.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athearn

Regards,

John

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

 Where are we going to get power when it is cloudy and the wind does not blow  Unknown

NOT Traction...

I did get that.  I was trying to use "traction" as the pun you intended but obviously wasn't clear...

I wonder if there are others working on projects who don't post a lot about what they are doing?  I don't post about my crane project...

I am indeed customizing that crane.  Most recently busy building turnouts and looking for parts to help with my diesel-ization of the steam crane.

Kens doing some incredible things with brass, you too.  These are the kind of threads that I find interesting.  Once again, thanks for sharing!

Friction Drives

Guess I'll find out when I get one assembled in a bigger engine.

Couldn't tell you that and have no idea how you would even check that on a model.

That could be handled by multiple unit power. Need more power, add another engine.

I did find a prototype locomotive that has a friction drive and if ever I can find those pictures I'll post them.

@ Kevin

I was slow on that one.

Hoping to see your crane on here some time in the future. Understand the turnout building. Carry on.

Bernd

Video

Forgot I had made a video of it running and pushing some cars.

Bernd

Dyna-drive

Dear Motor/drivetrain fans,

If you're looking for an alternative drive system which gives all the feel of inertia without electronic trickery, hunt down the Dyna-Drive system

http://shop.brimalm.com/home.html?page=shop.browse&category_id=27

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/19650-does-anone-remember-dynadrive/

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Hmm...

Interesting.  How does it work?  I read some comments about a centrifugal clutch - is that it?  Simply de-coupling the motor from the flywheel, so that the flywheel inertia must me translated into motion?  With an 18 MM diameter flywheel, it would be hard to fit into some smaller models, but it does look interesting. 

Clutch drive

Prof,

Looks like you had to do some digging on that one. Not much info available. I did a google and didn't find much.

I take it that it has two or more shoes that, when spun in ever increasing speed makes the shoes push outward through centrifugal force. As the shoes press harder on the outer cylinder the speed increases, or something of that nature. Same concept of how a clutch on a chain saw works. How close am I?

Bernd

Here's what I understand used to be called the dyna drive clutch

http://shop.brimalm.com/home.html?page=shop.browse&category_id=27

and some past user experience. Apparently they may be still available in the UK as custom built locos.

http://www.doubleogauge.com/journal/dyna.PDF

My memory doesn't go back properly to a discussion thread I was in around 2000, but I thought then there was a magnetic drag unit available.

Dyna

Found this pic. No detail about clutch operation but I suspect it is what we normally call a Formsprag clutch (bidirectional overrunning). Man, those are some whopper size flywheels!

Here's some more examples on the Quai87 RM Web thread

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38591-quai87/page-7

ATC

Thanks Andy for the link. I found some more on how these drives work. I need to study them further and read what they have written about them. I think they are fascinating.

Bernd

A little tinkering here...

I do a bit of tinkering, not much to write home about.  (Though a future post about my recently-completed cabooses will probably be in the works.)

I agree about the old Athearn drive parts, heck, a lot of other Athearn parts, for that matter.  I think a large hole may exist in the market for a line of standardized-parts locomotives and freight cars, reasonably-priced, available in kit form (cheaper) and R-T-R (more expensive).  I have, however, been swapping parts around on an as-needed basis between similar blue-box and RTR models, but my Bachmann Spectrum and Atlas locomotives have a tendency to challenge me with their "non-standard" components.

-Fuzzy
DM Rail Group: Milwaukee Franklin & Norway • IndustRail • St. Louis Northern • South Fork • Paris Coal Railway