My latest steam 'folly'

[Tim Brien]

Progress to date (started only yesterday). Take two LGB starter set coach bodies (the rarer the better - 1981 '100' Anniversary bodies for this project), an LGB #3060/61 underframe and bogie and an LGB #2017 drive block assy. plus a little inspiration and we have a freelance steam railcoach. Coach is good for about 8 foot min. diameter without further (drastic) mods.

Ideally, I would have liked to use the low profile coach roof mouldings but alas only have the medium/high profile to use, so finish will be compromised. A rewarding project that has involved a fair amount of cutting and grafting.

 

[Tim Brien]

A little more progress. Partial roof installed.

 

[trammayo]

Blimey! Your not wasting any time Tim. Built while you wait, so to speak (I log on, skim through the posts and return to this one to find more). It looks great!

Is the 8ft radius limit because of the motion?

 

[Tim Brien]

Mick,
the drive pivots through the smokestack and radial movement is limited to the width between the underframe rails (not much).

Final photo for the present, I found a few airtanks which make fine condensation tanks for the roof. I also added a little piping.

 

[trammayo]

Mick,
the drive pivots through the smokestack and radial movement is limited to the width between the underframe rails (not much).

I understand (I was thing of centre pivot)

 

[tramcar trev]

Wow, a great cut & shut....

 

[jameshilton]

Very effective indeed

 

[playmofire]

Amazing!

 

[Tim Brien]

Mick,
the drive pivots through the smokestack and radial movement is limited to the width between the underframe rails (not much).

I understand (I was thing of centre pivot)

Mick,
I will need to check, but I removed the stock trussrods on the underframe and fabricated new items. This gave me more radial movement, so possibly around 6 foot min. diameter now.

 

[trammayo]

If my brain worked, and I finished off typing 'thinking', it was obvious that the unit pivoted on its chimney - just not at that particular time in the morning for me!

I seem to recall another steam railmotor you built

 

[Dtsteam]

Like it, Like it very much. I didn't twig that it pivoted from the chimney - does the body just sit on the smokebox ?.
The roof gives it a really germanic look - all it needs is a dull green paint job....

 

[Tim Brien]

David,
The boiler sits on a false floor in the cab body. The drive block pivots in a radial cutout in the underframe and the original floor of the cab body. Final drive height was then sorted out using 0.030" plastic shims.

The boiler sits in a rectangular cutout in the cab false floor. Green was my preferred colour choice, representing a Germanic origin.

Photographs may give an idea of construction method and degree of articulation.

 

[Tim Brien]

.............

I seem to recall another steam railmotor you built

Mick,
I checked my photographs of my builds and count around seven or eight conversions. A couple still to paint to complete.

 

[Dtsteam]

Ahhh, I'm with it now - so the power truck swings on the long bolt at the base of the chimney - excellent !

 

[Tim Brien]

The steam folly was progressed with added detail in the loco cab plus a simple saddle strap added to secure the drive pivot block to the drive housing. Other than DCC'ing the drive block (is there such a word???), the unit is mechanically complete.

Eventual aim is a sound decoder located in the boiler. A speaker housing has been fitted to the roof moulding above the seating area.

 

[vsmith]

Tim that looks great. One of the best yet. Clever drive solution. Looking forward to seeing this finished.