Scratchbuilt 2-6-4 tank loco

New Haven Neil 2 said:
Greg, what gauge was that loco? The prototype, that is!
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NSW, alone in Australia, used 4'-8 1/2 ".
Since I model 1:24 it's not correct, but I was after the look, not an exact copy. Someone said it was a 'pretty' loco. Never thought of it like that but I do agree.
Tramayo liked the colour. None of my mates do, so I'm glad at least one other person does. I hope the yellow lettering which I've ordered for the tanks will brighten it up more.
 
I used an 08M Picaxe and a LM386 audio amplifier for the sound system. As there is no cam to drive the chuff rate I decided to use a Picaxe to generate the chuffs, based on the motor voltage.
I designed a SIMPLE voltage controlled, volume control to turn the white noise from the picaxe into a ?shaped? chuff. As well, loud or soft volume can be selected by a 3rd stick control on the 2.4 GHz transmitter which the picaxe decodes during the off time of the chuff.
I also decided to use a 4.7 ohm resistor in series with the motor to give more speed variation under load.
Having that resistor in circuit enabled me to use 2 voltage inputs to the picaxe, measuring voltage across this resistor and to calculate the armature current. Then I can calculate the actual armature voltage and thus true speed. I?m pleased with the result. Maybe that can be the subject of another topic.

Here?s the sound board viewed from under the footplate?
c7c267c4290b45978038a3f31a82275a.jpg


These pics shows the speaker in the rear of the cab and the driver and firebox ? I must give him a regulator handle soon !
66bc493e5a924ffc817001076afd4a90.jpg

6558df8a748f441aae261f96898b5b4c.jpg

I?ve now put on the vinyl lettering from G-ScaleGraphics (thanks Del ). I bought lining too, but have decided it?s got enough colour now.

So here?s some final pictures:
3a48000f21fd43089035fd80a3495486.jpg

b41ee6eab339428ea8463e0c0b915ffc.jpg

67836cb9f09845ed868d7c71a17cb01b.jpg


And a couple of short videos so you can hear the sound.

1st video (before final lettering) at?
http://youtu.be/-IPiawNAA68

comparison of sound systems at?
http://youtu.be/9azbwHli1ow
 
Sounds (and looks) great. Clever stuff:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Great work Gregh.
Would love to see it pulling some clearstory stock, any chance?
 
ge_rik said:
Greg
Can you advise - is this the sort of drive unit you used?
http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=92779&catID=82 < Link To http://www.ontracks.co.uk...dID=92779&catID=82
I'd like to have a go at making a battery loco (or two) so wondered if this is the best way to start.
They also list these:
http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=173531&catID=82 < Link To http://www.ontracks.co.uk...ID=173531&catID=82
but I'm not sure how it differs to the above.
Rik
Click to expand...

Sorry I missed your post yesterday Rik. The first link looks like the one I used. No pic for 2nd one. I get mine from wholesaletrains.com
Hmmm.. can't get link to work
"http://www.wholesaletrains.com/GProducts2.asp?Scale=G&Item=pic3tr2c&offset=25"
Go to http://www.wholesaletrains.com, < Link To www.wholesaletrains.com, select PIKO on left menu then select parts and go to 2nd page.
 
Lovely Greg. Your line is beautiful and your new scratch-build looks superb.
 
gregh said:
ge_rik said:
Greg
Can you advise - is this the sort of drive unit you used?
http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=92779&catID=82 < Link To http://www.ontracks.co.uk...dID=92779&catID=82
I'd like to have a go at making a battery loco (or two) so wondered if this is the best way to start.
They also list these:
http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=173531&catID=82 < Link To http://www.ontracks.co.uk...ID=173531&catID=82
but I'm not sure how it differs to the above.
Rik
Click to expand...
Sorry I missed your post yesterday Rik. The first link looks like the one I used.
" http://www.wholesaletrains.com/GProducts2.asp?Scale=G&Item=pic3tr2c&offset=25" < Link To http://www.wholesaletrains.com/GProducts2.asp?Scale=G&Item=pic3tr2c&offset=25"
Go to http://www.wholesaletrains.com, < Link To www.wholesaletrains.com, select PIKO on left menu then select parts and go to 2nd page.
Click to expand...
Thanks Greg.
Managed to get your link to work (it shows up OK in 'Reply - Quote message') so I'll invest in one of the former (and it's cheaper than the other one). I'd love to make one of the larger 3' tanks which ran on the Irish ng railways (somewhat reminiscent of your model) but I don't think it would get round my tighter curves so I'm going to have to go for something more modest - though it leaves less space for batteries etc.
Rik
 
Absolute magic :thumbup:
 
ge_rik said:
Thanks Greg.
Managed to get your link to work (it shows up OK in 'Reply - Quote message') so I'll invest in one of the former (and it's cheaper than the other one). I'd love to make one of the larger 3' tanks which ran on the Irish ng railways (somewhat reminiscent of your model) but I don't think it would get round my tighter curves so I'm going to have to go for something more modest - though it leaves less space for batteries etc.
Rik
Click to expand...
The good thing about tanks is the room for batteries. I'm quite happy with the PIKO block. The first one I bought and tested really turned me off initially, but once I removed the skates and tightened the motor into the block, it runs well.
I don't think I mentioned it in the forum post, but BOTH of these block came with 2 screws missing that hold the motor block together which allowed the gears to slip. I replaced them and much better. The 2 silver screws in this pic were missing
5c462244ceeb4b26a23759df1defe50f.jpg

This pic shows the insides as I removed the skates and connections. Very easy to do and nothing goes 'sproing' all over the place when you take it apart!
ac7b63c309364048b2fd4217f366b0d7.jpg

Another good aspect is that the motor does not produce a lot of whistle noise when run on PWM - some, but not too bad and I've got Aristo blocks much worse.

I'm not sure what the Irish NG look like that you mention. This is my original PIKO based 0-6-0 tank for my granddaughter. Just has 4 NiMH cells and runs at scale 25kph. It's only 250mm long. Lexie weighs just 1.1kg and will pull 2.8 kg up 1:25.
45f9be7b4f6d4c6ea46923a383414610.jpg


This latest 2-6-4 loco has no added weight, only weighs 1.7 kg with 1.4 kg on the drivers, will easily pull 3 kg of plastic wheeled wagons up my 1:25. I haven't tested more as that is the prototype load. Does 50 kph at 12V

I can send you more dimensions etc if you want to start planning.
 
Greg
Any chance you could let me know the wheel dia and spacings for the motor block - or point me to a data sheet somewhere online? I'd like to narrow down a couple of possible prototypes.

Thanks
Rik
PS - not been able to find a photo of an original but here's a model of what I had in mind

http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/Image-Pages/Image_NG_15mm_CDRClass5.htm < Link To http://www.worsleyworks.c..._NG_15mm_CDRClass5.htm
 
The locomotive is one hell of a beast, love the photo of it head on. Like Rik I've always fancied an Irish 2-6-4 which I'm assuming will probably be about the same size. I've been collecting bits for it for about a year but think I'll use a Bachmann Big Hauler chassis as the diameter of the wheels are rather large on the prototype. I've never considered sound but after seeing your build I'd like to try that too
Best
Tim
 
:thumbup: a master class ,from the grand master:thumbup:
 
The upper (cheaper) one is the original and still current style, as used on the Br80 and US saddle tank. Br80 blocks are red, and US ones black.

The second and more expensive one is an improved version due for release later in the year - this features ballbearings on the outer drive axles. Basically, all Piko locomotives up to the E94 had plain bearings on the motor block axles, the E94 introduced ballbearings, and now they plan to go back and update all their previous efforts to the current standard. Both sets of spare parts are being listed as available for now, how long this situation will remain I don't know.

It's a nice little block, but sadly VERY small when compared with 15mm/ft irish NG. I've never yet had time to prepare a datasheet, but wheelbase is 56+58mm and wheels are approx 37mm diameter over tread. To model the CDJRC, you need something more the size of an aristo pacific block - something I've briefly considered, but there's the little issue of the 5/5a's having outside frames (along with pretty much every other big irish NG loco I can think of except the CB&PT 2-4-2T's) , and the aristo donor block being very much inside framed - suspect it just wouldn't look right

Jonathan
RDE

ge_rik said:
Greg

Can you advise - is this the sort of drive unit you used?

http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=92779&catID=82 < Link To http://www.ontracks.co.uk...dID=92779&catID=82

I'd like to have a go at making a battery loco (or two) so wondered if this is the best way to start.

They also list these:

http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=173531&catID=82 < Link To http://www.ontracks.co.uk...ID=173531&catID=82

but I'm not sure how it differs to the above.

Rik
Click to expand...
 
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