What happened at your workbench today?

A final hour in the workshop saw me start looking at fabricating some coupling rods. As a teenager, I bought a copy of Model Locomotive Construction in 4mm Scale by Guy Williams, who built many of the locomotives at Pendon. In it, he discusses using bullhead rail to make fluted rods, and I have a few lengths of Tenmille 32mm track, bought online in error...:oops:
So I cut a couple of lengths roughly to length,
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filed concave faces onto the ends, and drilled/parted off some 8mm diameter brass bar for the ends.20260520_212820.jpg
The precise length of the coupling rods should be the same as the distance between the wheel centres. I still have a little filing to do.
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But that can wait until tomorrow. I think I'll have to get some hard ('silver') solder; this is just balanced in position.
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Slow progress at the West Well's workshops on the Bobber caboose. Arrived as a kit of parts, all the way from the Ozark's. Started as the motive power team had downed tools on the little Mogul. Pay and vittles breaks dispute apparently. A lot of work fettling those white metal castings, looks like a bad case of being spun in tired old molds. Chassis is slightly shorter one end and needed shimming to ensure the steps will fit between buffer beam and car body. No it's not the workshop staff's fault they know how to measure. By the way meet Pete', Marshawn and Joe. Joe, you're late again ! Anyhow, bits that are ready for fitting on the right, those that need the staff to process on the left. Those big tubs have the journals a lots of itty bitty parts to be worked on and put together. Those tools on the right are pretty usefull but need the resident BFG, Max, to handle. Might have to get the welding kit out soon.
 
What to do on a hot, hot day? How about some 'silver' (aka hard) soldering? After a final fettle with a file, flood with flux, fire up the flame...and flow...

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Further fettling with a file to get everything flush, and...
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Both rods can be mounted on the same crankpins, so it looks like they are pretty much identical. I won't know for certain until the wheels are mounted and quartered, of course, but it doesn't look bad for a bit of bodgery.
I think that's enough alliteration for now...
 
Loco strip and chip replacement today, potential ocasional short circuit or chip fault to trace, a few hours worth of fun...

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...there is always a supervisor...

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...motor strip and check the additional pickups, no wire left unchecked...

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...sort of back together, sans rods, new chip installed, sound and running quality is much improved, so just maybe, it was the chip.
 
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A lot more work done than may appear comparing picture from last post. Everything on this kit does not quite fit or if white needs a bit of "cleaning up" and straightning, parts even if pre cut need fettling. Still loads to do, to be done on the left, minus a tub of little white metal bits. That wheel set looks way to large to produce the right "ride height" in the cover picture for my Accucraft link & pin disconnects, "short" wagons and mining tubs. But they match the size shown in the "instruction's" tiny blurred picture of the caboose underside. Amongst all that I've got a bit more assembly done. I was offered one of these by Andrew Steele, of Garden Rail Centre fame, at a knock down price years ago, he just wanted rid from his stock. I said no because it didn't "fit" with what I was doing then. Paid full price 5 years ago, with shipping and tax costs from the US. I do sometimes wonder. I'm thinking I might replicate the green livery below, but with the the WWL Co. insignia. Max


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Northsider said:
What to do on a hot, hot day? How about some 'silver' (aka hard) soldering? After a final fettle with a file, flood with flux, fire up the flame...and flow...

View attachment 357033
Further fettling with a file to get everything flush, and...
View attachment 357035
Both rods can be mounted on the same crankpins, so it looks like they are pretty much identical. I won't know for certain until the wheels are mounted and quartered, of course, but it doesn't look bad for a bit of bodgery.
I think that's enough alliteration for now...
Click to expand...
General consensus for making chassis is to make the rods first and then use them as a master for drilling the chassis. Quartering though an entirely different issue, have to say if I can get them prefer squared end axles with suitable holes in the wheels for those axles. Though I have done a fair bit of quartering like you are to be having to do.
 
There is much cussin' and sighin' (and even some profanities) coming from t'other room..

SW has taken it upon herself to 'massage' one or two of the RC Trains documents.

The source documents are either HTML generated, or pdf documents, with embedded 'png' graphics..
I assume it is not going well? :D :lipssealed:

I am sticking with the soldering..
:nod:

PhilP.
 
dunnyrail said:
General consensus for making chassis is to make the rods first and then use them as a master for drilling the chassis. Quartering though an entirely different issue, have to say if I can get them prefer squared end axles with suitable holes in the wheels for those axles. Though I have done a fair bit of quartering like you are to be having to do.
Click to expand...
That method rests well with those of us who are not engineers ;);)
 
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Got the roof(s) on. That was fun. Pete', Marshawn and Joe (strolling in late again Joe, your pay check is going to be docked !) were hard at it with the sawing and fitting all the timber. The resident BFG was welding the Titebond 3 laden brushes and spring loaded clamps. All those beams and bulkhead to daub. I suppose I should really start a separate thread, this one has still got a way to go. I like things to be tidy and organised, have you noticed ?:blush: Definitely going for that natty subtle two tone green D&RGW livery with bauxite couplings/undercarriage and white fittings. Now where's me mixing pallete and big box of paints ? Max
 
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