Garden Railway Forum

excellent pictures I do love your line the building always look just right

Great atmosphere and great pictures. Your pictures are so well framed.

Rik

The LNR has been closed for the last month or so, firstly while I got another interest (RC Truck) out of my system, but then because I always use the petrol mechanical loco every other morning to keep the line open, and in a moment of inattention I killed 1 cell of the lipo battery.
Never realized how important that loco is to the line. Because I've not been happy with the transmission(Worm gearbox) and the lipo set up a complete mechanical and electrical rebuild was decided on, and through the heat of our summer that's what I've been up to. Shall document a few things soon.
Grant.

LNR:123231 wrote: in a moment of inattention I killed 1 cell of the lipo battery.  

Did you let one of the cells become overly depleted?

LNR:123231 wrote: Because I've not been happy with the transmission(Worm gearbox) and the lipo set up a complete mechanical and electrical rebuild was decided on.

I shy away from making my own mechanisms - my track record with them is not very encouraging - so I will follow the rebuild with interest - though I expect your engineering skills will be way out of my league

Rik

Yes Rik, the loco stopped and I thought it was something on the line, so started it off again and of course dropped a cell below recovery. Tried the two known recovery methods but it was no go. I have two 11.2 volt batteries that only give 7.4 volts now.
As regards the transmission, this time I purchased a gearmotor setup from a Robotics retailer.
Grant.

wonderful pictures and I do love the names of your stations etc

As mentioned above, a complete mechanical and part electrical rebuild was called for, after killing the battery of the Pet/Mech loco. First clean and strip the old setup.
 

The old 540 motor can be seen which drove a worm gearbox through a toothed belt drive. Overall reduction was 41:1. Next machine a new boss to mount bevel gear to axle ( 1/4" diam. Roundhouse axles don't leave much room for a boss with grubscrew) and position new 34:1 gearmotor to see what's required for a mount.


Motor, gearbox, mount and bevel gear cover made and painted.


Replace most old wiring, build a new "engine", now horizontal instead of sloping at 30deg. and now has a fan, fuel lines. throttle linkage etc.  


Add a couple of sand boxes and gear to hide the cutout in the Katie frames, and it's all done. Runs a 1amp fuse instead of 7.5amps, and been running for 5 days and still haven't charged the batteries.


Waiting for permission to proceed.
Grant.

Incredibly tidy work Grant, you are so particular about detail and it shows in the end result. Superb engineering and finish.

Great looking loco Grant, want one!

Great Stuff Grant. I really like the look of that loco - and I'm a died in the wool steam man! The last picture in particular is simply stunning!

Andrew

Thank you all for your comments, apart from a few additions the loco hasn't changed much, but has become far more practical to use.
Andrew, I'm a one eyed steam man too, I never realized how important this loco is to my railway until I was without it. Apart from a run every other day, it transports stock down from the shed, shunts and makes up trains, it has definitely moved up a notch or two in my respect for it.
Grant.

Hi Grant,

I understand completely. I have a nagging feeling I'm going to end up with one myself for much the same reason. If I do and it's half as nice a model as yours I'll be very happy.

Andrew

Great work, Grant. Sounds like she's now a lot more efficient
Rik

Some shots from today.
Leaving Warringine.
Arriving Nayook.
Cuppa time.
Grant.

Excellent photographs Grant... wonderful stock and good composition. As all landscape artists say, light is the most important thing to capture an image and you have it in bucket loads!

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:29 am Excellent photographs Grant... wonderful stock and good composition. As all landscape artists say, light is the most important thing to capture an image and you have it in bucket loads!

Ditto - really like that shot of the train on the curve

Rik

Great pics Grant - in your 'tea' shot, where did you source your staff from - not sure I've seen those figs before????

Hi Mark,
the bloke on the ground is the Bachmann figure who carries a lamp, he's had about 10mm added to his legs. The driver was given to me, so I don't know the source. Someone might know who he represents (movie figure?) he originally looked like this.
He's been in surgery since then.
Grant.

Luke Piestalker (I think)

What a transformation! Great work Grant