Fitting a new chassis - project step by step

[markoteal]

Hi - I love the topics on here that take you through the story of developing a layout or building a loco.

Sooooo I thought I'd do one - it's going to be about fitting my line's original engine with a new chassis.

The Castle Hill Light Railway's original loco is called Lola - for the history of the loco visit http://chlrailway.blogspot.co.uk/p/locomotive-dept.html





She has already been re-chassied once but I find she lacks adhesion and only being 2WD, find she easily grinds to a halt - i've tried various tyres including mini rubber bands but with no success.

She is RC using a Deltang unit from Peter Spoerer and I want her to work and be relied on to work all trains on the CHLR - so its time for a new chassis.

First job is to separate her from the original chassis (which will be recycled on another project - its the CHLR way!)



Here she has been separated and blocked up - but thats not the end of the destruction - more posts to follow

[tom_tom_go]

Interesting shape, reminds me of a Reliant Robin

What lump are you putting in it instead?

[markoteal]

Yes - thats a great description - at the mo , its as powerful as one!

Ah - well I'm a big fan of HGLW locos - (CHLR's Jessie is one of theirs) so when i was looking for a new chassis, I looked at theirs - the challenge was their original one (like in Jessie) would be too short for Lola - but after looking at their site recently, I saw their new Gordon chassis.

A quick email to David and he ran the rule over certain dimensions and the good news was that the chassis would work our virtually perfect - result

Here's a pic of it from the HGLW site-

We'll have to see how successful I am at building it!

[markoteal]

So the next step was taking all the items below the footplate off - a big gulp and off we went




Having done this I also realised the back would need to come off to be shortened




I had hoped to avoid having to go further is dis-assembly but realised that the motor location on the new chassis was going to require a different entry point on the body - so a pencil was used to sketch out the larger hole that was going to be required



The body was then moved to the cutting area of the workshop (kitchen table) where the dremel was careful applied and after some deep breathing a new hole in the base of the body was achieved



So Lola was now ready for the chassis - where was it? (cue East Enders end of episode music)

[Peter Butler]

So this is becoming more than just a chassis swap.... well worth the effort though as it is a nice little loco.
I hope it doesn't take on the characteristics of a Springer and run rings around you! Our Springers like to trample all over my line and can be accidentally destructive to things not built to withstand their attention.

[markoteal]

How true Peter - if the loco takes on the characteristics of our springer, she doesn't need a chassis to run up the line - she'll bounce along!

And yes, this is becoming a bigger job that I thought - but worth it in the end I hope - have been busy with the chassis this weekend so should be able to report on progress in the next day or so

[tom_tom_go]

The new chassis looks well detailed and I guess when painted you would not know it was made of wood.

[markoteal]

Ok - here we have the chassis build - I've built a HGLW standard chassis before but knew it wouldn't be long enough for this project so after checking some dimensions with David, opted for the new Gordon chassis

All very exciting when the box appeared through the post



And when you open it up, all the materials are well laid out both in the bag



and out of it bag, its all looking good



So I sorted through everything and Id'd the bits I wouldn't need because of what's already in the body, so the motor, switch and battery box were sent off to the spares box



Now when it comes to building the chassis, I'm not going to clog up the forum with build by build photos - its all documented and pictured in the great manual you can download when you get the kit and can be found other website



So after a couple of nights of steady building, you end up with:-





In my next post we'll start to bring all the parts together!

[markoteal]

Ok - here's the next instalment - bring together - first fit the running gear as per the instructions



Then fit the motor - all looking good so far
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Now the challenge of getting all the working back inside the body with the motor now sitting in a different position




So after much fiddling ( and I mean much), we manage to get it all back in and tested and today Lola made her first in on the line - here she is for her official photographs back on the line.






She needs more clutter around the footplate and lamps front & back but I'm pleased with the new chassis - but of course the acid test is 'how does she pull?" - a video is in production to demonstrate - to follow soon

[markoteal]

OK - its not the longest train in the world but for the CHLR its about a standard load - Lola on the Bird Seed train

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And there is plenty of more power to pull on if required - but still nice and controllable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ALZSvL1ohY

[Peter Butler]

Lovely..... a good job very well done and a cracking piece of musical choice too.... In my opinion the best thing to have crossed the pond!

[markoteal]

Cheers Peter - I do like popping a bit of music on the videos as it avoids everyone hearing my radio 5 broadcast from Saturday afternoon as I was listening to my team Huddersfield take on the mighty Man City!

[LNR]

Nice video, the loco certainly moves at a nice scale speed. It's good that your railway has a job to do, looks very business like.
Grant.

[markoteal]

Thank you Grant - yes the bird seed trains and woodyard consists keep the CHLR busy throughout the winter.

Now near the top of my 'to-do ' list is to build a loading hopper at the Junction end of the line to load the hoppers and trucks with seed more prototypically rather than the big hand from the sky and likewise, develop a tipping unloading area near Birds Nest station. I've sene a way on the Yorkshire 16mm layout they auto tip Binnie tippers over and back again as part of their mine workings - It involves clever use of brass guiding wire - I'll definitely be having a closer look at Peterborough this year

The birds do appreciate the line's efforts although their deposits that prove they use the feeding station are proving to be a bit challenging - so also on my to do list is a track washing wagon - not seen one of them yet in 16mm.

[James from Devon]

What a cracking little loco, lovely slow running too.

It looks much better on the new chassis and glad that you got it running so well.

Really nice job.

Jim

[MDLR]

Lovely..... a good job very well done and a cracking piece of musical choice too.... In my opinion the best thing to have crossed the pond!

Glad to hear you resisted the urge to use this as a music track........... https://youtu.be/LemG0cvc4oU

[markoteal]

LOL - or even this one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hejMU4jzwaE

[Big Jim]

Very good. That is a nice little engine you have rebuilt there.

[markoteal]

Yes, she's settled back into the rosters on the line well - she can now hold her own against the other locos in terms of power and scale speed and will become the timber trains ideal loco.

I took this photo last weekend when she was running timber down to the new station at the new terminus station - pleased I got her to sit in front of the 1:1 background