7mm Dikitriki's Dark side: A WD 2-8-0

[Dikitriki]

Hi Guys

Just thought I'd keep y'all up to date on what I've been up to - working on my 7mm layout. It's coming together slowly, and the trains running in an urban setting theme is continuing. I'm trying to get width and height into the layout to make it stand out, and this picture shows where I'm at at the moment. There are more houses around the corner higher even than those shown, so lots of hidden areas to find!

 

[28ten]

Thats a nice looking bit of trackwork I can start to feel the drizzle falling :lol:
Are you going to use plasticard for the retaining wall or are you getting it laser cut?

 

[Phill Dyson]

I was looking at this pic on some other forum who's name escapes me :laugh: ...........would look even better with one of your Westerns rounding that curve
Phill :wave:

 

[iploffy]

looking really good more pictures needed

Ian

 

[lancer1027]

I was looking at this pic on some other forum who's name escapes me :laugh: ...........would look even better with one of your Westerns rounding that curve
Phill :wave:

I totally agree, layout looks superb but would look even better with a western :lol:

 

[28ten]

Out of interest, how much stock are you going to need to run the layout?

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

That will be something different on the Show Circuit... not often you see buildings dominate the trains so much in O scale...

 

[Dikitriki]

Hi

Thanks for your comments.

Thats a nice looking bit of trackwork I can start to feel the drizzle falling :lol:
Are you going to use plasticard for the retaining wall or are you getting it laser cut?

At the moment, the plan is to hand carve the (stone) retaining wall from D?pron, but I shall also look at Slater's products to see if there is anything there for comparison.

I was looking at this pic on some other forum who's name escapes me :laugh: ...........would look even better with one of your Westerns rounding that curve
Phill :wave:

Hi Phill, I wasn't sure you were still watching the 'other place'. I shall get some hydraulics on the parcels when I can

Out of interest, how much stock are you going to need to run the layout?

20 locos, 2 express rakes (8 coach), 2 parcels trains, 5 suburban sets (3-5 coaches) DMU, push/pull and about 150 wagons....Probably. With 7 active modellers in the group, all of whom get sucked into BR eventually , and other contacts waiting in the wings, this does not present too much of a problem. It does show, though, that this sort of thing cannot reasonably be accomplished by one person. My task is to try to maintain a high level of consistency of approach to all aspects of the model, running, weathering, trackwork, signalling, buildings, scenery. If any of you remember it, we also have the people behind Bredon in the group.

We have been invited to Manchester October 2011, so that is what we are working towards.

Richard

 

[28ten]

That's a lot of stock! It looks similar to the amount used on Holiday haunts. As you say it needs a group to make it happen. I'm looking forward to seeing it in action, it should be pretty spectacular with all those buildings.

 

[Phill Dyson]

[quote=""Phill Dyson"":2nns6nud]I was looking at this pic on some other forum who's name escapes me :laugh: ...........would look even better with one of your Westerns rounding that curve
Phill :wave:

Hi Phill, I wasn't sure you were still watching the 'other place'. I shall get some hydraulics on the parcels when I can

[/quote:2nns6nud]
Yes I still have a look now & again, but I really don't like the new format, so I no longer post my own stuff. I will look forward to your Hydraulic progress though , I will be following your lead & doing the Wezzy windscreen mod this winter
Phill

 

[28ten]

I see you have had some fun with the crank axle, I had similar problems in O/F and I thinned the crandall and the hornblock in the lathe. I used the 2mm spacing principle and everything fitted-just- slop is your enemy! But if I had known I could have done the cranks for you as it's a 2 minute job and the crank faces stay parrallel

 

[Dikitriki]

I see you have had some fun with the crank axle, I had similar problems in O/F and I thinned the crandall and the hornblock in the lathe. I used the 2mm spacing principle and everything fitted-just- slop is your enemy! But if I had known I could have done the cranks for you as it's a 2 minute job and the crank faces stay parrallel

Thanks, I'll bear it in mind next time, especially as you're only a hop, skip and a jump away.

However, I did not have 4 separate cranks, but 2 separate pairs, cast with the web in place and already reamed out to axle size, from Laurie Griffin. I therefore had no control over the distance the cranks were apart in each pair, and indeed whether everything was parallel (or not). As it happens, it is all in place and working nicely, and it has cleaned up well. I thought it useful to have a before and after picture so as not to put people off too much from doing inside valve gear. I have to admit it's a time-consuming pain. This is the 4th time I've put inside valve gear in, and it doesn't seem to get any easier.

Yours

Richard

 

[28ten]

If my memory is correct the laurie griffin cranks do work at about 6mm over the outside faces. In theory S7 is easier, but if you set the cylinders at the correct centers then many of the problems return I do agree that it never gets easier, its always a job i need to approach in the right frame of mind :laugh:

 

[Dikitriki]

These are rectangular L&Y cranks, a whopping 8.5mm over outside faces (though Lauries are not symmetrical, one crank being thinner than the other in each pair :scratch: ) , and with 14mm C/L separation between the pairs of cranks (supposedly), you can see the problem

The next set I do, I shall have to mill something off the outside faces (= get someone to mill for me ). There is no room for manoeuvre whatever. However, it's on its wheels and free running now, I'm off to try the rods.

Richard

 

[28ten]

Did you fit a tapered pin onto onto the crank? I actually think its easier to fit all the eccentrics etc as each part can be tested individually. i have been looking at small cnc mills for making this sort of thing, which I know sounds a bit extravagant, but apart from my uses I have 2 small boys and CAM and CNC would be good skills to learn. I have been to look at a reprap http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page but it wouldnt be much use for valve gear.

 

[Dikitriki]

No, it's solid, and the pins I used were .8mm hard nickel-silver drilled to be just short of an interference fit .

Since it's Joy's valve gear, there are no eccentrics, everything is very cleverly driven off the connecting rod. I totally agree with you about computer controlled hobby machines, but I baulk at putting the time into learning the skills.

Were you aware that MOK's recent castings are generated from a form of rapid prototyping (so I am told)? Not a pattern-maker in sight!

 

[28ten]

I know what you mean about the learning time, I am in the throes of switching from my 10 year old copy of autocad to a new 3d edition of turbocad but I am using cad for etches and my next project will involve some laser cutting. I actually quite enjoy the process of producing drawings etc and it does show up design errors and some of the pitfalls. the downside is that you can spend more time drawing than building :laugh:
I didnt realise that Joy valve gear had no eccentrics, that must simplify things a bit. I do often wonder if the eccentrics are worth the effort as they dont move that much whereas the crank axle has plenty of visible movement and it really catches the eye.

 

[Dikitriki]

And here's where I am at the moment, if you're wondering what Cynric and I have been wittering on about There are more details in 'the other place'

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

...if you're wondering what Cynric and I have been wittering on about...

No, I was just listening to the "woooosh...!!!" as it all went way over my head...!!! :shock: :?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[28ten]

Those cranks are rather chunky :shock: Ill be interested to see how this all goes together. I tried to open RMweb earlier to see the other pictures but it wasnt playing :vista: