River Raisin USRA GT 0-6-0 part 2

I have completed my customization of the RR model.  Here is the final result and a quick explanation of the modifications I did.

One of the difference from the RR model and specifically to road number 7529.  Engine 7529 had no safety panels behind the foot board.  I wasn't planning on taking them out because I thought they were cast in. After a close examination, I noticed they were add-on and decided to unsolder them.  Since I was going to repaint the pilot, I then decided to add the missing poling pockets and improved the look of the coupler pocket using styrene tubing and pieces.

Another small detail that was missing is the electrical box on the front cab wall.  I used one of my own castings and fix it with ACC. 

Now back to my original plans:

Wipers for Electrical pick-up and the Cam on the Locomotive:

 I replaced the 3 small bearing cover plates on the left (insulated side) with a long piece of 1/32”  double sided PC board.  On the side up (bearing side), I solder a 0.018” thick piece to match the cover plate.  On the down side (towards the tracks), I have first drilled the holes for the mounting screws and made insulation cuts in the copper to insulate the mounting screws.  Then I made the wipers from 0.005”phosphor bronze flat sheet and solder in place.  I have solder and run a small piece of wire to connect all three wipers up to the decoder on top of the motor.

For the cam wiper, I used the brake rigs details as holder.  Again, using the 1/32” double sided PC board, I solder on side on the brake rig, behind the cam and solder a piece of phosphor bronze on the other side.

Decoder installation:

At first, I was going to install the Tsunami decoder (TSU-1000) in the tender.  After test fitting, I realized that I could fit it on top of the motor in the boiler.  Installing the decoder inside the locomotive is my favorite option for many reasons, for one, less wires between the locomotive and the tender, especially if you use the mechanical cam trigger and able to fit the speaker inside the boiler, since I also build or modify all my locomotives for all wheel pick up, it allows the engine to run by itself without the tender attached.  Not that I run my locomotives without a tender but it makes it easier during programming or test run.  Another advantage as well is to have as much as possible the wiring on the frame/mechanism and have connectors for the lights and speaker when taking off the boiler.

Boiler Modification:

I made 2 minor modifications on the boiler assembly.  The first one was to allow a close coupling of the tender and make an opening below the cab floor to run the wire harness.  To do this, I have unsolder the bumper casting.  This is not a detail than can be seen and additionally, it was oversize, probably to fill the larger than scale opening between the tender and locomotive. Then using a cut off tool and some filling, I made an opening between the 2 screw holes, large enough so that a bundle of several wires can go through.   

The second one was to open up for about 3/8” longer the wide opening of the boiler.  This was require to be capable of fitting the boiler on top of the frame with the Tsunami decoder wrapped on top of the motor.  Again, this is not a visible modification, the larger opening remains behind boiler mounted details.

Speaker installation:

The speaker with enclosure is mounted loose  inside the smoke box section of the boiler, replacing the weight.  Before doing this, I tested the pulling power of the locomotive without the weight. It could still pull a 12-car string of full length AM Pullman cars.  That’s good enough for me…..  The speaker must be installed after the boiler is assembled over the chassis, through the smoke box front.  

Here is the smoke box front where I replaced the number board with the correct CN style.

Tender modification:

First I needed the cut open the section under the tender floor, just above the frame.  This easily done with a cut off tool once the frame is removed.  This opening is aligned with the one I made on the locomotive.  I cut it wide open to allow the wire harness to move freely sideways.

Then I have added the wipers on the insulated wheels.  That was not an easy job because the retaining chain details had to be detached and it was not easy to put them back in place.   I have installed the wiper by using my own etch wiper holders and phosphor bronze wire.  I used the existing mounting screw mount of the truck assembly but replaced with a nylon screw for insulation.  I forgot to take a picture of that before putting back the truck in place and will not take them out again because of the tedious chain installation.

I have oversee one thing though, I did not revert the insulated side on the tender.  This means that the tender and boiler are not the same polarity.  This is not an issue so to speak but with a close coupling, there is always a risk of having the locomotive and tender touching in sharp curves and it might create a short.   It is not a problem on my home layout but it could on someone else or sharp sidings the workshop modules.  If I see that it become a problem, I will make the change but it means disconnecting the chains again L

 Below are additional photos of the finished model.

River Raisin USRA GT 0-6-0

Just wanted to let everyone know that I started to customize this little gem.  I will hopefully post some photos before end of the week.

Here is what I have done so far:

- Added wipers for all wheel pick up.
- Installed a Tsunami decoder in the locomotive with a medium oval speaker in the boiler.  This is important to me.  Chuff sound coming off the tender doesn't sound right!
- Shorten the coupling spacing distance between the locomotive and tender almost to scale.  In theory, it should still negotiate a 32" radius but on my layout, the minimum is 50" and I use #8 switches, no problem at all.  Not sure if it will work Ok on a #6 switch or shorter radius.
- Installed a cam wiper for synchronized chuff
- Replaced the Kadee couplers with the Walter HO couplers.  This is not final. I want to evaluate this cheap oversize HO coupler for look and operation.  If I don't like, I'll install the SHS coupler instead.

Next step is to replace the number board with one of my own casting.  This is about the only flaw in this locomotive (IMO) to the prototype that is worth mentioning.  I will also replace the incandescent lights with LEDs and my own lens in the tender and engine headlights. Of course it won't look as new and will weather it to my taste.

I should be able to finish most of my modifications before Ottawa train show this Saturday. (maybe just the weathering portion won't be done). I plan to bring it so that she could take some switching assignment on the S Scale Workshop modules.

N&W A Class 2-6-6-4 finally running!

Well, I was working on three HO CNR Northerns this evening and had to look in the gearbox/coupling drawer to get some parts to get their mechanisms running. These are conversions from Central Vermont T-4-a 2-10-4's. Same boiler and overall appearance, different running gear and details. Then I had a great idea. My OMI S Scale Norfolk and Western A class 2-6-6-4 had a split coupling and I thought I could replace it with something in the drawer. I quickly got the basic mechanisms of the HO stuff done and tested. Then I cleared the workbench to get at the A. Nothing in the box came close but then I had an idea. Put a brass sleeve around the split coupling and when it is tightened with the set screws on the worm gear shaft, it won't come apart. I got some 1/8" brass tubing and drilled two 1/16" holes in it to accomodate the set screws. Then I reamed it out on the lathe until it would fit snugly on the cracked coupling. It worked like a charm or something like that. I put the A back together. Boy are articulateds ever a pain to put back together. Then I decided to try it out on my modules. I moved all the DCC locos to a remote location and disconnected the feeders and bridge rails. Then I attached my DC contoller to the feeders. I put the A on the track and wow. It worked really well. I attached the auxilliary water car. Now I know why a certain other member of our group likes articulateds. It was very impressive. After going through my number 6 turnouts only derailing in reverse a couple of times, I ran it around the green fuzzy corner. It still looks out of place on a 50" radius but it was still really neat to watch. Now all I need is about 100 N&W hopper cars and a caboose! Pictures will follow soon, I guess.

Fun with a Grassmaster

I've been adding grass to the tracks in Port Rowan on my home layout:

For more of the story, follow this link.

Superior / Creco seven-panel doors

I've been looking at boxcar doors a lot lately because I'm working on a CNR boxcar that has paired Superior six-panel doors. Here's a prototype photo of the series I'm modelling.

I recently came across a newsgroup posting from Smoky Mountain Model Works that they now offer a Superior/Creco seven-panel door in their S scale detail parts line.

Here's a link to SMMW's S scale parts.

It's nice to see such basic parts being made available, to help us add variety to some of the older kits and RTR out there. I hope SMMW follows up on this with more parts - although in the meantime, I'll be working on my own six-panel doors.

- Trevor

Port Rowan whoopsie

I had a bit of whoopsie on my Port Rowan blog - which resulted in all content disappearing. (Okay, so it was a bit more than a bit of a whoopsie...)

Fortunately, a reader was able to send me an XML file of all of my content (scary how that works), and fellow Workshop member Chris Abbott is putting his considerable computer skills (more considerable than mine) to work on getting the content back into my blog.

Stay tuned... and thanks to Gordon and Chris for saving my bacon!

- Trevor

0-6-0's are here

Oliver and I had to make a business trip to Michigan this weekend. We took the opportunity to stop by at River Raisin Models and pick up our 0-6-0's. We inspected the 2 models, test ran them, and had a great visit with Dan Navarre. It was great to see Dan and admire his collection of S scale brass.

Upon returning home I took my 0-6-0 apart to survey the installation of a Soundtraxx Tsunami. The loco is equipped with a DC shorting plug. Initially it looked like a plug and play installation, but it has become evident that the Tsunami will have to be moved to the tender. The DCC plug is mounted above the motor in the boiler, but there just isn't enough room to fit everything in.

I am hoping to have one done to show next week when some of us get together with Jamie Bothwell from PA, who is in the area for a run from Paris to Ancaster.

David