Jacq's Logging Project Discussion

[Malachi Constant]

As I have a large amount of Kadee On30 24" wheelsets I am looking for matching truck frames.  These wheelsets have 26mm pinpoint axles. The McLeods trucks are for straight ended axles and On3 axle length.  FWM makes beautiful matching wheel sets. I am using these sets with succes under the PSC cars.

Who makes matching 4'0" trucks for 26mm pinpoint axles ? 

Jacq --

The McLeod frames have nice detail and I've done some experimentation with an eye toward using those on some (future) 1/35 scale stuff.  Not too thrilled with the rolling characteristics of the straight axles, so I re-did one with bearings to fit needle point axles.  Don't remember the specifics now, but think I used the "standard" Romford bearings shown here:

http://ngtrains.com/Pages/Wheels_Trucks/wheels.htm

Will have to dig out that truck and see if I used those or some of the bearings that I put in the BVM trucks, really can't remember now.

Here's a conversion of a Grandt Line On3 dump car to On30 using those Romford bearings:
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28149

If you use some of Marc's suggestions and add some bearings, you should be able to produce trucks that look good AND roll well ...

Those Romford bearings appear to be the same or extremely similar to the bearings supplied with Chivers On30 trucks.  If you use the bearings from the BVM trucks for a conversion, just send me an email or PM and I can send you some replacements.

EDIT:  I located that 1/35 car that had the modified trucks (still unpainted)  ... those were San Juan Car Co. #201-30 trucks, which I modified with the BVM nylon bearings.  Looks like I drilled out the journals to match the body of the bearing, then countersunk a bit until the head of the bearing sat in the proper place for the 26mm Jay-Bee wheels used here.

First photo shows the truck in question with the BVM nylon bearings ... I think it would be EASIER to use the Romford bearings.  Second photo shows one of the Romford bearings over an unmodified San Juan side frame.  Since the axle hole is smaller than the bearing (good news!) ... it would be a simple matter to drill out the hole to the desired depth and set the bearing.

Cheers,
Dallas

[jacq01]

    Dallas,

   

Not too thrilled with the rolling characteristics of the straight axles

that is my experience too.  Here the results of my experiments and observations.
     
    As soon as the bearings in the "compensating" frames move, the straight axles bind. With pinpoint axles this does not happen.
    I experimented with a McLeod trucks and FWM axles.  With one truck I fixed the frames in relation to the bolster with the wheels lined out on a piece of track glued to a glass plate
    As the axle ends remain in position relative to one another, this truck rolls very good on the layout. The truck built with flexible sideframes did not roll as good.
   Handlaid - and ready made flex track do work and this has an influence on rolling- and tracking ability  I discovered. BMV trucks with nylon bearings and pinpoint axles do roll very well, especially when assembled and alligned carefully so all 4 wheels are on the track. BMV trucks with Romford bearings do roll better, especially with a needle point "Dr Tillig" grease applied. This has been tested with BMV wheelsets, Kadee wheelsets and RP25 profiled Roco H0 wheelsets in BMV-, fixed McLeods- and H0 trucks. 
    Tomorrow I'll modify 2 FWM , 2 PSC and 2 Echo Mountain wheelsets step by step to see how far the axle ends need to change to give satisfactory rolling characteristics in pinpoint bearings.

   My goal is the appearance and detailing of the truck shown by Marc with the rolling ability of the pinpoint bearings.

  I am also leaning towards 100% change over to link & pin couples for all the logging cars as they run in sets with loco and/or consist changes in the fiddleyard in the back.
  Only those cars that will be used for shunting around the workshop automatic knuckle couplings will be used.

  Jacq

[jacq01]

    The Echo Mountain axles are being reset to On30 by a good friend. I'll have them back Thursday.
    The EM sideframes are tapered with a small chamfer so a small  vertical or horizontal missalignment is catered for.  The axles have also a little play in the holes. The diameter of the axles is a bit  smaller than the FWM or PSC ones, which do have the same diameter.
    I tapered the bearing holes in a Mc Leod truck but the axles were still not free running on a piece of uneven track. I rounded of the sharp edges on a couple of axles. This improved the rolling but I have my doubt on longevity as the carrying surface has become very small.
   The BMV trucks with nylon bearings and pinpointed axles do run very well. Trucks with brass bearings and pinpointed axles are better. The negative part is the tolerance on the bearing spacing. Too large and the axle has a tendancy to occilate and too small has an effect on the rolling, albeit small.
   This might be a reason why nearly all european model trucks have pinpointed axles.

   Replacement link and pin couplers from FMW are on the way.  Jerry's references and a test with the sets I had made the choice easy. Only at the points were consist will be split claw couplings will be used.

  The information on logging cars I received from Marc has been digested and I have started with drawings and jigs for nr 2 Russel disconnects.
  The area where wheels and mainframe interfere are my main worry. Possibly Russel cars with brake platforms are an answer ?   

  ( photo's will follow after returning home )

  Jacq

   
   
   

[jacq01]

   
    slowly the joy in modeling is returning. The use of my thumb is improving, I can squeeze reliably some tweezers again. 

    Replacement parts for the PSC shay have arrived.  American Beauty shipped a new RSU.  So I can work on the Shay and the O&K mallet again.
    Received from a friend in Australia a number of 4'0" trucks.
   
    The project is slowly approaching it's final stage.  Smaller details and correct rolling stock are in hand, so thoughts for a new project are popping up mre and more.
    I will start a separate topic on that soon.

   

     Jacq

[finescalerr]

I'm very glad you are feeling better and your hand is healing. -- Russ

[Ray Dunakin]

I'm very glad you are feeling better and your hand is healing. -- Russ

Ditto that!

[TRAINS1941]

Jacq

Glad to hear that your feeling better.  And that your starting to think a new project.

Jerry

[jacq01]

   Here some details of the final stages.  All materials to built a serie skeletons and disconnects are in and some tests are done to compare rolling ability of trucks with pinpoint - and straight ended axles on a small inclined plane with a 18" and 24" radii. I forgot to take photo's  but when back from the OntraxS 2011 exhibition I'll do the test again for photo's.
  It is now a matter of discipline to do the last jobs, like finishing the cars, some items I pushed forward like an operating waterspout, handrailings on a couple of stairs and finishing of figures.

 

  Climaxes at the watertower

 

  Shay in for small repair

 

  test with figures around donkey being prepared for the woods.

 

  test with figure 

 

  Something in the last photo is bothering me, the drillpress appears not standing straight, but measurements show otherwise.

  Now that the weather is improving, the layout can be set up outside, especially for photography. 

Jacq


  Jacq

[TRAINS1941]

Jacq

Looks great.  Some nice pictures, the machine shop is looking good love the planer.


Jerry

[Junior]

Some beautiful work there Jacques. Are those the Westside figures made after some of the real employees?

Anders

[finescalerr]

In the last photo, of the machine shop interior, everything seems to be leaning to the right, not just the drill press. Maybe it is an illusion from your camera lens? -- Russ

[Chuck Doan]

Those scene shots look great Jacq! Maybe it's the topmost horizontal shaft that is off? Or maybe the tilted counterweight is creating the illusion.

[jacq01]

   
   Thanks for the solutions.  The photo is tilted 2,5 degr.     I corrected this on the photo on my pc. Chuck's point of the counter weight reinforces a slight missalignment of the driveshaft from the column to the driil head. When viewing normally it is hardly visible, but annoying like a little nick in a windscreen. When you become aware, it is hard to keep your eyes from it.   

Jacq

[Jerry Kitts]

Jacg,

I am most impressed with your work. Impressed enough to stop reading and actually write some words. The three truck Climax is impressive, I want to do one for myself. I will order a second Climax this afternoon, I already have a spare Climax truck.

Looks like you modified our 20 flat cars with wood decks, I have done the same thing myself. Or you made a close copy, does not matter they too look good.

As to your problem with the MacLeod trucks and our wheels with the shoulder axles binding. We are cutting the fix as I type. My son is cutting a Celcon bearing for our wheels which will require nothing more than using a pin vise and drill to open up the MacLeod axle hole to do a light press fit with our new bearing. The inside of the bearing is conical allowing for the the axle to pivot a bit. This should allow for rough track without sticking, the Celcon will allow the the truck to roll better. It will also do away with any need for lubrication and stop the squeak of metal axles on styrene bearing surface.

I see all our L&P couplers are going to a good home,

Keep up the good work.

Jerry Kitts  javascript:void(0);

[jacq01]

  Jerry,

  the problem with the axles binding when the frames move slightly is not only occuruing with the McLeod's trucks. I noticed the same and worse with the Echo Mountain and PSC disconnects and a couple of brass trucks and straight ended axles. Good to read you are adding celon bearings to the styrene truck frames. Will also improve the loadbearing and endurance of the trucks, especially under load.
Two flat cars are FMW and 2 are Morgan Hill kits with McLeod's trucks. I fixed the frames to the bolster, tapered the holes and rounded off the axles ends. Rolling is better but not as good as the pinpoint axles in brass (Romford) bearings.

The layout is finished except for the workshop annexe with the boiler and a steam engine. Waiting for some parts to be able to finish the belt drive part.  At the other end I have to finish a Hill steam log turner, the large cut off saw and the filer's room. The watertank spout is moving manually, linking up the servo will be done tonight, but for the programing.........I hope my son will some time tomorrow evening. I am preparing details and exclusive photo's for Russ. Photo's for the galery and those taken during shows will be added here.
Items related to the logging project I will keep posting here. For the new project I will start a separate topic.

Rolling stock I build at leasure    A nice PSC 2cyl. shay, the O&K mallet and a number of skeleton cars.  It is completely different than landscape and structures.

Wednesday evening packing for the exhibition OntraxS 2011 in the National Railway Museum in Utrecht. Some very, very good layouts will be presented.  Two weeks later Rail 2011 in Houten. This is also for 3 days. These will be the first public appearances on the continent. There are already invitations...

My hand is doing very wel after some alternative treatment in conjunction with physio. According to the specialist the only solution would be an operation to reposition the nerve. No guarantee of success. 
My motivation and especially the pleasure in doing things have returned.

Jacq