Greendale Rocket modification.

[Tony Bird]

Hi.

A week or so ago while in the B&M discount store I came across a 'Postman Pat' Greendale Rocket. After consultation with SWMO it was decided to buy a ‘Greendale Rocket’ along with some ‘Postman Pat’ figures.

Photos 1&2.




I have modified many plastic toys to run on model railway tracks but never one with trucks, all of the models so far modified have had a fixed wheel base so a 4-2-2 ‘Atlantic’ would be a challenge! I don’t know of any narrow gauge ‘Atlantics’ with inside cylinders, I sure someone will tell me if there is! The rolling stock was first to be modified starting with the carriage.

Photo 3 & 4. The carriage had a rather long wheel base.




Photo 5. It was decided to try and use the existing axle boxes and reduce the wheel base.



Photo 6. The model people were tried on the seats.



Photo 7. It was decided to try and use the original wheels so the stub axles on the wheels were drilled out and the tread and flange of the wheels turned.



Photo 8. The wheels were mounted to gauge on some K&S brass tubing.



Photo 9. The axle boxes were drilled part the way through and non rotating steel axles fitted. The mounted wheels run on this axle with K&S brass tube spacers keeping them central.



Photo 10. Guards van chassis on track.



Photo 11 &12. There didn’t look as if there was enough room on the locomotive to fit both motor and batteries so the batteries will be carried on the coach.




Photo 13. The modified coach and guards van.



The modification of the Greendale Rocket locomotive next!

Regards Tony.

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

I believe that there are several versions of the Greendale Rocket locomotive, push along, pull back and let go and the one I bought which has an electric motor and sound system. Unfortunately this motor is mounted transversely and drives through one axle that is fitted with wheels that have traction tyres so it really cannot be used. Photo 1.



Unlike the rolling stock which was totally held together using screws the Greendale Rocket locomotive is partially glued together. Unfortunately some of the glued parts cove some screws which have to be removed before the body will come apart. These screws weren’t found until some of the parts had already been sawn through. Also none of the original wheels were suitable so were replaced by some GRP ‘Binnie’ wheels.

Before starting to pull the model apart some drawings of the wheel positions were made. Photos 2 & 3.




The first job was to prise off the top of the cab that was glued on. Photo 4.



The body was sawn off the chassis. Photo 5.



The two parts of the body which need to be removed to access hidden screws which mean that you don’t require a saw! Photos 6 & 7.




All parts not needed cut away from the body and chassis. Photo 8.



The new chassis is made from 25 mm (1”) steel square section tube. Photos 9 &10.




Fitting the bearings in the chassis from the inside outwards. Photo 11.



The frames for the pony truck and trailing axle were made from cut down square section tube. Photo 12.



Mock up of chassis and wheels. Photo 13.




Electric motor and its drive mounted in the chassis. Photo 14.



The original connecting rods were used being sleeved with K&S brass tubing and 6BA screws were used for the crank pins. Photo 15.



The coupling rod nuts were made self locking. Photo 16.



The completed chassis. Photos 17.



Model finished. Photos 18 & 19.




Test run. Photo 20.




VIDEO.

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid895.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac154%2Fgaynorandtony%2FVideos%2FMVI_2091_zpsatpo2ssz.mp4&title=">


Regards Tony.

[Big Jim]

Nice job Tony.
I will have to look out for one of these for my Son and Heir.
You can't start them too young!

[Peter Butler]

That is just brilliant and you make it sound so simple!
I know where to come for advice on building my double Fairlie chassis.

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

I did some shape curve tests in this case 20" which the model managed very well. At Christmas I can see it running around the tree. I am running out of space on Photobucket so I'm trying Utube so I don't know if this will work.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CdRvezDiPqM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Regards Tony.

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

I'm sorry it didn't seem to work.

Regards Tony.

[sstjc]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/CdRvezDiPqM

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

https://www.youtube.com/embed/CdRvezDiPqM

Many thanks that works very well.

Regards Tony.

[Chris Cairns]

Hi Tony,

Unfortunately this myfreeforum uses the older version of phpBB code (compared to the advert free Unofficial Mamod Forum) so when YouTube makes changes we need to keep coming up with new ways of being able to display an embedded YouTube video.

<object width="640" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CdRvezDiPqM?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CdRvezDiPqM?ve ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Very interesting conversion. I've seen a few of these posted by some members of the Facebook Groups but the last time I looked at this retail version in B & M I decided the locomotive would not be an easy conversion with my limited workshop equipment/skills, which your postings now confirm.

Should keep the children (of all ages!) entertained.

Chris Cairns

[tom_tom_go]

I like seeing stuff like this as it is simple fun.

Sometimes I wish I had laid down G45 track so I could run Thomas and friends

[steampig]

Definitely a Ted Glen job.

[Tony Bird]

Hi Chris,

Unfortunately this myfreeforum uses the older version of phpBB code (compared to the advert free Unofficial Mamod Forum) so when YouTube makes changes we need to keep coming up with new ways of being able to display an embedded YouTube video.


I wish I knew what you were talking about! I will run it by our 7 year old granddaughter and she will explain it to me. Many thanks for making the video visible. See you the weekend after next.


Hi Tom,

Sometimes I wish I had laid down G45 track so I could run Thomas and friends.

As we entertain many children of various ages, I am not looking forward to growing up, the CMES which has both G 0 and G 1 tracks where some of our members run commercial Thomas models. Our Rhydypenderyn layout is '0' gauge and as far as I know there are no commercial models of Thomas available. However as with the Greendale Rocket there are plenty of Thomas toys about that have been converted to run on the '0' gauge rails of our layout. I have convert many of them all purchased from charity shops for a few pounds each, in fact the Rocket was the first toy locomotive that was bought new. The conversion technique is much the same for most of the toys I have modified.

If anyone is interested I could post some photographs of the next Thomas I modify.

Regards Tony.

[tom_tom_go]

Hi Tony,

I do keep a look out in charity shops, however, I have not found anything yet.

Any future builds would be a welcome read, thanks.

[godsteam]

That is brilliant Tony, you make it seem so easy, I am new to modelling, I can see I have a way to go yet!

Godfrey

[Chris Cairns]

Hi Tony,

I got the Admin team to post my embedded Topic as a Sticky but seems many on here have either not seen it or just not using the supplied code - http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about9208.html

Almost every week now there is an update to some software or other on your computer, then there might have to be a workaround for the subsequent incompatibility with something else on your computer. Just spent an hour or so trying to get embedded videos working in Google Chrome again after yet another buggy update.

The joys of the internet!!

Chris Cairns

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

The Greendale Rocket made its first public performance on the CMES Easter open days.

Video.

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid895.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac154%2Fgaynorandtony%2FVideos%2FMVI_2194_zps2jumiezj.mp4&title=">

Regards Tony.

[Dr. Bond of the DVLR]

Sounds like it was a favorite with everyone from the video. Looks the part with the coupling rods wizzing round.

[Annie]

Delightful! I had at terrible time taking one of those locos apart some time ago when I had intentions of trying to adapt it to run on 45mm gauge. I ended up being completely stumped in my efforts so after seeing how you made your conversion Tony I think I shall have another go.
I have two of the Greendale coaches which I think are lovely and I'm much intrigued by your success with being able to make use of the original wheels.

[Tony Bird]

Hi Annie,

Delightful! I had at terrible time taking one of those locos apart some time ago when I had intentions of trying to adapt it to run on 45mm gauge. I ended up being completely stumped in my efforts so after seeing how you made your conversion Tony I think I shall have another go.

I don't think that the Glendale Rockets frames are wide enough to make an 4-4-2 in G1. A 2-4-2 or 2-6-2 might be possible, you should be OK with either a 0-6-0 or maybe an 0-8-0. I would be interested to hear how you get on.

I have two of the Greendale coaches which I think are lovely and I'm much intrigued by your success with being able to make use of the original wheels.

A lathe is needed to re profile the flanges which are too thick but once done they work OK.

Regards Tony.

[Annie]

At one stage I did mock up an idea for a Garratt using a Greendale Rocket body, a couple of Duplo railway tender bodies and two Lego railway motor blocks.





I own a Myford lathe Tony, but since I've been ill I don't trust myself to use it anymore. That aside though I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something to use for coach wheels. Thanks for your suggestions on converting a Greendale Rocket loco for 45mm gauge I shall have to get the loco out of it's box and have another look at it.