Search found 684 matches

by dewintondave
Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:32 pm
Forum: Videos
Topic: Steam Diesel outake
Replies: 2
Views: 2386

Steam Diesel outake

Whilst preparing for a "largest train" haulage test, this happened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgegJmB9GqA

All in all it wasn't the most sucessful run.

Merry Christmas,
Dave.
by dewintondave
Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:10 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Born with a whistle.
Replies: 12
Views: 7369

I install and sometimes even scratch build make my own whistles on my steam boats. The problem with locomotives is the lack of space and one is greatly limited by cosmetic variations from the originals. here is an example of one of my boats with a servo controlled whistle That is a very nice model....
by dewintondave
Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:30 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Born with a whistle.
Replies: 12
Views: 7369

I'd recommend making your own whistle and whistle valve. It would be an excellent lead-in to loco building and is enormously satisfying.
by dewintondave
Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:15 am
Forum: Videos
Topic: An alternative to the chuff pipe ...
Replies: 0
Views: 1564

An alternative to the chuff pipe ...

... exhausting directly through the meths flames.

Here we are middle-engine testing a heavier train of about 2.5 m of LGB stock. We came in at a scale 10.8 mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq4MbCBAF6Y

Best wishes,

Dave.
by dewintondave
Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:01 am
Forum: Videos
Topic: Vale of Rheidol Davies & Metcalfe painted and running
Replies: 15
Views: 6673

Re: Vale of Rheidol Davies & Metcalfe painted and runnin

INJIN:71450 wrote:The yellow engine was completed just before the AGM, only got round to steaming it very recently................
That's an excellent loco on a wonderful garden railway. I'm glad it worked out so well.

Best wishes,
Dave.
by dewintondave
Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:55 am
Forum: Videos
Topic: Vale of Rheidol Davies & Metcalfe painted and running
Replies: 15
Views: 6673

makes me really wonder why meths fired pot boiler locos are out of fashion Very true.  Pot boilers have an enviable long run time.   I'm a meths man.  I've just bought a 20 litre container of the glorious purple stuff.  Now that they have removed the methanol from it isn't dangerous at all, it's al...
by dewintondave
Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:09 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control
Replies: 7
Views: 7684

It's time for the whistle servo board and the receiver. Here is the whistle servo board. The receiver connector is also visible. https://i.postimg.cc/Df9x7mDt/DSC09468s.jpg The whistle servo board provides power for the reciever, and takes the whistle signal from the Rx on input port 4. This image s...
by dewintondave
Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:08 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control
Replies: 7
Views: 7684

Regulator servo positions. The regulator servo needs to be mounted to the loco and hooked-up to the regulator just like on a radio control set-up. I'm using a Futaba mini servo on mine. The next thing is to determine the required servo positions. This little program can be loaded on to the Picaxe, i...
by dewintondave
Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:08 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control
Replies: 7
Views: 7684

Here is the regulator servo board. https://i.postimg.cc/nzM3hmnt/DSC09464s.jpg This board has a separate power supply for the servo, this was recommended to keep "noise" out of the Picaxe power supply. You can see the servo connect cable, it is now soldered direct to the board. The colour ...
by dewintondave
Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:35 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control
Replies: 7
Views: 7684

Here's the counter board. https://i.postimg.cc/3wtLh15B/DSC09462.jpg The power connector feeds in the 5V from the batteries. The sensor connector supplies +5V and Gnd from the board and receives the sensor signal from the central blue wire. The blue wire feeds through to port 4 on the Picaxe. The ou...
by dewintondave
Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:59 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control
Replies: 7
Views: 7684

Waiting with bated breath ... This could be the difference between a very small layout and an empire with some grades. Tim Hi Tim, check out my latest video with a heavier test train: https://youtu.be/Jq4MbCBAF6Y The little loco can really haul. The 180 degree bend at the end of the running loop is...
by dewintondave
Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:12 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control
Replies: 7
Views: 7684

Here is the trailing truck contents; all the control gear. https://i.postimg.cc/pXj1jKzW/DSC09230.jpg I'm using Picaxe M08M2 chips on three of their excellent AXE021 Proto Board Kits. These proto boards and chips are inexpensive. As per the Picaxe recommendations I'm using separate power supplies fo...
by dewintondave
Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:03 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Cruise control for DeWinton
Replies: 15
Views: 10685

I have just started the description of how the cruise control is made in the "Projects" section for those who would like to build one: http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about5808.html
by dewintondave
Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:48 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control
Replies: 7
Views: 7684

Cruise control for live steam + 433MHz Radio Control

Here's the start of the build details for Dave's cruise-o-matic. 8) A fellow G1MRA member inspired me to have a go at building cruise control for my live steamer. His controllers are based purely on electronics with no software. I don't have much electronics know how. Then I discovered the excellent...
by dewintondave
Mon May 28, 2012 8:09 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Cruise control for DeWinton
Replies: 15
Views: 10685

11thHour:71280 wrote:Could you have achieved all functions with only one bypass instead of both or am I missing something?

regards Tim
Hi Tim, Two are needed if both forward and reverse are to be drained/bypassed. This loco originally only had one, and it worked in forward gear only.

Best wishes,
Dave.
by dewintondave
Sun May 27, 2012 10:08 am
Forum: Photographs
Topic: A train as long as our bridge
Replies: 0
Views: 1821

A train as long as our bridge

I was doing some more steam trials today and added three extra vehicles to the end of our usual train.  I found that the train was as long as the removable bridge, which is about 2.6 metres.  The track is just about level here.   These LGB trucks have been converted to chain couplings.  I've found t...
by dewintondave
Sun May 27, 2012 9:52 am
Forum: Videos
Topic: A live steam trip around our line
Replies: 0
Views: 1694

A live steam trip around our line

A trip around our line on a very early and cold morning. Lots of lovely steam though, it was just about dead calm with steam wafting over our fence. And, plenty of whistling too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSfW7fj_jGo

Best wishes,
Dave.
by dewintondave
Wed May 23, 2012 10:31 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Cruise control for DeWinton
Replies: 15
Views: 10685

Please could you explain the function of an exhaust bypass? It's a modification I initially made to drain excess condensate out of the motor when running, but it had other unexpected uses. When the loco is stationary if I open the forward running drain cock, put the reverser into reverse, and then ...
by dewintondave
Tue May 22, 2012 10:11 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Cruise control for DeWinton
Replies: 15
Views: 10685

I got up early on Sunday and braved the very cold temperature outdoors to do some videoing.  It was worth it, the steam effects were the best yet.   Here is a video that shows the loco being prepared for a run around our line, and the actual run with the camera on the regulator watching it go about ...
by dewintondave
Sun May 06, 2012 11:46 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Cruise control for DeWinton
Replies: 15
Views: 10685

Brilliant idea on the Cruise Control! Can you adjust the controlled speed desired? Thank you Jim. I could adjust the speed, but a scale 10 mph suits this loco well, and it sits right in the middle of the usual narrow gauge operating speeds. I did a lot of testing this weekend, burnt a lot of alcoho...