First build - Wilesco Old Smokey converted to overtype loc.

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Lord Ruthven
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First build - Wilesco Old Smokey converted to overtype loc.

Post by Lord Ruthven » Wed Sep 21, 2016 9:46 pm

Greetings all,
This is my first build and also my first post here.

I found the Wilesco Old Smokey tractor in an antique shop. It was in really bad condition, but after some restoration it was working.
Since I always wanted to make a live steam locomotive I decided to convert it to an overtype locomotive.
But still the tractor was very good by itself, so I decided not to destroy it, but to use the boiler and engine as it is and make the rest from scratch. It also had to be possible to switch between frames in less than 10 minutes.
So here it is:

This is the meths burner:
Image

The engine (cylinder, slip eccentric, flywheel, etc.) and boiler, mounted on the new frame.
Image

The gears driving the front wheels
Image

The rear wheels driven by the connection rods:
Image

The gears are driven from the flywheel with chain:
Image

The buffers and the coupler. I wanted a screw-link coupler, but unfortunately all I found were just mock-ups, not working ones. So I got a 3 link coupler.
Image

The almost finished locomotive:
Image

Soon I will post a video and an update.

Best regards,
Aleksandar Shopov.

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Post by MDLR » Wed Sep 21, 2016 11:46 pm

That's looking very interesting - I look forward to seeing it going!
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Post by Lord Ruthven » Thu Sep 22, 2016 10:21 am

Here is one of the latest RC tests with one coach on a small testing track.  I can control the regulator and the whistle. The direction is still manual.

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Post by MDLR » Thu Sep 22, 2016 5:48 pm

That looks to be very slow and stately - VERY nice!
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Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Sep 22, 2016 7:43 pm

Welcome Aleksandar,

This is a very interesting loco with excellent control, I like it.

It looks very large, what are its dimensions?

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Post by Lord Ruthven » Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:04 am

Thank you!

It is gauge 1, standard gauge.
The length between buffers is 33 cm, 10 cm is the maximum width (to the chain sproket, which is sticking out of the side) and the maximum height is 15 cm (to the top of the flywheel)
Unfortunately just yesterday, while preparing the drawings for my next engine I found that I have placed the buffers almost 6 mm too high, but fortunately that won't be too much of a problem.
What it still lacks are the lanterns and their stands. I am also considering a smokebox with a door, but have not decided about that yet.

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Post by ge_rik » Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:48 am

Most impressive. I hadn't expected it to be self-starting with only one cylinder - but, hey, what do I know?

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Post by sstjc » Sat Sep 24, 2016 2:08 pm

That is very nice. Very well done...
Barry
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Post by Lord Ruthven » Tue Sep 27, 2016 5:49 am

ge_rik:120185 wrote:Most impressive. I hadn't expected it to be self-starting with only one cylinder - but, hey, what do I know?

Rik
Thank you.
Well, it is geared 15:1 and with flywheel, so as long as you put it in a good position, where the steam port is open - it is self starting, even under load (so far I have tested with 2 coaches at most). The thing is you have to put it in that position manually, as well as switching direction is again done manually.

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Re: First build - Wilesco Old Smokey converted to overtype loc.

Post by Lord Ruthven » Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:33 am

A very small update:
During the past year I was a bit too busy to fiddle with the railway projects, because we bought a house. The renovation took most of my time, but it also gives an opportunity, since the house has a big garden. So just before the autumn rains I started my first garden railway. So far there is just several meters of single line track, no points, no loops, nothing but track, but the plans (or dreams) are big.
It was only last week that I had the time to start the final touches on the locomotive. And what I did was the screw-link couples, because the 3 links chain was definitely not what I wanted. I searched for good standard gauge, continental style working screw link couplers (not mere casts) and only found Regner's, but they were way too expensive. So I decided to build my own.
That was the first crude prototype (just normal thread, I was testing the other parts):
DSC00213_small.jpg
DSC00213_small.jpg (152.79 KiB) Viewed 7528 times
DSC00216_small.jpg
DSC00216_small.jpg (128.5 KiB) Viewed 7528 times
I then had the parts lasercut and milled the rest myself, and that is the first real prototype with normal/reverse thread and everything, still not installed:
DSC00308_small.jpg
DSC00308_small.jpg (100.7 KiB) Viewed 7528 times
DSC00309_small.jpg
DSC00309_small.jpg (87.92 KiB) Viewed 7528 times
I also tested the loco with hauling a load of 2 kg brick up 2% slope. She autostarts (if you have the valve gear at correct position) and accelerates, although you can see her struggle. That exceeded all my expectations for her power.

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Re: First build - Wilesco Old Smokey converted to overtype loc.

Post by LNR » Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:27 am

That's a magnificent job on the coupling, and good luck with your new railway planning.
Grant.

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Re: First build - Wilesco Old Smokey converted to overtype loc.

Post by tom_tom_go » Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:18 pm

Very pretty!

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