Re: Glendale Rocket Project.
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 10:25 am
Hi Grant,
I wonder would a little more friction to the centre axle help. Could a little roller deflecting the drive band down slightly between the second and third axle work, though not wanting to get away from the simplicity of the project which is part of its attraction.
A very good idea and perfectly possible but alas not with the chassis as it stands as the motor would need to be moved a little, maybe when I have a go at Mk.2 I will try it. I have used a jockey pulley but in my a case sprocket to take up the wear on a chain drive electric locomotive chassis, the chain had worn but not enough that a link could be removed.
I have however improved the traction of the chassis, when building steam locomotives I usually balance them around the centre of the distance between the driving wheels. This usually requires a weight to be fitted to the front or rear buffer beam to achieve a rough balance. When I picked up the model it was very heavy at the back because of the batteries the motor not anything like balancing them. The hasn't happened before as all the chassis I have made have had the weight between the axles not outside.
So I balanced the model on its centre axle. It needed three and a half lead washers to balance the model. These washers were glued into the smoke box and then painted This done the model would stay in place with both front and rear buffer beams touching the table. The traction now is such that the motor will stall before the wheels slip. The Glendale Rocket now easily manages to pull both carriages and pushing it two Thomas the Tank Engine carriages as well. I have always found balance my steam engines improves their traction but never thought of trying the same on electric locomotive, to be fair most are probably nearly in balance anyway.
Regards Tony.
I wonder would a little more friction to the centre axle help. Could a little roller deflecting the drive band down slightly between the second and third axle work, though not wanting to get away from the simplicity of the project which is part of its attraction.
A very good idea and perfectly possible but alas not with the chassis as it stands as the motor would need to be moved a little, maybe when I have a go at Mk.2 I will try it. I have used a jockey pulley but in my a case sprocket to take up the wear on a chain drive electric locomotive chassis, the chain had worn but not enough that a link could be removed.
I have however improved the traction of the chassis, when building steam locomotives I usually balance them around the centre of the distance between the driving wheels. This usually requires a weight to be fitted to the front or rear buffer beam to achieve a rough balance. When I picked up the model it was very heavy at the back because of the batteries the motor not anything like balancing them. The hasn't happened before as all the chassis I have made have had the weight between the axles not outside.
So I balanced the model on its centre axle. It needed three and a half lead washers to balance the model. These washers were glued into the smoke box and then painted This done the model would stay in place with both front and rear buffer beams touching the table. The traction now is such that the motor will stall before the wheels slip. The Glendale Rocket now easily manages to pull both carriages and pushing it two Thomas the Tank Engine carriages as well. I have always found balance my steam engines improves their traction but never thought of trying the same on electric locomotive, to be fair most are probably nearly in balance anyway.
Regards Tony.