Stuart's occasional loco thread - Brush Battery Electric Loco

[StuartJ]

I've been working on this PDF Models de Winton kit for a year now and really need to get to finished so I can move onto other things. Here's a quick summary of the story so far:


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr

After a very busy summer I've had some modelling time recently and I think that I've now made the last of the additional parts required - Bottom half of the water tank, Brakeblocks, Brake handle, Injector and pipework. There should also be some boiler hanging below the underframe; I tried to make something to fit here from some springy plastic but after I'd made all the necessary cutouts to go around the motor, gearbox and framing there wasn't enough left to hold it in place. Hopefully I can now move onto final painting and assembly and get this project finished.


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr

[Peter Butler]

From my own experience PDF models are good kits and well priced. They can be made into very nice looking and good working models, with some time spent in preparation for a good paint finish. However, a year is about eleven and a half months longer than I would like to spend on one!

[ge_rik]

Looks good. Be interested to see how the motion is connected to the axle.

Rik

[Peter Butler]

Rik, the motor unit supplied by PDF has a reduction gearbox fitted. It is available from PDF as a separate unit.

I have some installed in my locos and they are good at 30:1 reduction with an option of 3v or 12v motors.

[ge_rik]

Rik, the motor unit supplied by PDF has a reduction gearbox fitted. It is available from PDF as a separate unit.

I have some installed in my locos and they are good at 30:1 reduction with an option of 3v or 12v motors.

Thanks Peter. I was looking for the PDF website, but all that came up was a Facebook page which you need to sign up to.
I was actually meaning how the connecting rods and pistons are animated (if indeed they are). As the axle isn't cranked, I just wondered how the motion is linked. Is it by eccentrics or cams?
Rik

[Peter Butler]

Try this link Rik...

https://www.pdf-models.co.uk/

[StuartJ]

Looks good. Be interested to see how the motion is connected to the axle.
Rik

Thanks Rik
It's just a pair of very wide eccentrics on the axle that the rods fit loosely around. I would take a picture for you, but I'd have to take off all the loose parts first so I could turn it upside down!

[-steves-]

I have one of these in my boxes of kits somewhere to build. Seeing someone else build it first with such good pictures will be extremely helpful.

Looking forwards to seeing it running

Thank you for posting

[ge_rik]

Looks good. Be interested to see how the motion is connected to the axle.
Rik

Thanks Rik
It's just a pair of very wide eccentrics on the axle that the rods fit loosely around. I would take a picture for you, but I'd have to take off all the loose parts first so I could turn it upside down!

I suspected that would be the case. Keep it simple ......

Rik

[StuartJ]

I have one of these in my boxes of kits somewhere to build. Seeing someone else build it first with such good pictures will be extremely helpful.

More build pictures here:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/cymro76/08WT9580H3
And some prototype pictures here:
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id= ... =relevance

[StuartJ]

PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr


PDF Models De Winton by Stuart, on Flickr

FIN

[philipy]

That looks very fine Stuart, well done.
Any chance ofa video?

[ge_rik]

What a little beauty!

Rik

[Old Man Aaron]

Haven't seen many of these PDF Dewintons. Beautiful work there, love the extra detailing.

[StuartJ]

I started this project before Christmas but then the modelling mojo abandoned me for a while so I've only just finished it off. This is the excellent Loco Remote kit (https://www.locoremote.co.uk/3dprints.html) for the Brush Battery Electric Locos supplied to the Ministry of Supply during WWI. These locos worked at various depots in the UK, including Gretna Green armaments factory, the mustard gas factory at Avonmouth and Queensferry Supply depot in North Wales. After the war several locos found their way to the slate quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog and two are still in daily use on Hythe Pier.









The kit is 3D printed and very well thought out. It's driven by a gearmotor between the wheels (there is a layshaft here on the actual locos) and controlled by a Loco Remote MiniB unit under the bonnet. There is supposed to be a LiPo battery in the compartment behind but I preferred to use AAA Nimh batteries, so I have squeezed a 4x AAA holder under the other bonnet - only a prewired one will fit here as the traditional PP9 battery snaps take up a lot of room (I had a similar issue with the De Winton). Note that one of the battery slots is wired across to give the correct voltage. The only other change that I've made is some additional detailing in the cab.

Loco Remote Brush WWI Battery Electric kit by Stuart, on Flickr

Loco Remote Brush WWI Battery Electric kit by Stuart, on Flickr

Loco Remote Brush WWI Battery Electric kit by Stuart, on Flickr

Loco Remote Brush WWI Battery Electric kit by Stuart, on Flickr

The cab parts had become a bit distorted after being packed in the box for too long, so the cab is a little wonky - clearly the loco had suffered an accident of some kind before it was bought by the quarry! However the loco was pronounced mechanically fit and given a new coat of paint before being set to work shunting the quarry. A war surplus dynamo was connected to one of the existing waterwheels to charge the batteries, which enabled the loco to continue working during WWII when petrol was rationed. There is a story that an attempt was made to use the loco to haul the empties back up to the quarry when petrol was unobtainable for the usual Simplex loco, but given the loco only had a 5hp motor it simply wasn't powerful enough.

Loco Remote Brush WWI Battery Electric kit by Stuart, on Flickr