Narrow Gauge Heillmann?
Narrow Gauge Heillmann?
Ive been reading about the Heilmann Locomotives in France and I was wondering whether such a thing would work in 16mm?
A high speed steam unit powering a dynamo connected to an electric motor...bascialy.
A high speed steam unit powering a dynamo connected to an electric motor...bascialy.
You're not the only one. In fact, there are two people working on 16mm versions that I know of, Barry Reeves (late of Pilgrim Loco Works- suppliers of live diesel-electrics to sixteen-millers) and Mike Dockery (who makes bendy engines with lots of wheels). Still and video evidence has been seen on the 16mmngm e-group, though nothing for a while. The story so far is that the wheels turn on blocks, but the whole thing is very marginal for power.
Well, now we know the buffer-stops work! (Heard at 2013 "Longest Day" solstice steamup)
Yeah the low power issue was one that I was concerned with. Most electric chassis run on a fairly low voltage but the weight of a boiler and engine unit are probably more than most can cope with, unless you had two powered bogies with the boiler etc slung in between but then the weight wouldnt be on the driving wheels for adhesion.
The basic concept is fine. It would work. but the practice is the thing........HMNMMMMMMMMMMMM
The basic concept is fine. It would work. but the practice is the thing........HMNMMMMMMMMMMMM
Narrow Gauge Heillmann?
> ...there are two people working on 16mm versions that I know of, Barry Reeves (late of Pilgrim Loco Works- suppliers of live diesel-electrics to sixteen-millers) and Mike Dockery (who makes bendy engines with lots of wheels). Still and video evidence has been seen on the 16mmngm e-group, though nothing for a while. The story so far is that the wheels turn on blocks, but the whole thing is very marginal for power.
My Heilmann is yet to be steamed although it is intended to be at next year's 16mm AGM (I'm currently finishing the artwork for the various grilles and louvres). I don't envisage any shortage of power since it features a 2 1/2" boiler with 2 gas burners in a common flue, a V8 steam motor, 2 large Escap coreless motors as generators, and 8 RG7s diving the Do-Do bogies through spur gears. The coreless motors and spur gears should give low power losses/good conversion efficiencies.
Cheers, Mike Dockery.
My Heilmann is yet to be steamed although it is intended to be at next year's 16mm AGM (I'm currently finishing the artwork for the various grilles and louvres). I don't envisage any shortage of power since it features a 2 1/2" boiler with 2 gas burners in a common flue, a V8 steam motor, 2 large Escap coreless motors as generators, and 8 RG7s diving the Do-Do bogies through spur gears. The coreless motors and spur gears should give low power losses/good conversion efficiencies.
Cheers, Mike Dockery.
If some wheels are good, then having more is better, and too many should be just enough.
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