Zach Bond "Momentum Van" project
- Dr. Bond of the DVLR
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Good to hear that it has worked well. I was amazed, as you where, by the difference. Of course the idea has been around for as long as 16mm modeling has but this little German toy has made it an awful lot easier - the axles are the right length and dia and the wheels a straight swap for IP ones. The only down side is the very short wheel base.
With regards product I've often thought this would be the sort of thing HGLW would produce.
With regards product I've often thought this would be the sort of thing HGLW would produce.
The railway which people forgot
(to build)
I've just posted another video on my thread in the video section. I realized that on my perfectly-flat workbench, it was difficult to see the difference, because even with the regulator just nudged open, the locomotive does not encounter any obstacles. Therefore, other than a slightly faster acceleration, it is possible for it to perform almost as well without the momentum wagon.
Therefore, I built up a "lump" in the middle of the test track, to simulate some uneven terrain or poor track, or what have you.
In the second video, it is easier to see what the momentum device is doing.
Therefore, I built up a "lump" in the middle of the test track, to simulate some uneven terrain or poor track, or what have you.
In the second video, it is easier to see what the momentum device is doing.
- tom_tom_go
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- tom_tom_go
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- laurence703
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I find the wheelbase short too, there's no reason the "zecar" couldn't be installed vertically with just the one end protruding from under the wagon lined up with one axle.
I considered doing this, to retain the stock wheelbase. There reason I decided not to, is that the way Mr. Bond set it up, the zecar is only touching the wagon body by its axles. I had an idea that this might be why it is fairly quiet: it's not touching the van body therefore doesn't transmit much sound to the wood.
But there are other ways to insulate the van body from sound, such as rubber mounts or something. You could even put the zecar inside the van altogether, with a gear on its axle, driven by one or both van axles via a chain... or turn the whole thing into a bogie as Laurence suggests.
I considered doing this, to retain the stock wheelbase. There reason I decided not to, is that the way Mr. Bond set it up, the zecar is only touching the wagon body by its axles. I had an idea that this might be why it is fairly quiet: it's not touching the van body therefore doesn't transmit much sound to the wood.
But there are other ways to insulate the van body from sound, such as rubber mounts or something. You could even put the zecar inside the van altogether, with a gear on its axle, driven by one or both van axles via a chain... or turn the whole thing into a bogie as Laurence suggests.
Angling the zecar, so that you only use one axle on the rail, sounds OK to me, but I'd have thought that adding gear trains and/or chain drives would vastly increase internal resistance to the fly wheel mechanism, not sure it would work as well? I'd be happy to be proved wrong though!
One other thought that occurred to me is that from looking at the pictures, at least one of the gears appears to be plastic of some sort, I do wonder if something that is basically a toy will stand up to some fairly heavy duty running? Only time will tell I guess.
One other thought that occurred to me is that from looking at the pictures, at least one of the gears appears to be plastic of some sort, I do wonder if something that is basically a toy will stand up to some fairly heavy duty running? Only time will tell I guess.
Philip
Hi Markus,McRuss:110417 wrote:Could someone tell me the diameter of the Zecar axles?
Markus
They're about 1/8". I say about, as IP Engineering wheels are almost a rattle fit on the axles...
The axles are also "crimped" at the ends, the ultimate solution would be to make plastic bushes to go over the ZeCar axles and bore out your wheels to fit the plastic bushes.
- Dr. Bond of the DVLR
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axles
The axles are also a perfect fit for W&L Accucraft wheels too. I have mounted the Zecar so that only one axle is used, moving the old axle boxes in by exactly the width of 2 coffee stirrers per side so the axles of the Zecar can sit in the bearings. Its revolutionised my Silver Lady which always raced away and stalled on curves. As an aside, all my wagons are heavily weighted with lead, so you don't get the wagon pushing the train as much, its just like a brake on straights and an extra help on tight curves. Thanks for the idea, one of the best £14 I have ever spent!! Any ideas now what to put on the top of the flat wagon to disguise the flywheel? Needs to look good with freight and passenger trains? Thanks
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How about disguising with a furniture container? BR had many types in the 50's and one chained down on your flat would look good in any train.
Plenty of info here:
http://mike.da2c.org/igg/rail/5-unit/unitload1.htm
Plenty of info here:
http://mike.da2c.org/igg/rail/5-unit/unitload1.htm
Philip
- tom_tom_go
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Re: axles
Oooh, that looks good! How have you supported the end of the Zecar's body to keep it at that angle?cheshire:110434 wrote:[/url][/img]
I reckon I'd go for some sort of crate to hide the mechanism too...
Cheers,
Andrew
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