Zach Bond "Momentum Van" project

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Tony Bird
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Post by Tony Bird » Fri May 01, 2015 6:42 am

Hi,


Could you provide a link please to your video?


This any better? I am never sure which Photobucket reference to use with which forum. The previous code I used worked for me.

Image

Regards Tony.

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Fri May 01, 2015 8:58 am

Thanks Tony.

You are not doing anything wrong, it's just my old Kindle does not support Flash so without a link I cannot watch videos.

Your version of the wagon works well. A Mamod running slowly ;)

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Andrew
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Post by Andrew » Sat May 02, 2015 11:11 am

If you can't beat 'em...

Despite the fact that I've got a cupboard full of unfinished projects and a whole load of other, theoretically more pressing, priorities, my Zecar is ordered and on its way...

I'm going to get hold of some Binnie wheels and axleboxes and see if I can fit the momentum mechanism into a small mineral wagon. I'll let you know how it goes...

Cheers,

Andrew.

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Post by Andrew » Wed May 06, 2015 5:43 pm

Arrrgh!!!

I've just been taking the wheels off my Zecar, gripping the axle with pliers and tapping at the wheels with my little toffee hammer. Only I missed - and now I've broken the plastic gear in the middle, grrrr... It's a clean break so I'm going to try to fix it with 5 minute epoxy... Fingers crossed...

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Keith S
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Post by Keith S » Fri May 08, 2015 7:56 pm

Well, I've finished my version of the wagon. It's just an IP "panelled wagon". It's very plain, even for an IP wagon. I wouldn't mind some suggestions for making it look a bit more finished?

Anyway here it is. The short wheelbase is a little silly-looking, although I don't suppose it will be too obvious when the wagon is part of a train. I've included a picture of it in my rather haphazard little "passenger" train.


Image

Image

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Soar Valley Light
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Post by Soar Valley Light » Fri May 08, 2015 8:08 pm

Looking at Keith's pictures it strikes me that these devices would be a reasonably good size to be used as a bogie on a larger item of rolling stock.
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Andrew
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Post by Andrew » Sat May 09, 2015 12:38 pm

Looking good Keith!

My own momentum project is taking shape - I seem to have managed to glue the broken plastic gear back together (for now anyway!), and have shortened the axles and fitted Binnie wheels, a great fit on the axle. The axles needed shaving slightly to fit the Binnie axleboxes, but that was easy enough to do.

I've now started work on the body. It was to have been based on a photo of a 2 plank Welsh Highland wagon but the proportions don't look quite right for that (I didn't have any drawings) so it'll just be a WHR-influenced freelance design.

Here it is so far, with the body awaiting detailing and just perched on the axleboxes temporarily:

Image

Image

It's pretty light, but even with the body's small size I think I'll find enough room to add sufficient weight to make it work... I'll keep you posted...

Cheers,

Andrew.
Last edited by Andrew on Sat May 09, 2015 8:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Keith S
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Post by Keith S » Sat May 09, 2015 4:50 pm

The small size suits the Zecar's short wheelbase. A piece of steel or lead would weigh it down enough I should think.

I'm looking forward to seeing some more videos of these things in action!

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Alan P
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Post by Alan P » Sun May 10, 2015 9:43 am

Below is a clip of mine behind my MSS Saddle Tank. Without the Momentum Van i'd never been able to get it to run anything like that slowly.
You can also clearly see the van giving the loco a nudge as it stalls on the curve.

<object width="640" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wp6zAOWWmSc?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wp6zAOWWmSc?ve ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Sun May 10, 2015 10:40 am

Alan, your momentum van works brilliantly, I must get on with mine now. Even more impressive is the lovely line you have created. Nice buildings and scenic effects. Do you leave them outside or place them each time you run?
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

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Post by Alan P » Sun May 10, 2015 10:51 am

Thanks Peter.

Everything is left outside. The row of terrace houses, the pub, watermill and the signal box are all Modeltown resin kits.
The station, water tower and coaling stops are all scratch built. Most of it seems to survive ok although my little back yard is very sheltered.
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Post by Andrew » Sun May 10, 2015 1:10 pm

Alan P:110744 wrote:Thanks Peter.

Everything is left outside. The row of terrace houses, the pub, watermill and the signal box are all Modeltown resin kits.
The station, water tower and coaling stops are all scratch built.  Most of it seems to survive ok although my little back yard is very sheltered.
I particularly like the station building, lovely...

My MV is now on its wheels - I'm waiting for some glue to dry before test-running... I've glued a couple of fishing weights onto the dummy "top", which will be covered with a heap of coal. If that's not enough I've got some curtain weights which I can glue to the body inners...

Cheers all,

Andrew

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Alan P
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Post by Alan P » Sun May 10, 2015 9:45 pm

Thanks Andrew. I'll be very interested to see some pictures of your MV and Peter's when they are finished.
Alan.

The Milford Hill Light Railway

TMHLR http://www.alspcs.com/TMHLR.html

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slow

Post by cheshire » Thu May 14, 2015 7:30 pm

I am struggling with basics of youtube! but this might be a link to a clip of my momentum wagon in action. The loco used to stall every time on the curves, and race on the straights. its not perfect (especially trying to drive and film!) but its much much more realistic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reqlTnqEVI0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8LsG1m_6oE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFtdFe1JgkI
Last edited by cheshire on Thu May 14, 2015 7:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Keith S
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Post by Keith S » Fri May 15, 2015 2:34 am

Looks like it works pretty well. It doesn't seem to be very noisy. I like that lady Anne too.

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Post by Dr. Bond of the DVLR » Fri May 15, 2015 8:28 am

Its a very attractive wagon load as well, splendid stuff.
Image
The railway which people forgot
(to build)

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Post by Soar Valley Light » Fri May 15, 2015 8:26 pm

Very nice. A great looking wagon doing a cracking job. I love it.

Your Lady Anne is quite a character and I absolutely love your railway. It really looks like it's a part of the landscape. I'm inspired!
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"

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Andrew
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Post by Andrew » Sun May 17, 2015 8:40 pm

Evening all,

My own momentum vehicle, a little coal truck is now complete - here it is with a Binnie slate wagon and a Mamod guards van to enable a size comparison:

Image


And a side view:


Image

I don't currently have a working manually controlled loco that isn't geared, but I tested it out behind my RH Russell, and it works pretty well I think. It seems to give the train a much weightier feel, making acceleration smoother (at least once the geared wheel has caught up with the rest of the train) and helping regulate speed - I had some lovely slow runs up my 1 in 50 gradient. It encourages smoother deceleration too, because if you stop too suddenly it looks plain daft bumping to a halt and then sitting with its wheels spinning - although it's pretty heavy for its size, it can't shift a stationary Russell! More testing is required, but so far, so good. I'm looking forward to running it with visiting manual locos too.

Perhaps best of all I've discovered how much I like building grotty little trucks - three more are now under construction!

Cheers,

Andrew.

PS video to follow sometime - attempts to drive and film at the same time weren't good!

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Soar Valley Light
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Post by Soar Valley Light » Sun May 17, 2015 8:51 pm

That's a really lovely little wagon Andrew. Well done.

I'm itching for the day when all the work on the house and garden is complete, my railway is at least under construction and I have space for a little bit of a workshop in the cellar (squeezed in with the HD Meccano electric mice)!
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Sun May 17, 2015 9:24 pm

I agree, that looks just right.
As 'Thomas' would say, 'A really useful truck'.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

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