The Home Machinist!

Other designs I have seen (Burnaby, Canada) ...

based on the 1" scale video that Dave forwarded me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO8u6_8xsq4 .... Dave Yup, I have seen that style in the past but had forgotten about it. It does work well. Things are a bit exposed to damage (switches are most common derailment points) but it's simple enough to r...

I want to build some kick-switches. I need a mechanism that is simple (not a lot of parts) and is free-moving.

Do you have a favorite kick-switch design?

I am starting to make a Switch Point Detector: • It’s reliable. • It’s adjustable to account for notched/not notched railhead, point rail profile, etc. • It can detect a point open by as little as about 0.010” caused by rocks, leaves, sand, etc. • It’s weather resistant. • It says where the points a...

Should fits and clearances be directly scaled down? .... I would assume the driving factor is more based on geometry and the expected travel of the rod..? Remember, things like side-play requirements (curvature, track kinks, etc.) and track vertical curvature (AKA: Bumps ...) are WAY out of scale i...

cbrew wrote: ↑

Wed May 08, 2019 7:52 pm

remember too tight, she will bind up over un-even trackage

Good point Chris ... I forgot to mention that one ...

Chuck Hackett

As a rule of thumb: what is the 1. desirable, 2. minimum, and 3. maximum allowable clearance for the side rod bushings between the OD of the crankpins and the ID of the bushing? Adam Don't forget to account for side-play in the drivers. This varies by scale and wheel arrangement but, for example, m...

I think at one time someone was trying to sell it for $1,200,000 ... to which I said "If that sells, my 4-8-4 is for sale the next day at $1,000,000". I figure I could hire the best machinist/modeler in the world to build me a highly detailed replacement 4-8-4 and have lots of money left over!

.... A couple of holes in the bottom ~3/16" (sub-wasp entry size) allow plenty of air in and allow condensation a way out. .... 3/8" holes would invite more wasp nests, during the summer here those things nest in ANYTHING they can find access into or under. Yup - Found that out! I removed one of th...

I think sealed is a bad idea. To me its easier to put in low point drains in the conduit and adding some vents to allow the enclosure to breath rather than trying to hermetically seal things At the ILS, we use NEMA enclosures that are basically sealed PVC boxes. However, all are ventilated and have...

Chuck, have a look at "NEMA enclosures" via a google image search and see if there is anything you like. .... Start at $10 on up to whatever you want to spend/need. .... Did find some possibilities. Most are more expensive for the same space as in the outdoor breaker box. The outdoor breaker box is...

Highiron wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:50 pm

I have both quarts of Stem oil and pin oil in stock in Green Velvet brand

Mike Venezia

Mike, are you bringing steam oil to Florida when you come? I'll take two ... (quarts ... NOT 55 gallon drums! )