The Home Machinist!

FWIW, With the 45 degree method, you only need one broach fixture. Make all wheels with the same fixture - no need to reset anything. You do have to make sure the key slot is as close to 45 degrees from the crank pin as possible. All of the axles get a slot in line with each other. When assembled, t...

Not all of them remain camelbacks. Ed G's engine is about 25% Mercer A-5a

In the wake of a recent post, and I'm not posting this to make waves, (pun) I think it's important for modelers and home shop tinkerers to be informed about both sides of the spectrum. CNC may not be for everyone. But, If you have enough funds to buy one, or you're able to pick one up for a good pri...

B&S has many throttle setups. Seems like they changed them every year. Have a look on the Bing images collection until you find the one that resembles yours
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=br ... ORM=IQFRBA

Bill, Keep in mind that you only need to spin the main driver to set the timing. Perhaps you could come up with an arrangement similar to the one I built to time full size locomotives. I can spin the wheelset using a 3 foot ratchet and can make micro adjustments for timing purposes. Those are 56 inc...

Figure out a desired path. Walk it many times. It's amazing how you can feel grade changes when walking. Then get some marking flags. Space them 100" apart (reason later) along your desired ROW. Get an inexpensive transit and a friend, or make a deadman to hold your surveying stick. Find a fixed poi...

On my home railroad: Northeastern PA Snow, rain, dry, heat, cold, we get it all Clay/loam soil Remove grass/organic matter 3' wide Level and grade as close as possible Vibratory plate tamp to hard feel. (no footprint left when walked on) Hi density weed barrier mainly to keep the clay/mud from pushi...

Baldwin Green 1920's Munsell 10Y 2/2. Silver is "aluminum leaf" Delaware Lackawanna and Western green passenger cars 1930's also Munsell 10Y 2/2 Central Railroad of New Jersey green passenger cars 1920's Munsell 5Y 2/1 Any "better" quality automotive paint supplier should be able to supply these col...

Glenn,

I apologize for the delay. Our paint specialist took the holiday week off and my network connection to the paint info is down. I will get it for you as soon as either one is back on line. Stay tuned...

I have a few questions to put on the table. A designer makes a full and complete set of drawing of a particular locomotive but only offers the drawings, and/or, simple set of castings for the designed locomotive, i.e., wheels and cylinders. Can someone produce and offer the mating parts that would c...

Great design Charlie! An adjustable stop on the arm to repeat the amount of bend would be a good addition too. A stop similar to the one on a box and pan brake that allows over-bending to achieve the desired final angle. As with any bending job, fiddle with the first piece, make adjustments, then be...

Hi all, I think I know what needs to be done, but I'm assuming that the glass will need to be cut to length, unless it can be mounted on an angle, for which I don't think I will have the required real estate. The gauge I'm looking at has both a valve and shutoff cock on the bottom to allow for blow...