The Home Machinist!

Yes, I did a lot of Googling and did find that page but, with the exception of the spectacle and blade I did not find detailed drawings of other parts with dimensions. There is a cut-away of the motor housing but not enough to model. I watched the videos that show them working but no details of thei...

I want to construct a detailed, 2.5" scale semaphore signal of the type that had the actuating motor mounted on the head itself (i.e.: not in the 'base' cabinet). To that end, I am looking for detailed, dimensioned drawings or, in an ideal world, a 3D model (stl, etc.) of one. I'm willing to pa...

Having two different brake systems is a plus in case of a failed compressor, battery, etc. I would keep the steam on the engine and go with straight air on the tender. Another issue is straight-air .vs. automatic air (more complicated) but that's another discussion and depends on your preferences, t...

To me, the railroad should have sections of challenging grade (speaking for my Northern that would be about 2.5% to 3% with load). Ideally there should be different routes with different max grades so that an engineer can choose the route he likes best and is within his capabilities and the capabili...

Friends at Quebec Live Steamers constructed electric switch motors from dead portable electric drills. So many battery powered drills lose the batteries and then the manufacturer changes the battery design. Salvaging the drills and motors became an option for these folks. As stated in my original p...

The self contained version definitely sounds interesting! .... The design is safe on the napkin ... now all that remains is to transform it into fact :D .... The ones I built connected to a switch machine have proven difficult to keep people from grabbing and forcing the switch against the motor My...

How's the development going Chuck? I have two prototypes being field tested at a customer site. One change to make to strengthen a part but the concept is solid. The prototypes are designed as a bolt-on addition to the plastic Accu-Tie switch stand but I have plans to adapt it to other switch stand...

Does anyone have a formula for 7.x gauge transition curves?

I have always done it "by eye" but can't in this case.

I have looked at "full size" formulas but didn't know if these would scale (we usually aren't running as fast, scale-wise) or if they were overly-complicated.

I don't know about Shay castings but I have a full set of Richard's Mason Bogie castings for sale ...

boaterri wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 7:22 pm Your system (from your website) has surge protection built into them. That is what I was suggesting to the original poster.

Rick

Ummm, I was the original poster

I know of an extremely effective and cheep way for a motor driven turnout to be taken manually.... Simply added a slide arm and a hole in the original operator handle connects the motor arm. To take it manual, pop the arm from the motor out of the way and swing the slide plate out of the way. The o...

You also want to consider lightning protection. The long control wire will make a dandy antenna in the event of a nearby lightning strike. I have over 12 years of experience dealing with lightning and 7.x" gauge railroad signal systems so that's not an issue :lol: http://www.minirailsolutions....