Fabricated AAR or similar trucks

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rkepler
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 10:50 am

Fabricated AAR or similar trucks

Post by rkepler »

I have a friend who wants to build a loco. He's finished a speeder and a riding car, both with very simple wheel arrangements, but the next project he wants to be a little more prototypical and to have 'real' trucks. He doesn't have a lot of machining capability (I did the wheels for his last project) but does have good fabrication skills. Are there plans for scaleish trucks for someone with limited machining capabilities?
rkcarguy
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Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:33 am
Location: Wa State

Re: Fabricated AAR or similar trucks

Post by rkcarguy »

Check out my post in grand scales, I had plate laser cut ( I work in management at a shop) to make my trucks and it didn't require any machine work. A welder and a drill press would have been all I needed, but I did use a mill at work for a few things simply because I had access to it. I'm modeling in 2" scale on 12" gage but I've already scaled the drawings up to 2-1/2" and down to 1.5" as well if you want the DXF files.
Glenn Brooks
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Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Fabricated AAR or similar truck

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Here’s some frame detail on an 1880’s NG steamer. The photos show some interesting construction detail that might be useful in understanding how these old locos were erected. The inside wheel configuration was a common practice when builders had an existing standard gauge design and castings, and needed to fill a 36” narrow gauge customer order. They would just mount the wheels inside the standard gauge frame. Your friend doesn’t have to build this way, but the photos might help him visualize how to build out the frame and running gear.

The diesel electrics are a different animal. There are some pretty good drawings and 3 D cad constructs on line. Might take a bit of research, but a fair bit of info in the cloud about more modern day trucks.

Glenn
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Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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NP317
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Location: Northern Oregon, USA

Re: Fabricated AAR or similar trucks

Post by NP317 »

That steamer has quite an interesting steel plate frame.
You can see the longitudinal planing marks on the frame side.
Imagine the planer table stroke length required to make that frame!
Lost technologies.
~RN
rkepler
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 10:50 am

Re: Fabricated AAR or similar trucks

Post by rkepler »

rkcarguy wrote: Thu Feb 07, 2019 11:59 pm Check out my post in grand scales, I had plate laser cut ( I work in management at a shop) to make my trucks and it didn't require any machine work. A welder and a drill press would have been all I needed, but I did use a mill at work for a few things simply because I had access to it. I'm modeling in 2" scale on 12" gage but I've already scaled the drawings up to 2-1/2" and down to 1.5" as well if you want the DXF files.
I'd be delighted to see the DXFs, in 1.5" if that's possible. I'll send a PM with my email address.
rkcarguy
Posts: 1730
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:33 am
Location: Wa State

Re: Fabricated AAR or similar trucks

Post by rkcarguy »

The 4 bolt pattern for the pillow blocks I used won't be correct, just a heads up. I'm not sure what your thinking about using for bearings.
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