The Home Machinist!

Hi all,

I've finally finished all the steel work for the body of the loco. I didnt end up making the service doors operational, maybe a job for some time in the future. The basic colour is on the body. I still have to add the pinstriping, numbering, and the weathering and graffiti so it looks like the prototype, which is a bit of a shame seeing as its all nice and shiny..

And Rus, took a few pics of the drive train. The mechanical side is basically a 5hp honda driving a 24V alternator, motor will be electric start using a starter off some sort of 50cc scooter (i dont know what sort, it was just the right size and cheap), still have to machine up a ring gear for it though. I've had to relocate the fuel tank, so am using a small solid state electric pump. Have also had to make a dogleg adaptor for the carby and plumb a new exhaust so it all fits inside the body.

The electric motors are from a US company but cant for the life of me remember which one, i'll post details later on.

Also have an air compressor for the air brakes, it was made up from the barrel, piston and rod of a broken direct drive compressor i picked up for free, just had to machine up a new crankcase, head, crankshaft, and a snout to mate it to the air con clutch.

Hopefully will get a chance in the next couple of weeks to finish off all the painting.

cheers,

Nathan

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Nathan

Thanks Nathan for the extra info.
Was wondering are you planning to run the axle motors off the battery's and use the alternator to charge the battery ? If yes, is it tried and tested or the modified alternator method?

What is the drive ratio you ended up with between the electric motors and wheels?

cheers Dan

Dan,
The axle motors are run from the battery. Alternator is unmodified and is just used to charge the batteries. Will be using a (home made) H-Bridge speed control to run the motors, google 4QD if you are looking for info on this type of controller, in Australia DNC technologies also sell speed controllers that may be of use to you, they seem reasonably priced too. http://www.dncsystems.dynalias.com/minirail/

The ratio im using for the motors to the axle is 3.something to 1. The motor manufacturer uses 3:1 on his preassembled motor/drive units. I'm using 15mm wide 5mm HTD belts for the drive. I wanted my drive ratio as low as I could make it, to make life easier on hte motors, and the 3.xx ratio was just what it ended up being so that I had enough clearance to the rail from the large pulleys on the axles and still have enough tooth contact on the small motor pulleys.

cheers,

Nathan

Quick update for today, the painting of the body is complete. Now that it's done I dont think I want to put any graffiti on it, I think it'd be too much..
Nathan

Its a shame you weathered it. Though it's beautiful weathering.

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Mattaniah Jahn

Matt Corps. Railsystems,
operating on the Manatee Central RR
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62441046@N06/sets/

Nathan
I'm going to have to say the same, I like the fresh painted look a little more ... Still interested to see how your road trials go, keep the thread updated, I'm hoping that I could have something close to your stage at around the time for next years convention during Easter at Warner QLD...either way we are planning to get there with or with out and will be keen to say Hi and grab a ride and see your loco in the flesh.

I will start a thread on my loco once I get some milestones done, just machined the pulley to fit the alternator this week, my parcel from the USA turned up to modify the 6.5hp clone with a blue printed carburetor new jets, air intake, pulse pump to mount the petrol tank in different location and throttle linkage system so I can remove the governor and connect a model servo motor for throttle control

Exciting Exciting all around!

_________________
Mattaniah Jahn

Matt Corps. Railsystems,
operating on the Manatee Central RR
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62441046@N06/sets/