Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Where users can chronicle their builds. Start one thread and continue to add on to it.

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DanSmo
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 11:54 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by DanSmo »

Asteamhead, thank you! By the way a pizza oven is a great idea! I'll have to get one specifically for doing the rest of the rims.

These last few weeks I decided to tackle one of the more repetitive tasks and get it out of the way. Springs.

After a lot of investigation I decided to cut them with an abrasive wheel and drill the holes. I considered punching and cropping but considering the time to make and/or source the tools I would have them done faster if I cut and drilled.

Using the angle grinder with a ultra thin cut off disc kept heat to a minimum and when the disc showed signs of glazing I swapped a fresh one on. I cut all the leaves about 0.5mm longer to allow for cleaning up and squaring off with a quick pass of a with a carbide end mill. The leaves were then dropped into aluminium drilling jigs I made and stack drilled with straight flute carbide drills. The clamps were made from box section and the rollers are 0.375" rod that was drilled in the lathe. I did deviate from the drawings however, which called for a 0.125" pin to pass through the roller and be riveted over at either end. I simply used an M4 button head cap screw and tapped one side of the clamp, any excess head height that causes interference will be ground down. It has the bonus of making spring packs more easily serviceable should they need attention for whatever reason.

As of now 2 engine truck, 10 main and 4 trailing truck springs are done. Just another 14 for the tender and the monotony is over!
Attachments
Rolls of tempered 1095 material
Rolls of tempered 1095 material
Cut lengths organised in takeaway boxes
Cut lengths organised in takeaway boxes
Aluminium drilling jigs
Aluminium drilling jigs
Clamps and rollers
Clamps and rollers
Finished, assembled springs
Finished, assembled springs
I just don't understand pronouncing solder as "sodder"... where did the L go?
boaterri
Posts: 264
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 2:28 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by boaterri »

Your wife's kitchen oven should be able to get to 250c (482f) just do a "mother may I" and make sure that there is no oil or other nastys to make smoke/odors.

Rick
Asteamhead
Posts: 582
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:59 pm
Location: Germany, Duesseldorf

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by Asteamhead »

Hello DanSmo,
Nice job on your springs! For my A, I did it almost the same way. perhaps some fotos my be of interest to you :D ?

Best regards Asteamhead
Attachments
By means of the tool all leaves for one spring are milled to the exact length
By means of the tool all leaves for one spring are milled to the exact length
A quick small TIG-welding won't affect the spring material (1.4310)
A quick small TIG-welding won't affect the spring material (1.4310)
Second look at the TIG-weld
Second look at the TIG-weld
Clamps were pressed, then welded for a narrow fit
Clamps were pressed, then welded for a narrow fit
Drills were made at slow rpm by means of a high quality Ti-Co8 drill ('Titex plus' )
Drills were made at slow rpm by means of a high quality Ti-Co8 drill ('Titex plus' )
RICHK
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:05 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by RICHK »

Hello all:
Does anyone know what is happening with dansmo?
It seems that his build log has stopped
His last activity was on Fri Jan 03, 2020 5:54 pm but I cannot contact or see what that was.
He has not responded to my private message.
Sure would be nice if he would.

Rich Killen, Seattle WA
RICHK
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:05 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by RICHK »

Hello Dan.
I am curious to learn more about your Big Boy project.
Your blog seems to have ended at June 7 2017.
Sure would like to learn what is happening.
Also I see on the site that your last activity was on Friday January 3 2020 just yesterday.

By the way my e-mail is rjkdk@comcast .net

Regards,
Rich Killen, Seattle WA., U.S.A.
User avatar
SteveR
Posts: 372
Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2006 4:17 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by SteveR »

Bump
12x36 Enco Lathe, 9x42 Bridgeport, SMAW, O/A, Miller MIG w/gas, plasma
Not enough measuring tools...
1.5" Allen Models Consolidation on air.
1" FEF in progress
1" & 3/4" LE Projects
Measure twice, cut once, wait - it was supposed to be brass! :)
Rob Gardner
Posts: 463
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2005 9:27 am
Location: Newbury, OH

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by Rob Gardner »

I think Dan posts exclusively on various FB live steam groups only these days. Don't know why he abandoned this thread on Chaski.

Rob Gardner
Andypullen
Posts: 2165
Joined: Thu May 22, 2003 8:17 am
Location: Bel Air, MD

Re: Union Pacific Big Boy 4012 in 1.5"

Post by Andypullen »

I talked with Dan last week.

He’s very busy with other projects at the moment.
Clausing 10x24, Sheldon 12" shaper, ProtoTrak AGE-2 control cnc on a BP clone, Reed Prentice 14" x 30", Sanford MG 610 surface grinder, Kalamazoo 610 bandsaw, Hardinge HSL speed lathe, Hardinge HC chucker, Kearney and Trecker #2K plain horizontal mill, Haas TL-1 lathe.
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