Building the Southern Railway PS-4 Frame
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:28 pm
For the last year or so I have been involved with members in what started as a discussion on the PS-4 Pacifics used by the Southern Railway. (Not the Southern Railroad as I was enlightened early on)
Having started a LE American that my heart was not really in, I have always really wanted to build a Pacific. Thanks to all those who had input I have put the LE American back on the shelf and convinced myself that I could tackle the PS-4.
This is the first thread of what I hope to be a ten year or less build. The kick off came as I realized that Monday was my Sons 15th birthday. I am 57 and have come to the conclusion I need to get on with this project before my health record runs out. The goal is to see my son run it on his 25th birthday. As threads can run on forever and become hard to read I am going with short stories. This one is to encompass the frame and some of the crossties.
Having moved up from my motorized paperweights (as my friend Larry Kombrink calls my small mills and lathes) I have started with some of the simpler parts of the frame. I am also cheating in that I have a young friend in school who has asked for a few drawings to convert to CAD so that he can cut the parts and get a grade for them. Needless to say I will continue to be asking for help and guidance
NOTE: If you see me starting down a dumb path, please pull me back from my own ignorance.
My first project at home is the Pedestal Binders.
NOTE: As asked before, no I am not working to these tolarances. I simply am too lazy to reset my AutoCAD to show less decimals
First Cut
The frame having already been cut by Teddy Love out in Las Vegas is 3/4 HRS. I cut six blanks for the Binders from 3/4 HRS bar stock and am off and running. Hoping to have them done before my next trip.
Once again thanks to all the people on line here that have motivated and convinced me I can do this.
Having started a LE American that my heart was not really in, I have always really wanted to build a Pacific. Thanks to all those who had input I have put the LE American back on the shelf and convinced myself that I could tackle the PS-4.
This is the first thread of what I hope to be a ten year or less build. The kick off came as I realized that Monday was my Sons 15th birthday. I am 57 and have come to the conclusion I need to get on with this project before my health record runs out. The goal is to see my son run it on his 25th birthday. As threads can run on forever and become hard to read I am going with short stories. This one is to encompass the frame and some of the crossties.
Having moved up from my motorized paperweights (as my friend Larry Kombrink calls my small mills and lathes) I have started with some of the simpler parts of the frame. I am also cheating in that I have a young friend in school who has asked for a few drawings to convert to CAD so that he can cut the parts and get a grade for them. Needless to say I will continue to be asking for help and guidance
NOTE: If you see me starting down a dumb path, please pull me back from my own ignorance.
My first project at home is the Pedestal Binders.
NOTE: As asked before, no I am not working to these tolarances. I simply am too lazy to reset my AutoCAD to show less decimals
First Cut
The frame having already been cut by Teddy Love out in Las Vegas is 3/4 HRS. I cut six blanks for the Binders from 3/4 HRS bar stock and am off and running. Hoping to have them done before my next trip.
Once again thanks to all the people on line here that have motivated and convinced me I can do this.