1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
Moderator: Harold_V
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
Very nice looking Loco. Like you I bought a project that had a lot of the machine work done on it. I was thinking that it would not take long to finish. I soon found out to my surprise, that was not the case as there is still a lot of work to be done. lol.
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
Welcome to the reality of the Live Steam modeling world!
But worth the effort.
RussN
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
I have accepted it and will persevere! lol
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
I had hoped to start at the front of the locomotive and work backward, but I realized certain detail elements must be in place before I could go much further. In this case, I knew I wanted a detailed firebox wrapper, throat sheet and a backhead cover for the boiler.
Speaking to a few modelers, I figured I had two options, go the sheet metal route with a bunch of cutting and Bondo, or try the art of copper forming and learn a new skill. My decision was made for me when legendary chaski member Jack Bodenmann offered to help me out in exchange for hauling in one of his newly purchased locomotives from out of state. Our schedules aligned and we made it happen. He advised 1/16" copper thickness for both the throat sheet and backhead, and with eyes closed I swiped my credit card on a sheet of remnant copper costing more than a big screen TV. (But who needs TV when you have a locomotive to build, right?)
Jack happened to have a wood form laying around for an Atlantic backhead, so we used that (More on that later). I cut out a paper pattern for the throat sheet mimicking the A6's geometry as best I could while working within the constraints of the Little Engines design. The front lip of the throat sheet would slip under the fourth boiler jacket band, holding it in place while buying me a little extra diagonal geometry. The base of the sheet would be secured against the ash pan support frame with 2-56 screws holding it and the firebox side sheets in place. Jack took his own measurements based on my ideas and fabricated a wood form so fast I struggled to take photos quickly enough to capture everything. The speed and precision of this master craftsman is truly marvelous to behold.
Checking the offset angle and measuring the bottom throat sheet form. We annealed the copper using a torch and used a rawhide mallet to pound the copper over the rounded edges of the wood form. Once the copper stiffened up we'd anneal again until it wrapped wrinkle free. Many thanks for Jack for his patience as I'd often misfire the torch and rain carbon all over clean shop. Here's the top form for the throat sheet as I worked on shaping the inside lip that fits under the boiler jacket bands.
Looking too pretty to paint once its all cleaned up.
Speaking to a few modelers, I figured I had two options, go the sheet metal route with a bunch of cutting and Bondo, or try the art of copper forming and learn a new skill. My decision was made for me when legendary chaski member Jack Bodenmann offered to help me out in exchange for hauling in one of his newly purchased locomotives from out of state. Our schedules aligned and we made it happen. He advised 1/16" copper thickness for both the throat sheet and backhead, and with eyes closed I swiped my credit card on a sheet of remnant copper costing more than a big screen TV. (But who needs TV when you have a locomotive to build, right?)
Jack happened to have a wood form laying around for an Atlantic backhead, so we used that (More on that later). I cut out a paper pattern for the throat sheet mimicking the A6's geometry as best I could while working within the constraints of the Little Engines design. The front lip of the throat sheet would slip under the fourth boiler jacket band, holding it in place while buying me a little extra diagonal geometry. The base of the sheet would be secured against the ash pan support frame with 2-56 screws holding it and the firebox side sheets in place. Jack took his own measurements based on my ideas and fabricated a wood form so fast I struggled to take photos quickly enough to capture everything. The speed and precision of this master craftsman is truly marvelous to behold.
Checking the offset angle and measuring the bottom throat sheet form. We annealed the copper using a torch and used a rawhide mallet to pound the copper over the rounded edges of the wood form. Once the copper stiffened up we'd anneal again until it wrapped wrinkle free. Many thanks for Jack for his patience as I'd often misfire the torch and rain carbon all over clean shop. Here's the top form for the throat sheet as I worked on shaping the inside lip that fits under the boiler jacket bands.
Looking too pretty to paint once its all cleaned up.
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
I decided to cut it down to size by slicing it in half, cutting off the edges, then filing down the center until it fit and finally silver soldering it together. With some cleanup work, all the appliances and plumbing mounted in front of it, and a little Bondo, it should look fine. If it doesn't, at least I have an accurate pattern to copy!
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
Moving forward, I decided to work on the firebox wrapper side sheets. I created a simple rivet pattern jig on the mill, and used it to lay out the copper head rivets along the edges. I believe 3/32 sized pop rivets were used for the hollow stay bolts and 2-56 acorn nuts for the flexible stay bolts.
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
Next up is jacketing. I started by cutting out paper patterns for the different courses.
It wasn't until I had completely finished the jacketing, installed the running boards and test fit the domes that a friend of mine pointed out the handrail tapers upward towards the back. The previous builder had welded the stanchion supports on the boiler and I had just blindly followed his lead. It was clear he simply measured the stanchion distance from top center, not taking into account the increased circumference from the different courses due to the taper of the boiler jacket. I'm pretty sure however that I can patch the jacket once I reposition the stanchion supports.
Then cut several 1/2" strips of 26 gauge sheet steel for the boiler jacket bands on my friend's large shear.
And drilled and tapped some 3/8 angle I had laying around and silver soldered it to the bands for brackets. I fit the bands over the the patterns to make sure everything fit, then cut and rolled the 20 gauge paint-lok material for the jacketing. Adjustments were made over the course of several days with a Dremel. In total it took a week to cut and fit everything together. It wasn't until I had completely finished the jacketing, installed the running boards and test fit the domes that a friend of mine pointed out the handrail tapers upward towards the back. The previous builder had welded the stanchion supports on the boiler and I had just blindly followed his lead. It was clear he simply measured the stanchion distance from top center, not taking into account the increased circumference from the different courses due to the taper of the boiler jacket. I'm pretty sure however that I can patch the jacket once I reposition the stanchion supports.
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
Coming along nicely. Sure looks like a lot of work.
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
So nice to see a model builder taking the LE Atlantic design and taking it to a much higher level of detail including the booster exhaust stack. This alone could mean that the final paint scheme will be one with the Daylight colors. Will make a very elegant locomotive seldom seen.
With the inclusion of the booster exhaust pipe, does this mean the trailer truck may be sporting a dummy booster when completed?
Robert
With the inclusion of the booster exhaust pipe, does this mean the trailer truck may be sporting a dummy booster when completed?
Robert
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Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
A true artist at work.
I can beat sheet metal into submission, but never in my life could I do half of that...
I can beat sheet metal into submission, but never in my life could I do half of that...
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
Looking Great! Were did you get the Worthington feed water pump. Would love to get one for an SP 2-10-2 project I'm working on.
Dave
Dave
Dave Workman
Re: 1.5" SP A6 Atlantic
I agree 100%, looking great. The Worthington feed water pump is a real luxury detail and so often seen on SP steamers. Problem is that finding one in 1.5 scale has always been problematic at best. Would also like to obtain one if possible.
Robert
Robert