The Home Machinist!

Couldn't you just build it with a gear on one of the axles between the rail wheels and have the chassis sit/bolt down so that gear would mesh with the rubber tired frame? Simply unbolt 4 bolts and lift off the frame and place on the rails. Perhaps even the same gear that comes off the engine drive?

Ronald,

Can we talk about the N&W castings shown? Looks like a light driver, T-95 Commonwealth tender truck and pilot truck casting for an N&W J. Is this for 1 1/2" scale?

Thanks,

Peter

I just used poster-board from the dollar store on top of the cork insulation and solid supports for things like the handrails and drew lines on the poster-board. then i cut it with scissors and secured it with blue painters tape. Worked pretty well with some minor adjustments for the difference of t...

Mine were slightly off as well. Just follow the instructions as you have said and all will be fine.

My blowdowns have a stainless steel disc with a hole in them that rotates to align with the hole in the body of the valve. The disc seals against a viton o-ring as opposed to the plastic disc/hole that yours has. The o-ring hardens after about a year or so, so i just change the o-ring. The hole in t...

I also used cork in layers. My jacket is made from sides of old Steelcase office furniture so the gauge is a bit heavier - maybe almost .062. It will take a thread for 4-40 if you dimple it first lightly with a punch. My bell has two 4-40 screws holding it down just to the jacket. The handrails on t...

I used 3/8 stays in original locations. No preference on the type of stay on the crown sheet. I built using the girders but only because that is what was on the print. I omitted a few flues because they were behind the blast nozzle and have had no noticeable effect. I will however use 3/4" flues for...

I just plumbed in 2 valves. One allows steam to the line and cylinder cocks and the other vents that line to the atmosphere. Quick acting and just looks like one more valve on the manifold. Not prototype, but functional. You just have to close one then the other and then reverse the process to open ...

I have done similar to get nice clean faces on the wheels but used Scotchbrite to polish them. Then I have sprayed a clear coat over the now bare metal surfaces. This wont keep the rust away forever as it chips eventually and such, but it keeps the surface rust off and unless you leave it in the sun...

If the trailer has a wooden floor and you are allowed to attach things to it, I have used 2x4's many times to make a set of "rails" and attach various tie down loops or brackets as a temporary transport. I have also made sets with wood that are not attached to the trailer or truck bed, but still use...

Unka Jesse was a great source of information and generally a nice guy and willing to share. He liked to simplify things - meaning uncomplicate them even when building something odd or complicated! It's been a few years since I made it to any MSLS meets myself, but as a beginner in the hobby with eit...

Beautiful!