Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

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mcjustis
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Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by mcjustis »

Well, I got my plans the other day and made a start this morning. Got quite a bit done. This is my first loco build but I have been making i.c. and steam engines for years. I've been a machinist for a little over twenty years and a tinkerer most of my life so this is right up my alley. I have a very nice club just a few minutes up the road (Indiana Live Steamers) so hopefully will get over there this summer.
I plan on documenting the build on here. We'll see how it goes.
Thanks,
Martin
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by Greg_Lewis »

Welcome Martin! We're eager to watch your progress. And a good choice of engine. I think it is well proportioned and a good size. Not too big, not too small.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
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rmac
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by rmac »

Wait a minute. You made all those parts in one day?

-- Russell Mac
mcjustis
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by mcjustis »

Yep. Couple hours not including the time looking through the prints.
Martin
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Bill Shields
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by Bill Shields »

Really?

What are you using to cut the parts?
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
mcjustis
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by mcjustis »

Yes really using a waterjet. Takes a few minutes to generate the cut file, copy the part x # of times, tab together and bam. Easy peazy.

These are most of the sheet metal parts. All but the frame is stainless. I didn't have any 1/2" thick stainless so they're just a36 plate steel. I think I have all the 1/8" and 1/4" thick parts done. I still have to look through the plans a little more closely and see if I've missed anything.
I ordered the first couple sets of the castings from Allem models. Steve said he's out for a few more days but will get them out when he returns. If he ships as fast as he did the plans I should have castings in about a week and a half.

So let me start with what will I'm sure be a long list of dumb questions. On the plans the pistons and cylinder are both called out as 1 1/4, but if you look through Allen mdls site is shows 1 3/8" rings. Do most just bore out to 1.375? Is it just up to the builder?

Thanks
Martin
Pontiacguy1
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by Pontiacguy1 »

those cylinders will take the 1.375" bore, and that is what you need. if you use the smaller 1 1/4" bore, your locomotive won't have enough power, and will stall out with a heavy load.
mcjustis
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by mcjustis »

Thanks for the help. I'll plan on the larger cylinder bores then.

Martin
mcjustis
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by mcjustis »

Got the spring steel pieces all cut out and de-burred. Only about 3,543 parts left to go. I should be done by retirement.

Martin
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NP317
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by NP317 »

"I should be done by retirement."

Nope. There will always be something more to do...
RussN
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milwiron
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by milwiron »

I am so jealous.
Before I retired one of the departments I had under my supervision was the Toolroom which included a 7 x 14 foot working area, 5-axis, Omax waterjet.
I did a lot of the shop programming for it plus I spent many free hours on my personal projects... all before starting another loco in retirement. Of course now I'm 100+ miles away from it.
Geez I miss that machine.
Keep up the great work!
Denny
"Measure twice, curse once."
mcjustis
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer

Post by mcjustis »

Got a few small parts cut this morning. I need to get going on some mill work on all the frame parts.
Martin

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