A wish list for large scale castings

Discuss park gauge trains and large scale miniature railways having track gauges from 8" to 24" gauge and designed at scales of 2" to the foot or greater - whether modeled for personal use, or purpose built for amusement park operation or private railroading.

Moderators: Glenn Brooks, Harold_V

Forum rules
Topics may include: antique park gauge train restoration, preservation, and history; building new grand scale equipment from scratch; large scale miniature railway construction, maintenance, and safe operation; fallen flags; track, gauge, and equipment standards; grand scale vendor offerings; and, compiling an on-line motive power roster.
OddDuck
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by OddDuck »

Yeah, that's a bit larger than I could handle. That's definitely in the commercial foundry range, just from a safety standpoint. That's a lot of iron. And several hundred pounds of sand per mold. Not to say that it would be impossible in an amateur hobby foundry, but difficult. If it were me, this is an application where traditional pattern making would work well. The cost of plastic filament and machine time is probably what pushed the cost up so high.
Anything slightly smaller? Glenn, the handbrake wheel and wheels would be doable.
"If you took the bones out they wouldn't be crunchy!" -Monty Python's Flying Circus
Mike Walsh
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by Mike Walsh »

Ratchet and Pawls for 12"/15" would be nice. McMaster charges an arm and leg, last I checked.
mattmason
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by mattmason »

That's awesome Scotty. I will look for your PM. I have a ton of wheels, just no frames--yet..
Matt Mason
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by 0351 »

DRGW Brake wheel, ratchet and pawls in 3” scale.
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Glenn Brooks
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Whooo, Nyle, did you really mean to say that the clydiners you mentioned are 3” scale (1/4 scale)? 18.5” tall Seems awfully large for 3” scale miniature loco....

If so, What gauge and useage do you contemplate with something that big? Fascinating project!

BTW, I have a couple of the RMI couplers. I like them so far, but I believe they are in the 2.5” scale range. A true 3” scale build would need a bit larger coupler, I think. :)

Thanks,
Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
LIALLEGHENY
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by LIALLEGHENY »

Glenn,

18,5" height is to the top of the saddle. I'm building a 3" scale, 15" gauge Berkshire using Jim Kreider's drawings, just scaling everything up.

Nyle
Glenn Brooks
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by Glenn Brooks »

odduck, are you still casting builders plates? I would like to talk to you about doing one for my Ottaway, and a second for my Campbell (14” ga) loco.

Thanks
Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
OddDuck
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by OddDuck »

Glenn, PM sent.
"If you took the bones out they wouldn't be crunchy!" -Monty Python's Flying Circus
Glenn Brooks
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by Glenn Brooks »

As a followup to your initial request for possible Park gauge castings, here is my wish list. Basically these are the minimum castings needed to reproduce my 1904 era 4-4-0 in 3” scale (12” or 15” gauge). Sort of In order, from front to rear:

Headlamp - 2 5/16” x 5 7/8”, base = 2 5/16” x 4 3/16”

Smoke stack- base 5 1/2” diameter x 8” tall

Sand dome - 7.5” x 7.5”

Steam dome 9” OD x 8.5” tall

Hand rail stanchion

Smoke box door - 15 1/4” OD

Rear frame spreader - 1” cast bar frame, vertical end pieces: 5” x 5 3/4” tall

Fire box door 7.5” x 6” tall

Smoke box saddle (2 parts) each side 10” wide

Steam Cylinders - 6” x 4.5” Outside measure

Brake cylinder - 3” long x 2” do, flanges are 2 1/2” do

Main drivers - 18 spoke, 13” diameter

Pony wheels, 9 spoke, 6” diameter

Front truck main bearing - two part, male and female socket assembly, approx 4” square, bearing 1.5” OD



Glenn
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Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
LIALLEGHENY
Posts: 362
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:36 am
Location: Bohemia, NY

Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by LIALLEGHENY »

Glenn,

Is that the 1902 A. S .Campbell ? So you want to start building them again....sounds like you need to set up a pattern shop and foundry.

On another note, I really like the Japanese inspired garden you put together....take some pictures in the spring when everything takes root and starts to fill in. Should look great!

Nyle
Glenn Brooks
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Nyle, yes, the same. I’ve always had it in mind to build another one, based on this scale and design- or freelance a ten wheeler, 2-6-2, or larger, using the castings. Everything else is made of bar stock or fab’d up on a mill and lathe. Day dreams maybe. Iam sortof waiting with bated breath to learn if the original patterns still exist. Mr. Campbell’s grandson remembers a box with the word “Patterns” written on it. He is back east now looking for it on the family farm, and said he would forward on if he finds it.

I will be starting back up my reconstruction thread on the loco, likely next week. I do want to get this one serviceable again and “in varnish”. I have an old thread in the build log, but it’s been dormant for couple of years now. Now just finishing up taking measurements and trying to decide what direction to go forward regarding a new boiler. Should be cleaning up and wrenching on the engine starting next week.

Thanks for your kind words regarding the Saikei garden. That’s been a surprising interesting project this summer. I’ve finally finished most all the plantings. Hopefully next spring it will fill in start to take off.

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
OddDuck
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Re: A wish list for large scale castings

Post by OddDuck »

Wow, yeah, that would be cool if the original patterns still existed. If nothing else they could serve as templates to make new patterns to use. Most of those look doable Glenn, guess I've got to step up my game. Here's the thing, even I would have to charge quite a bit for that casting set. How many people out there would actually want one? I don't mind doing a one-off, it sounds like a neat project, but if you are going to go through the trouble of making one, might as well make two or several.
"If you took the bones out they wouldn't be crunchy!" -Monty Python's Flying Circus
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