redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
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 | | 11/03/2008 3:33 PM |
| Today I have only had a little time this afternoon to "play with trains", but I did finish mounting the front beam. No coupler yet, I made a pattern to cast a single pocket link and pin coupler but have not cast the plug or made the mold yet. The coupler will be in my next batch of castings, along with a journal for building my Dynamite car. I'll post pictures when they are cast. I hope to get back out here after dinner and get started on the truck bed......but we'll see what else pops up and demands my time. redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956
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HMeinhold
Fremont,CA
Foreman
Posts:104
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| | 11/03/2008 9:50 PM |
| I have to agree with Howard! The radiant coil is a brilliant idea! You should reveal some of your secrets about making these nice castings....
Regards
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Henner
Donkey Doctor East Devils Hill Lumber Co. | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
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| | 11/04/2008 6:44 AM |
| Hi Henner,
Thanks for the comment. No secrets to my castings, I am a jeweler in "real life" and have been doing lost wax casting for over twenty years. I have all the equipment for modeling in wax, casting, and making vulcanized rubber molds to do duplicate casting. So far I have only done a few train related items in brass, but as I need things I will make molds if it is practical to do so. I have been thinking of building a sterling Loco for a long time...................
redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956 | | | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
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| | 11/06/2008 7:12 AM |
| This is the first update on building the stake body on the Pirate railtruck. First I disassembled the bed down to the point where I could solder on the edges of it. Then I cut some 1/4 inch square brass tubing to use as stake pockets. I soldered them to the bed.
Next I sawed up some stakes to fit the pockets. I know that these are way over scale, but I do want this truck take some abuse. Later they will not look so big I hope.
That is where I am at the start of my day. More later, but maybe not today.(life keeps intruding on the train work)
redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956 | | | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
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| | 11/06/2008 7:52 PM |
| Well I got the bed built! The sides are all wood, but because of the heat and "occasional flame" issue I built a brass front-gate. This will keep the diecast cab from getting scorched, I mean "weathered" ! hehehe
Getting real close to calling it ready for paint. Time to take a step back and consider what else the truck might need.
redbeard AKA Larry Newman | | | |
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weaverc
1st Class Member
Lexington Virginia
Foreman
Posts:326
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| | 11/06/2008 10:29 PM |
| Larry, Very nice job and a fun project to watch. What else does your truck need? Perhaps a driver.. and he'll be well protected from the "weather." | |
Carl Weaver
SA#138
Big Bear Steam Railway
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locoshay
Passenger
Posts:6
Send Message
| | 11/07/2008 2:57 PM |
| Hey Larry,
you need to put Granny, Eli-may and some "Criters" in the bed
Jim | | | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
Send Message
| | 11/07/2008 3:26 PM |
| Hey Carl and Jim,
Either of you (or any one else) know where I can get an engineer in about 1/25 size ?
PREFER an engineer who is also a PIRATE! hehehe.............
redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956 | | | |
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weaverc
1st Class Member
Lexington Virginia
Foreman
Posts:326
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| | 11/11/2008 5:40 PM |
| Larry, Check out Rob Bennet in England at: You can get one ready made and painted, unpainted or, Rob will make you one to suit your needs. I had him make a driver for my 7/8ths tram. I sent him the seat and cab measurments and the results were fantastic. You might have to wait a while for him to make one, but the wait is worth it. Rob can even reproduce your likeness. Rob takes Pay Pal, making payment easy. Or, you can buy a figure and rebend him to fit your solution. This is a Hallmark figure bent to fit in an AMS boxcar door. | |
Carl Weaver
SA#138
Big Bear Steam Railway
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Shay Gear Head
Easley, South Carolina
Foreman
Posts:106
Send Message
| | 11/12/2008 4:13 AM |
| Carl, And which figure was done in your likeness? | |
Bruce Gathman, President
Eldorado Timber & Mining Company
Tall Trees - Deep Shafts
Recreating the past with live steam Shay locomotives and lots of log cars. | |
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weaverc
1st Class Member
Lexington Virginia
Foreman
Posts:326
Send Message
| | 11/12/2008 5:35 AM |
| Bruce, The guy in the box car is my twin brother. He's the handsome one. | |
Carl Weaver
SA#138
Big Bear Steam Railway
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Shay Gear Head
Easley, South Carolina
Foreman
Posts:106
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| | 11/12/2008 8:57 AM |
| | Looks like he could use some dental work. I don't remember your hair, or lack of it, being similar to him either! | |
Bruce Gathman, President
Eldorado Timber & Mining Company
Tall Trees - Deep Shafts
Recreating the past with live steam Shay locomotives and lots of log cars. | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
Send Message
| | 11/15/2008 7:56 PM |
| I still have not cast the front coupler, so I decided to start the painting process. First I cut new wood for the boiler lagging, since the first ones had been"flame weathered" so badly. Then I disassembled the boiler and painted all the pieces, and reassembled it.
Then I painted the stake body the color the truck will eventually be painted.
Nice to hear from you Bruce, sounds like you are almost your ornery old self again!
That's all for today.
redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956 | | | |
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placitassteam
1st Class Member
Placitas NM 20 miles north of Albuquerque
Foreman
Posts:160
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| | 11/15/2008 9:52 PM |
| | That is really coming along and looking very cool!! I wish I had time to do that to at least one of my rail trucks. Don't need another project so they will have to remain battery powered. | |
Winn Erdman Steamaholic 291
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
Send Message
| | 12/27/2008 10:42 AM |
| Hi everybody! I am still here! It has been a long time since I have taken any time with the railtruck. I finally got the coupler cast and made a mold from it to reproduce it. Hope to get a lot more done on the truck before Diamondhead! here is the coupler; Will post more as I get things made.
redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956
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Shay Gear Head
Easley, South Carolina
Foreman
Posts:106
Send Message
| | 12/27/2008 12:42 PM |
| Larry, It appears that the coupler is cast in Silver. Your truck may come up missing in DH! Lots of us need to replenish our portfolios. | |
Bruce Gathman, President
Eldorado Timber & Mining Company
Tall Trees - Deep Shafts
Recreating the past with live steam Shay locomotives and lots of log cars. | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
Send Message
| | 12/27/2008 1:05 PM |
| Hey Bruce,
Just the camera, it's brass!
redbeard | | | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
Send Message
| | 12/27/2008 3:25 PM |
| Worked on the truck some more today. I found some pirate figures! This poor fella has a BIG hook for a left hand, but I figure there's no steering in a railtruck so he'll be all right. Could not get him to stay bent even with heat, so I drilled up through the heels of his pointy toed boots all the way up to his chest and put some brass rods in.
Then I was able to bend him into a sitting position and have him stay. So I built a floor and a seat back and now I have a RED BEARDED pirate in the cab of the truck!
More to come!
redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956 | | | |
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redbeard
1st Class Member
Gonzalez, Florida (Pensacola area)
Foreman
Posts:126
Send Message
| | 12/28/2008 3:11 PM |
| Hi everybody! Got a little more done today. Added some steps for the short-legged pirates to climb up in the truck cab.(using up more Ruby parts ) Also took care of the axle stubs on the front axle. Several people have asked me about them, long term plans are to cast some spoke wheels. That does not seem to be happening very quickly so I cut off the stubs. more as it comes.....starting to think paint! redbeard AKA Larry Newman SA #1956
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CapeCodSteam
1st Class Member
South Dennis, MA
Foreman
Posts:197
Send Message
| | 12/28/2008 10:44 PM |
| | I'm loving this thing. Any chance of seeing it at DH? | |
Kent SA# 4468
LNER Mallard | |
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