darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Mar 13, 2022 8:59:42 GMT
6200 now has some plate detail, thanks to Paul Smith at the amazing fk3dprinting. Paul designed and rescaled them from drawings, replicating the fonts. All in a few days and for under £20. Outstanding service. Darren
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Mar 15, 2022 14:54:35 GMT
Trying out some smoke effects. More for fun than anything really.
This 12v unit pulls a shade over 3A for the fan and heater.
I had been planning on using a 12v solenoid valve on the outlet, just below the petticoat pipe. However, I can't help wondering whether I'd get a realistic output in motion if I plumbed the smoke output into the cylinder admission ports...
Darren
|
|
|
Post by steamer5 on Mar 15, 2022 20:56:11 GMT
Hi Darren, That works well. I put one in Toby years ago, it’s ok inside, outside if the winds not blowing it’s ok…. Just! Turned a few heads when I first ran it.
Cheers Kerrin
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Mar 19, 2022 17:28:42 GMT
I'll bet Kerrin! That must really have looked the part. I do think most smoke units struggle to be visible outside. Something in the 'smoke' doesn't seem to contrast particularly well unless there is a dark background. It may be a volume thing I suppose - even high output units don't seem to compare with proper steam. I am quite tempted to try a high output vape unit at some point but the projects list is long enough as it is I notice there is a subculture amongst those who use these, to produce high volumes and the stuff always seems pretty visible. There may be an option there although I'm not sure how well the units work at being switched repeatedly. Darren
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Mar 19, 2022 21:17:47 GMT
The valves and pistons have been pulled and I'll store them away rather than risk wear from running. I think I might have been able to protect the valves with a small amount of oil in the steam admission ports but the pistons are another matter and it seemed to make sense to mitigate the risk to both. I've designed and printed a mounting bracket for a hall sensor which is bolted to the brake hanger mounts for the rear driver on the chassis. The sensor is hooked up to the chuff input trigger on the sound decoder. It closes the circuit every time one of the small magmets passes in front of it. You can just about see the magnet on a spoke in the picture The magnets are placed on the back of a spoke corresponding to FDC of each cylinder. This picture shows relevant spokes identified with marks on the wheel rim at each of these places. and the result - chuffs which should always be in sync with the loco speed. Additional triggers are being installed to activate a samples Princess whistle, and either a brake squeal or a blowdown effect.
Darren
|
|
samc88
Active Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by samc88 on Mar 20, 2022 22:53:57 GMT
This is a really interesting thread. I wonder if this approach will be more common in future
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Mar 21, 2022 17:56:44 GMT
This is a really interesting thread. I wonder if this approach will be more common in future Thanks very much It's a very subjective thing but peronally, I doubt it. I can't see too many people forsaking the attractions of steam.
That said I hope it is a viable option these days for those who still want to run something that looks the part and are willing to compromise on the rest. for whatever reason.
Technology is making it fairly easily achievable and as the whole EV movement drives forward battery and controller technology at a frantic pace, the improvements are likely to make it an option in the smaller scales too - I think you'd still really struggle to make a 3 1/2" gauge conversion which was self-contained and could pull a reasonable load.
I've had several people come out of the woodwork to either share their own conversions or to express an interest in doing something similar.
There are definite positives to it all. I know I'd certainly chose coal over electricity for the whole experience though, given the choice !
Kind regards Darren
|
|
|
Post by delaplume on Mar 23, 2022 0:56:52 GMT
The valves and pistons have been pulled and I'll store them away rather than risk wear from running. I think I might have been able to protect the valves with a small amount of oil in the steam admission ports but the pistons are another matter and it seemed to make sense to mitigate the risk to both. I've designed and printed a mounting bracket for a hall sensor which is bolted to the brake hanger mounts for the rear driver on the chassis. The sensor is hooked up to the chuff input trigger on the sound decoder. It closes the circuit every time one of the small magmets passes in front of it. You can just about see the magnet on a spoke in the picture The magnets are placed on the back of a spoke corresponding to FDC of each cylinder. This picture shows relevant spokes identified with marks on the wheel rim at each of these places. and the result - chuffs which should always be in sync with the loco speed. Additional triggers are being installed to activate a samples Princess whistle, and either a brake squeal or a blowdown effect.
Darren
You can see quite clearly why I think the main driving wheels are based on a GWR design.....
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Apr 5, 2022 17:03:07 GMT
The tender is now powered by magic.
The 4QD controller has an optional Radio Control interface which I am testing here, including the all-important kill-switch function.
Whilst I wait for the boiler, the next task will be to put the coal load on and to address my terrible attempt at lining
Darren
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Jun 1, 2022 15:47:08 GMT
The old girl went to be fitted for her boiler recently, using a Duchess boiler to the Breeze design, as a test mule. Overall impressions were good - another couple of inches of length on the front of the barrel and an inch on the firebox for the backhead. the top feeds also need moving a bit. There seems to be a something of a mix when it comes to the steam dome. Some sport one and some don't. I've decided to go without initially. It's easier to add later than remove... Placing the boiler on the chassis certainly transforms the look dramatically Darren
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Feb 22, 2023 17:58:43 GMT
A tiny bit more progress on 6200 as she starts to come together. At this point she is seriously heavy and I'm going to have to look to relocating her to the workshop. The chassis is just about man-handle-able, but once the running boards, boiler and cab are mounted there's no picking it up on my own!
The next task is to pop the running boards on and to get her outside on the track with her tender for a photo-op!
After that I need to start working on the rest of the details!
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Mar 1, 2023 11:21:21 GMT
After a respray of the boiler since I wasn't happy with the colour being a good match, I had the first chance to get her out on the track for some pictures!
and to test the sound/motion.
This sound is provided by an ESU Loksound DCC decoder. The motion by a 4QD system in the driving truck. Marrying everything together has been possible with commercial offerings thanks to Steve Foster at Fosworks.
The solution is a Fosworks radio transmitter sending speed, direction and function signals to a Fosworks receiver in the driivng truck. The receiver splits the signals sending DCC to the Loksound which believes it is operating a steam loco and makes sounds accordingly, and an ESC connection which provides a PWM speed signal to a 4QD Radio Control Interface. This interface acts just as the usual control handset would do for the 4QD controller.
Initial testing was a success with just a few issues to fix -
|
|
samc88
Active Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by samc88 on Mar 1, 2023 17:44:56 GMT
Excellent work! Did you do any more research into a smoke unit for outdoors?
|
|
darrene
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 440
|
Post by darrene on Mar 1, 2023 21:27:26 GMT
Thanks Sam.
Yes, I have some ideas for what should work. I need to find some time to experiment however.
In short, it's looking like 4 pairs of coils, based on vaping components: 0.5 ohm sub ohm coils, connected via 2 pole ceramic blocks. Strips of cotton wadding inside the coils, wicking from a bath of glycerine.
All that lot sits inside a case pressurised by a high static pressure fan. The trick then is letting the pressurised smoke escape in chuffs, either by a servo controlled or solenoid valve.
That setup should give the volume needed in theory but some experimentation will no doubt be needed. I'll be sure to post my results when I get around to trying!
|
|