Building NSWGR Railmotor 401

[springcrocus]

Jan 31, 2021 12:59:58 GMT Jim said:

...developing a heat exchanger between here and the UK, you send us cool air in exchage for hot air.

Jim

Not too sure about this exchange, Jim, we seem to have plenty enough hot air of our own in the UK.

Railmotor is looking really good. I have been quietly following along, and glancing at Boadicea when she's on view.

Regards, Steve

[Jim]

A little more progress on the lock down project with the plug and socket connections completed before heat, humidity and old age got the better of me, I suppose you could add the thought of a soothing ale may have had an influence too. Anyway the connection is now done and all that remains now is to sort out which wires go where.

Fortunately in this particular version of the 400 class the batteries are nicely out of sight in the very large baggage compartment. While this can't be said of the power bogies, compartment walls will certainly restrict their visability.

The photos show the plug and socket connection where the headlight would normally be along with the terminal board ready for the leads to the motors, power and controler.

Stay safe,

Jim

[Jim]

Wiring the railmotor has taken a bit longer than I expected but a test assembly went well so I've moved on to assembling the hand held controller box.

The hand held box is a bit bigger than I'd originally planned but with the commercial controller taking up a fair bit of space a move to the next size up box was required plus I wanted to be able to access and easily connect the various circuits.

The photo shows the batteries in place sitting neatly between where the two power bogies will locate. Adhesion shouldn't be a problem as the batteries are heavy..very heavy. .

I should be ready for a trial run once the final sections of track are in place which shouldn't be too long.

Stay safe,

Jim

[stevep]

Jim, those wires going to the batteries look a bit on the thin side. What current are you expecting to draw?

I would think about using something a bit more substantial

[Jim]

24 volts Steve.

[stevep]

Feb 12, 2021 10:52:12 GMT Jim said:

24 volts Steve.

OK 24 volts, but what current? That is what needs to addressed in the size of the cables.

Divide the HP (746 watts) or the wattage of your motor by 24, and that will give you the current when it is running at full speed and load. On starting, the current could easily be 10 times that (or more).

Your cables only look good enough for about 5 amps.

[Jim]

Thanks for the input Steve but all is ok.

Jim

[Jim]

With the motors in place and wiring tested everything works as it should so I took it for a run on the track and again all went well including the horn .

The next task will be to complete the roof and add the details such as the dummy air horns, marker lights and side skirting along the undersides between the bogies. The front and rear 'cow catchers' will be an interesting project and will need discrete derailment bars to protect them should the unthinkable happen.

It's all good fun and proving to be a great 'Covid Project'

Jim

[Jim]

Having said I'd start on the roof next, I realised there was some work to be done to the underside of the railmotor first, namely fitting the coupler pocket so the ride on carriage could be coupled to the No 1 end, the No 2 end will be the leading end and will be fitted with an auto coupler, mainly for appearances sake.

The other job that needed to be done was the making and fitting of 2 protective bars to prevent damage to the rather complex 'cow' catchers in the event of a derailment, should the unthinkable happen.

The photos show 401 on its back having the protective bars fitted and the rather interesting 'cow catchers' the later models were fitted with to repalce the original  solid plate 'plough' style catcher that were originally fitted. It was found that the solid style restricted the cooling airflow under the railmotor which was needed for the original petrol engines, later refits installed diesel motors with roof top radiators.

Jim

 

[Jim]

Some slow progress with the Railmotor with the completion of the 'cowcatcher'.

This has been an interesting task as I don't have the drawings for this item relying instead on a series of photos taken of sister rail motor 402. The problem is that there seems to be some variations and modifications to the 'catcher' over the years so I've aimed at trying to capture the spirit of railmotor 401 rather than build an exact miniature of the prototype. I hope that makes sense.

The next task will be to fit the buffer beam and brake hoses before moving on to detailing the front of the railmotor with such things as the warning whistle, windscreen wipers and sockets.

It's all good fun and keeping me out of mischief.

Jim

[David]

The cow catcher looks good!

[Jim]

Thanks David. As mentioned it's a combination of various cowcatchers all basically similar but with slight variations. As usual I opted for what looked like the most straight forward version minus the dings and dents.

Jim

[steamer5]

Hi Jim,
Modified for a Roo catcher?

Looking good!

Cheers Kerrin

[Jim]

Things have been a bit hectic of late so progress on the Railmotor has been a bit slow, nothing to do with age of course.

Anyway with a brighter outlook in terms of lifting travel restrictions plus some lovely sunny weather it was time to get back to work on getting the 'front end' of 401 looking a bit more like the prototype.

The buffer beam has been made and fitted which turned out to be more fiddly than I anticipated as I don't have specific plans so no doubt there are some variations I've included that never existed on the original

Being an ill disciplined modeller, once the buffer beam was painted and fitted I couldn't resist setting it all up on its power bogies on the track to see how it looked.

I think Kerrin could be right in calling the 'cow catcher' a Roo Catcher judging by the dings dents and crumples one saw on the originals when they were in service.

The next job will be to add the brake hoses either side of the coupling hook.

It's all fun and stops me going dotty in my old age

Jim

[mugbuilder]

Apr 8, 2021 4:51:48 GMT Jim said:

Things have been a bit hectic of late so progress on the Railmotor has been a bit slow, nothing to do with age of course.

Anyway with a brighter outlook in terms of lifting travel restrictions plus some lovely sunny weather it was time to get back to work on getting the 'front end' of 401 looking a bit more like the prototype.

The buffer beam has been made and fitted which turned out to be more fiddly than I anticipated as I don't have specific plans so no doubt there are some variations I've included that never existed on the original

Being an ill disciplined modeller, once the buffer beam was painted and fitted I couldn't resist setting it all up on its power bogies on the track to see how it looked.

I think Kerrin could be right in calling the 'cow catcher' a Roo Catcher judging by the dings dents and crumples one saw on the originals when they were in service.

The next job will be to add the brake hoses either side of the coupling hook.

It's all fun and stops me going dotty in my old age

Jim

'Dotty Jim' I thought that we are all abit that way to be doing what we ard doing. It would be much easier to be sitting in the pub and playing the 'pokies'.

Barry

[Jim]

Playing the pokies? Now that would send me dotty faster than I'm going as it is, trying to work out how I should fix the buffer beam, with or without springs???

Jim

[Jim]

I made a start today on glazing the front end windows and adding the small detail of the driver's windscreen wiper.

Something I enjoy about all this is that every little bit of detail that's added brings life to the model as you start to see the things you remembered about the full sized railmotors that were part of everyday life.

When completed this will be a much more easily moved and transported model for this senior cit to take to the club track and a friend's private railway. I'm really looking forward to riding behind 401 on its first proper outing.  As an aside I have in the back of my mind a set up that allows a viseo camera to film the journey through the passenger's window opposit the driver's.

It's all great fun

Jim

[GWR 101]

Jim, hope you are well. Wonderful, had to look twice thought it was a photo of a 12" to the foot one. Video camera in the cab, now you are setting the bar high, keep up the good work. Regards Paul

[Jim]

Thanks Paul. I haven't quite worked out exactley how I'll mount the video camera inside the front passenger compartment but I thought it would be a bit of fun to see the track from a different view point plus something to watch when there was a quiet night on TV.

Jim

[coniston]

That's not Alan (Delaplume) sitting in the cab there is it?

As far as cameras have a look at the Mobius or GoPro types, very small and easy to install. I'm sure there must also be some sort of remote operation available for them. The RC plane/drone boys use them a lot for capturing in flight film / images as well as using them or other types for FPV (First Person View) flying with video transmitted back to their screens or goggles. 

You're making a lovely job of the detailing BTW

Chris D