diesel loco grilles

[brush4]

Hello People.

i am building several diesel outline models in 5inch gauge, including class 09, 45, and derby lightweight DMU, but what so far, i have never seen, are prototypical radiator, bodyside and roof grilles.

most models have them moulded in the fibreglass shell.

what i would like to do is on my class 45 to start with, is cut out the bodyside and fit proper metal grilles.

what i am after is suggestions on either how to make good reproduction grilles, or if anyone knows people who could make them ie etched grilles.

also, within a 5" standard gauge shell, has anyone found an engine which would fit inside a loco that doesn't sound like a lawn mower or moped. if it is possible, i am considering to possibly try diesel electric power in the 45. given if it is not possible, does anyone produce decent sound units for diesel locos?

thank for any help that may come my way

[lancelot]

Hello Brush4,
the latest issue no.113...of Model Engineers Workshop...has something along those lines ...the construction of a Louvre tool for making ventilation grilles, hope this is of some help.
All the best for now,
John.

[chris vine]

You might find a realistic power unit for 5" gauge diesel in a model shop. I see that there are some amazing looking multicylinder 4 stroke engines, made in japan of course, available these days. Driving an alternator you could have quite a lot of power.

You would, of course, have to arrange some forced cooling but this would add to the realism etc etc....

chris.

[spurley]

Hi there 'Brush'

I am not really up on diesels and the like but during the MESNI visit to the Dublin Model Engineer's they were running a 7 1/4" ground level line with a GM 200 class 'lookalike'. This loco did have an air cooled petrol engine fitted which drove a hydraulic pump and the final drive was via nicely controllable hydraulic transmission. The interesting bit, apart from all the work above, was a 'mod' the owner had done to the exhaust. He had fitted a small take off from the exhaust manifold and fitted a whistle, this gave a very realistic diesel loco exhaust sound which you might want to try to copy?

Cheers

Brian

[brush4]

Thanks for the info so far gents.

i guess that the small whistle off the exhaust manifold would make a sort of turbo whistle sound, would have to do a few experiments to get the tone right.

the advantage of the class 45 is that for an internal combustion engine that is water cooled there is two side radiators and a roof fan so with a bit of ducting should get some good cooling.

i would like to get electric traction rather than hydraulic, and i know larger scales people like old car engines with an auto box fitted, but the standard gauge profile in 5 inch is tight.

all this is still in the planning stage whilst i finish my son's 5" sentinel then get onto the DMU.

which brings me onto the dmu question i have, i wish to connect the electric motors to the wheel-sets via a drive-shaft and gearbox, similar to the prototype, are there any systems available for this?

thanks again. brush4 (Ian Godfrey)

[lancelot]

Hello Ian,
try this web site...

www.robotstoreuk.com

hope this works for you,
All the best for now,
John.

[greasemonkey]

Hi Ian
If you have a cad packag it will be easy to make a set of louvers and get them cut from 0.5mm steel. Think of them as lots of seperate strips. The 2 verticals need slots cut in them to half depth at the appropriate angle then you just need to slide in the horizontals with matching slots.

Andy

[alanstepney]

The easiest tool for making louvers is a Hunton bolster. They do louver tools in various sizes, and some, adjustable.
That and a fly press and you are away!

[the_viffer]

brush4 said:

does anyone produce decent sound units for diesel locos?

<tongue in cheek>
Brush4 hah ****ing Brush 4s!
Still you redeem yourself with some decent locos you are building.
</tongue in cheek>

For sound units and etching ideas you could do worse than see what the electric mice people do. Here is a link that might give you some ideas www.merg.org.uk/links.htm.

I have a commercial sound generator. I forget who made it out in Norfolk as I recall. I think both Dan Jeavons and Robin Neighbour in Bexhill supply them. By adjusting various pots you can get a range of sounds from low speed engines to those with lots of turbine whistle. The sound varies as a function of the main speed controller pot position. The output really needs to be amplified quite a lot. It sounds loud in the 'shop but when it is out in the open with lots of road and motor noise it is barely audible.

I have etched name plates and so on in the past and I don't think it'd hard to etch a grille if you wanted.


One day I plan to drive one of my electric locos using my Mastiff 24cc flat four driving a 24v Land Rover alternator into a 4QD controller. An FX4 taxi passenger compartment heater matrix looks to be about the right size to cool the engine. They are a little tricky to come by these days but I imagine a motorbike radiator would be fine if you didn't have one to hand. It'll probably never happen. What is more likely is that I'll do the same with a commercial twin cylinder that looks like an old Bolinder.

Dan listed drawings and castings for a 2x full size Mastiff which would make a super power unit for a loco. It'd not be a quick job tho'. I think Dan can supply pressed louvres.

Chris Kelland (who I've just realised I owe a reply to: sorry Chris) is also an electric loco user and may have some ideas.

[brush4]

Hi Chaps.

thanks again for this info. so much to think about. the main trouble with the class 45 grilles are that they are so fine in 5" which is why i was wondering about etch rather than making individual slats. i think i shall need at least 30 in a space of a couple of inches. will have to get to a loco to count. i have pictures but not too clear.

thanks again.

[chris vine]

I am wondering if you could not get them etched or laser cut in a flat sheet and then twist the slats to the correct angle? A bit of experimenting would answer the question......

Chris

[Chris Kelland]

Hi All,

I use Trax sound units and find them to be good and not too dear, look at www.traxcontrols.com/ what you need is the DESM-2 , it has an amplifier in it. Don't forget they run on 12volts, so you will need to run it from one of the traction batteries. Also, the unit is designed to run with 4QD controllers, so life is made pretty simple. My only complaint is that the sound is not too loud - but its great when at a stand and then moving off. Cheap-ish, compared to others!

For info on controllers and drives look at www.4qd.co.uk/

If you wan't info on motors look at www.technobots.co.uk/


Regards,



Chris K.

[greasemonkey]

Hi Brush 4
I guess your talking about grills like these? www.45132.com/presdayspic05.htm
Are the horizontals at an angle or flat?
Have a look in the V200 gallery here gallery.phoenixlocos.com/index.php
All the detail parts like the grills and cab console are fabricated from etched Nickle Silver parts so it should be possible, have a chat with Keith at Phoenix Locos to see if he can help.

Andy

[the_viffer]

Having dragged myself home from work at 23.30 (I left at 06.45 this morning) I've turned up my copy of British Rail Main Line Diesel Locomotives by CJ Marsden and GB Fenn ISBN 0 86093 544 2. It has a number of good clear photos of class 45 (and 44 & 46) grilles. I'm afraid that it doesn't look like it'll scan well but you might get a copy from your library

[brush4]

the grilles on the v200 are excellent and are the sort of standard i would like. unfortunately the class 45 link timedout before opening. the horizontals on the 45 to the best of my 'current' knowledge are flat