diesel - electric model

[2671jason]

Has there ever been any construction articles on the early diesel - electric loco's ie class 25 or 31 etc in the model engineering press? I have been toying with the idea but i,m only familiar with steam.

[peterseager]

Jason

There was a set of three articles in EIM describing the building of a Brush Class 31 Locomotive in 7 1/4" gauge. See EIM July, August and September 2005.

I have a battery powered 5"G Hymek and found there is a difference working with diesel outline. With steam you are mostly following the prototype but with the inside of the diesel you have to design it yourself. Being a retired electronics engineer it was fun, hands on like being a junior engineer again, instead of writing specs for other people to have all the fun.

Peter

[2671jason]

Peter
Thankyou for the info. A Brush class 31 in 7 1/4" gauge was exactly what i was thinking of! I've had a Triang one for 00 gauge since i was a youngster in the mid seventies,must have belonged to my eldest brother.My local club has a ground level 7 1/4" gauge track only,so putting two and two together! bingo!I must now go and do a lot more research into these loco,s as i really am out of my normal field.

[jackrae]

For loads of detail regarding the electrical side you will find plenty of reading at www.4qd.co.uk
No connection (no pun intended) just a satisfied user of their equipment.

[angleseyrailway]

BSMEE have built a loco called Thomas Telford. Bob Lilley was the driving force behind it.

Great loco to drive.

[greenbat]

Just spotted this, I thought I'd bring up an idea that's been floating in my head.
Could a model that really is diesel electric be built? Proper engine, genny and everything where they are on the real thing. I've done a few rough calculations, I figured a 1/12 engine in a 1/16 (3 1/2" gauge, to match my tich and Britannia when eventually built) should fit, so a class 37 would have something like 8.8cc/cylinder, 105.6cc in total. Take a lot of making I know, but would be interesting.

[isc]

Greenbat, don't know where you are, but if you can get Model Engineer no., 4439, 21sept - 4 Oct 2012, the cover feature is "Build a real Diesel Elecric Class 47 Locomotive in gauge 1", if it can be done in G1, surely its possible in 3 1/2". I think Edgar WestburyDesigned a twin cylinder 30cc motor called 1831 for 3 1/2" G, and I think similar size 4 cylinder engines have been designed. I don't think you would need quite 105cc, although you want the crankshaft power to be around twice the power you expect from the generating system, and still keep the revs down for normal running. isc

[Tony K]

For those interested, we expect to have a nicely built 5" gauge petrol/electric Class 37 on the Northampton SME stand at Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition next week.

[greenbat]

Sounds interesting. What plans did you use for the loco itself?

[Tony K]

Just making the stand, the model belongs to one of our members. Will report back with more details.

Attachments:

[Tony K]

Oct 17, 2012 10:20:42 GMT Tony K said:

Just making the stand, the model belongs to one of our members. Will report back with more details.

As promised. This is the info provided on the stand

Attachments:

[Tony K]

And Page 2

Attachments:

[greenbat]

Thanks Spot of bedtime reading there!

[fang]

This is something that interests me too. I did come across an article of a very similar set up here

link

This looks to be pretty much the same set up, but using a battery rather than another generator to excite the alternator. I'm surprised that with all the electronics now appearing in Model Engineering that someone hasn't come up with a proper design for an I/C-electric control. The article says that 24v dc motors are used, but the alternator voltage gets up to 40v-50v?

It seems that it is possible to build such as system, but it needs a bit more design work by someone electrically minded to make sure it will all work ok