Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Moderator: Harold_V
Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Well, I got my plans the other day and made a start this morning. Got quite a bit done. This is my first loco build but I have been making i.c. and steam engines for years. I've been a machinist for a little over twenty years and a tinkerer most of my life so this is right up my alley. I have a very nice club just a few minutes up the road (Indiana Live Steamers) so hopefully will get over there this summer.
I plan on documenting the build on here. We'll see how it goes.
Thanks,
Martin
I plan on documenting the build on here. We'll see how it goes.
Thanks,
Martin
- Greg_Lewis
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- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 2:44 pm
- Location: Fresno, CA
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Welcome Martin! We're eager to watch your progress. And a good choice of engine. I think it is well proportioned and a good size. Not too big, not too small.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Wait a minute. You made all those parts in one day?
-- Russell Mac
-- Russell Mac
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Yep. Couple hours not including the time looking through the prints.
Martin
Martin
- Bill Shields
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Really?
What are you using to cut the parts?
What are you using to cut the parts?
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Yes really using a waterjet. Takes a few minutes to generate the cut file, copy the part x # of times, tab together and bam. Easy peazy.
These are most of the sheet metal parts. All but the frame is stainless. I didn't have any 1/2" thick stainless so they're just a36 plate steel. I think I have all the 1/8" and 1/4" thick parts done. I still have to look through the plans a little more closely and see if I've missed anything.
I ordered the first couple sets of the castings from Allem models. Steve said he's out for a few more days but will get them out when he returns. If he ships as fast as he did the plans I should have castings in about a week and a half.
So let me start with what will I'm sure be a long list of dumb questions. On the plans the pistons and cylinder are both called out as 1 1/4, but if you look through Allen mdls site is shows 1 3/8" rings. Do most just bore out to 1.375? Is it just up to the builder?
Thanks
Martin
These are most of the sheet metal parts. All but the frame is stainless. I didn't have any 1/2" thick stainless so they're just a36 plate steel. I think I have all the 1/8" and 1/4" thick parts done. I still have to look through the plans a little more closely and see if I've missed anything.
I ordered the first couple sets of the castings from Allem models. Steve said he's out for a few more days but will get them out when he returns. If he ships as fast as he did the plans I should have castings in about a week and a half.
So let me start with what will I'm sure be a long list of dumb questions. On the plans the pistons and cylinder are both called out as 1 1/4, but if you look through Allen mdls site is shows 1 3/8" rings. Do most just bore out to 1.375? Is it just up to the builder?
Thanks
Martin
-
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Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
those cylinders will take the 1.375" bore, and that is what you need. if you use the smaller 1 1/4" bore, your locomotive won't have enough power, and will stall out with a heavy load.
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Thanks for the help. I'll plan on the larger cylinder bores then.
Martin
Martin
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Got the spring steel pieces all cut out and de-burred. Only about 3,543 parts left to go. I should be done by retirement.
Martin
Martin
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
"I should be done by retirement."
Nope. There will always be something more to do...
RussN
Nope. There will always be something more to do...
RussN
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
I am so jealous.
Before I retired one of the departments I had under my supervision was the Toolroom which included a 7 x 14 foot working area, 5-axis, Omax waterjet.
I did a lot of the shop programming for it plus I spent many free hours on my personal projects... all before starting another loco in retirement. Of course now I'm 100+ miles away from it.
Geez I miss that machine.
Keep up the great work!
Denny
Before I retired one of the departments I had under my supervision was the Toolroom which included a 7 x 14 foot working area, 5-axis, Omax waterjet.
I did a lot of the shop programming for it plus I spent many free hours on my personal projects... all before starting another loco in retirement. Of course now I'm 100+ miles away from it.
Geez I miss that machine.
Keep up the great work!
Denny
"Measure twice, curse once."
Re: Allen models Fitchburg Northern build by first timer
Got a few small parts cut this morning. I need to get going on some mill work on all the frame parts.
Martin
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Martin
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