Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

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Pipescs
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Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Better Progress tonight.

Nine holes where they are suppose to be.
DSC_0526.jpg
The brake fulcrum box, that will eventually end up bolted between the frames, and some brass screws was used to double check the fit.
DSC_0525.jpg
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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Pipescs
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Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Four more holes done.

Packing the van to go south to St Petersburg where I will meet up with friends to pick up parts for the PS-4.

I will hopefully be picking up a set of Commonwelth Truck casting for the tender, a 72 inch long piece of ten inch pipe for the boiler, a smoke box cover casting, a pilot beam casting, two frame spreader castings and six driver box castings.

This should keep me busy on the frame for the rest of the year. Which is good because I am pretty sure this is my locomotive allowance for the rest of the year.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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Pipescs
Posts: 2194
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Well lets try this again. I really love it when your laptop battery dies just after you get a long entry typed but not posted.

Drove to St Petersberg to pick up castings and pipe from Earl Mueller and Dave Sclavi for the PS-4. Like Christmas in February.

The largest piece is now strapped down in the wife's van on a cradle. At forty pounds per foot, it was bear to lug up into place in the van.
DSC_0529 (1280x853) (1024x682).jpg
About the same weight was the castings for the Commonwealth Trailing trucks and wheels along with a box of driver box castings from Dave.
DSC_0528 (1024x683).jpg
Last but not least Dave brought me the frame crossties he had cast for me along with his smoke box cover and pilot beam.
DSC_0530 (1024x683).jpg
As I am concentrating on the frame this year this run will give me most of what I need to finish it up.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
mjahn
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Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by mjahn »

Very Cool!
Mattaniah Jahn

Matt Corps. Railsystems,
operating on the Manatee Central RR
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62441046@N06/sets/
Pontiacguy1
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Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pontiacguy1 »

Nice looking piece of 10" pipe there. Wonder where that will be heading?
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Pipescs
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Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Came home yesterday and unloaded it in the shed. What a beast. I figure around two hundred fifty pounds at six feet long. Thats not the least of it either.

Another stray project has come home to my house and I will be enlisting your help at some point. It had that "Save me Charlie" look and as the wife will say "It was on sale"

As I am dedicated to the Pacific I will not mention it here and will send you a PM later tonight.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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Pipescs
Posts: 2194
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Drilling holes today...
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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Pipescs
Posts: 2194
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Drilling holes.

Just came home from Largo Florida meet.

I must appologize but I have had a total mental loss for a name.

I am looking for the Largo Member that sold me the "Rust Bucket" and had the PS-4 for sale. Can you send me a PM. or call me in Athens Alabama I am in the book.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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Pipescs
Posts: 2194
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Still Drilling Holes

This time at the rear of the frame where the cradle will bolt up.

The programable DRO has been a great help here.
DSC_0708.jpg
A few things going on in the background. One was the frame spreader castings. I did two wooden patterns that did not turn out great. In my defense they were my first attempt at a pattern.
DSC_0125.jpg


The mid frame cross tie pattern worked out OK and I did an initial brass casting.

Since then I sent the patterns to Trainman who cleaned them up and took them to Cattail for me.
Horse Back Riding August 2, 2011 023.jpg
The two parts came out very nice.
DSC_0702.jpg
One other line of work is the pattern I have made for the ELASCO feedwater heater. The pattern and sand cores are ready for the first day I can fire up the furnace

The plan is to do it in brass as I have a scrap pile of parts to remelt.
DSC_0706.jpg
Back to the mill. Only six more in this group
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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Pipescs
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Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

The fifteen holes in the frame are drilled for the cradle. The next step is to cut the notch in the frame for the cradle to slide into. I worked up the CAD drawings last night to be able to use the function on the DRO that will allow me to treat the two corners as holes.

The plan is to do the right side and then reverse the frame on the table and do the left.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
User avatar
Pipescs
Posts: 2194
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:16 pm
Location: Lester Alabama

Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by Pipescs »

Beginner Question:

I have to cut the pocket for the Cradle to notch into the main frames. The pocket is .375 deep. I have the X and Y set up as holes for the corners and will cut the shape to them. What is the best way to cut to the depth and get it right?

Any help appreciated.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers


Current Projects:

Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
kvom
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Re: Southern Railways PS-4 Pacific

Post by kvom »

Two ways to control depth on a knee mill.

1) Touch tool to the surface, lock spindle, clamp a spindle stop or use the screw stop, unlock spindle, raise table the desired amount. I use this method for drilling.

2) Touch tool to the surface, lock the spindle, zero knee dial. Now use the knee dial to control depth using the knee. I use this for milling. In your case you can position the end mill over the drilled corner holes to raise the table for each depth increment.
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