Hunslet Engine Works in 7mm Scale

[Andy Ross]

Continuing on from previous page last post.  

 

 

Good job we never said we would take this to a show since I changed the V70 to an XC60. It did all go in but I had to use the front seat and there would be no room for bags, stock boxes and a spare operator. 

 

The new layout is still planned to go into the next new car. 

 

But moving this and having three trips to the tip with the car full has crated the space to move forward and set up the 3d printer. 

 

I have to say it is very easy to use and so is the software to convert the files ones you have a bit of guidance from a friend. 

 

I wanted to start with something simple so after doing the pre program test part I drew up some parts for the brake gear for the MOD loco. 

 

       

Some of the parts above. With my first attempt at printing below.

 

 

 

I have learnt a lot from this and some of the parts have come out ok for use so filling stillages with parts for the shop has just got very easy. 

 

I am hoping to have another go this weekend with some of the Snowdon parts and some mods to the brake gear parts. 

 

So it is a bit haphazard but progress is again being made. 

 

Andy 

Edited July 6, 2022 by Trams and Locos

[Andy Ross]

As suggested above I have got round to prepping and printing some Snowdon Diesel Locomotive parts. 

 

I have to say the assembly shown as a 3d drawing the previous page, has come out far better than I expected. 

 

                 

 

These will add to the scene for the assembly of the locomotive I the shop.

 

The loose parts will fill stillages int the shop.  

 

      

 

I also printed some more parts for the MOD brake gear. I am also learning the best way to set things out on the printer as I am still having the odd distorted parts. 

 

 

 

Apart from a couple of re- prints I have done all the parts drawn to date so I need to go back on to the 3d Cad as I have a few ideas that I want to try. 

 

I must also not forget to get on with the base board drawings. 

 

Andy

 

 

[SR71]

Great to see some updates on this. One of the most ambitious projects on here and yet you keep pushing the bar higher with each update.

[Andy Ross]

Although I said I should not get to engrossed with the new 3d printer and I should get on with base board design, I failed. 

 

With this initial success I continued to do more design work and to see if I could find some suitable 3d down loads of Diesel engines.  

 

The design of the RE4 Hunslet Gearbox has advance and I am very pleased with how these have come out.

 

        

 

 I have found a few engines on several different sites, unfortunately as you would expect most of them are all a bit modern. 

 

For two of the locos I have in build for the layout I really need a Rolls Royce C6. But these are very old and there are no 3d models for these. I am trying to track down some drawings to see if I can draw one up myself, but that could be quite a big job. In the meantime I am going to have use what I can find.

 

It is also obvious that these have not been drawn to be reduced to 7mm scale, so they do have some issues when printed. On saying that, parts of them have come out with incredible levels of detail. 

 

    

This is listed as a Cummins engine and I think it is the small 6B engine and is the best one for printing with very few issues. What I cannot get my head round is how it prints such fine detail - note the loop on the top of the dipstick tube. This is one option for the loco builds if I can fudge the size to make it fit.

 

 

 

This is also listed as a Cummins and looks like the NT Big Cam engines which is the alternative to the C6 and was fitted to lots of locos over the years. The print is for a larger scale truck Aplication and the transmission on the back will need to come off. As it was meant to be printed at a larger scale it does have areas that fail. It has the fan on but everyone has detached when printed. 

 

 

This is A a Caterpillar 3306 - This is an engine that went into a Hunslet locomotive. The 150hp mines Rack Adhesion locomotives. 

It will need the Turbo removing and the manifold altering but it is a good stating point. Again I don't think this had been designed for printing as there are very fine details. 

 

I have only had the printer for a few weeks and there is still much to learn but I am getting there. 

 

I will follow this with some more bits but I have maxed out on the photos for this post. 

 

Andy 

 

[Andy Ross]

Following on from the post above. see below one of the axle boxes I have printed. Parts like this will be used to fill areas of the workshop. 

 

 

Although you can see some lines on the print, you can not see these when looked at normally. 

 

I have also come across a 3d drawing of the Hunslet Snowdon cab on the server at work. I knew it would not print as it was as the 6mm plate would be like paper when printed. I doubled the thickness of the the plates and thought I would see what happened. 

 

 

It did come out but still far too thin. However it looks better than I expected and I am going to redraw with some stiffness and add the doors to see how it looks. 

 

On saying that I dropped it on the etched frame and put the axle units shown in an earlier post and the loco is starting to come together. 

 

Next weekend the plan is to paint some of the prints so that will be another learning curve to go through. 

 

If anyone is in Swindon over the weekend of the 10th and 11th September please come along to the Festival of Model Railways at the Steam museum and see the progress with the project. 

 

Regards

 

 

Andy 

 

 

[Andy Ross]

So the new 3D printer is still taking over all my time but it is producing items to fill space at the boiler shop end of the layout which will be a big area to fill.

 

Although I have etches for more Snowdon Loco frames I thought I would have a go printing one. 

      

It has taken a couple of goes so far and there are some minor issues. Despite this, they have come out well enough to use as a frame being welded in the fabrication (boiler) shop.

 

The same goes for the cab although these have come out far better.

 

 

I am having one more go for now at both the frame and the cab to try and sort the issues.For thought interested this is what they look like set up for printing and it it is mid way through the print as I type this. Resin Printing is a slow process and this wi take 6 hours to do.

 

I will see if I can print a cab at some point with windows frames and doors fitted etc. I will have to find way to have separate roof though so I can fit the desk, seat and glazing.  The other option would be to have an etch cab and just print the roof.

 

All of these are distractions from building the layout and I need to decide which should take priority. Does anyone else have a similar delema?

 

Either way it is all progress. 

 

Andy 

 

 

 

[Barry O]

Get the baseboards sorted else you will have loads of bits and nothing to put them on!!

 

Baz

[Andy Ross]

Yes you are right, I am getting to that stage now so I need to get the drawings for the boards finished and to start putting the main structure together. 

 

Once we get back from Swindon I will get back on it. (I have some mods to do to one of the cranes between now and Swindon).

 

 

[Andy Ross]

The preparations for Swindon are nearly there. 

 

The most important job was to modify the second crane crab by fitting the pickup skates. this went well and I also managed to do this without having to remove the hoist rope which is always a pain. By manually winding the block right up it wedged itself under the drum and none of the ropes came off any of the pulleys.

 

 

I also added the weight needed to counteract the force of the skate springs. These are already fitted to the original crab and make the cross travel far more realiable.

 

I also took the opportunity to fit the wooden walkways on the main structure.

 

 

After all this whilst I was testing the crab cross travel I also managed to drive the block back down and get the complete unit back into is transport frame still without disturbing the ropes. 

 

 

I have also been priming up some more figures, stillages and trestles for my wife to paint and weather while we are there. 

 

If anyone is attending Steam in Swindon over the weekend of the 10th and 11th September please come along and have a chat and all being well I will be demonstrating the double lift and wheeling of the MOD loco.

 

 

[Andy Ross]

So in the build up to Swindon I wanted to get some benefit from all the effort working out what could and could not be done with the 3d printer. 

 

As commented in earlier post I had found some engines to download and one looks like it is a Cummins NT. the problem is that it comes with a truck transmission on the back which is totally different to what is used in locos.  

 

However I discovered a tool in Fashion were you can create a plane and use this to cut the downloaded STL image. 

 

The other problem I had was getting the rear engine mounts onto the engine in the right place. I had already accepted that I would have to come up the the transmission drawing to I decided to include the bell housing and the engine mounts in the transmission drawing. I then cropped the original transmission of the engine along with the bell housing. 

 

   

 

The original file with the transmission.

 

 

Transmission removed along with bell housing. 

My transmission drawing. 

 

With all this done and several attempts at printing the files I now have these fitted to the MOD loco used for the double lift. See original video at the start of the thread.

 

     

 

The fan is very delicate and I have lost some on several print attempts. However I have managed to trim this one so if fitted in the radiator cowling. 

 

 

I have also managed to do a drawing of the oil coolers scaled of the outlines on a piping drawing. 

 

I am pleased with the outcome but it is still the wrong engine and I am currently searching for a drawing of a Rolls Royce C6 for both this and the Snowdon locos. If anyone has one please let me know. 

 

On saying that it looks a lot better for wheeling than it did a few weeks ago.  

 

 

I know I have already said this but if you can, come along to Steam in Swindon at the weekend and say hello. 

 

Andy 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2022 by Trams and Locos

[Andy Ross]

Swindon Exhibition at the Steam museum went very well. 

 

I had a few issues with dirt on the long travel of the cranes on Saturday but after a bit of persuasion I used a graphite stick on the track and all the issues went away.     

 

The wheeling worked well and we went through the sequence several times each day. 

 

 

 

Unfortunately it is not that easy to photograph at exhibitions but hopefully you can see what is going on.

 

 

What has dawned on me that we are in the Swindon works and this is the first time that a locomotive has been wheeled on this site with overhead cranes since the works closed.

 

With all the positive comments it has given me the impitence to get on with baseboards. Most of the structure is already made and ready to assemble.

 

it was also good to meet some followers of the blog and have a chat about the project.

 

All in all a good weekend.

 

Andy  

Edited September 12, 2022 by Trams and Locos

[37114]

Was great to meet and chat with you on Saturday Andy, look forward to seeing this continue to develop 

[Andy Ross]

After a successful show in Swindon in two weeks time it is our own club show in Leeds. 

 

I will have all the display including the working cranes and doors for the erecting shop. So please come along to the Grammar School on the 22nd and 23rd October and say hello. 

 

Since Swindon I have got on with the baseboard design and this is getting very close to cutting wood. As some of you know joinery is not my forte so I am working with Peter Kirmond and we are targeting getting these built for the end of the year. 

 

I hope this gives you an idea how things will look. 

 

[Andy Ross]

Had a little break from Baseboard design. 

 

For the MoD loco I use for wheeling I did the etch for the control desk when I did the rest of the design - there is one in the loco but it has non of the controls fitted. As usually the problem of building part built locos means I needed all the valves etc. that go in the desk. As you can see I have been 3D printing engines and other big lumps needed. 

 

A few weeks ago my Friend Peter Kirmond asked if I could print some brake blocks for his 1/48 Big Boy locomotives he uses on his Laramie layout. So when I finished drawing these I set about and did the drawings for the valves etc for the desk and had a printing session.  Despite it being much cooler than recommended in my garage for printing, everything came out fine. 

 

Brake blocks for Peter Kirmond.

Laramie will be at our Leeds Exhibition at the Grammar School o the 22nd and 23rd October. 

 

Compared to the brake blocks some of the parts for the desk were tiny and subsequently quite fragile but in the main all the bits fitted. 

 

  

 

In the centre of the desk is the handbrake column, to the left under the nearest cross shaft is the drivers brake valve. In the real world this is operated by the outer levers. the inner levers on this shaft should be on a tube over the shaft and operate the throttle. There is a stop on the desk and there would be a cable to the fuel pump.

 

The other shaft has the forward and reverse shaft. On these locos this is five position with a neutral position and two speeds forward and reverse. If I remember correctly they were Clarke Power-shifts. On the right hand side of the desk you can just see a small right angle drive and an electric selector switch. At the other end of the shaft is a location plate. 

 

 

You can see on this view the lower part of the hand break  column with the trunnion that runs up and down on the lead screw. With the desk fitted to the frames two pull rods fit to this and connect to a crank and linkage the pulls on the main brake shaft. 

 

There is still a gap in the desk for the Train brake valve but I am struggling to locate enough information to draw this up. 

 

If you want to see samples of the printed parts or anymore of the display it will all be there to see at the Leeds Exhibition. 

 

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by Trams and Locos

[Stephenwolsten]

I saw your Hunslet project in the early days when it included card/foam 'mock ups' of buildings and various reference documents.  I think this was in the corner of an O Gauge show but I can't remember which one - certainly several years ago.   It's good to see the progress and the great attention to detail.  I can't visit the Leeds Show but hope to catch up with you in the future.  I also like the Laramie diorama with its good lighting, viewing height and different subject matter.

[Andy Ross]

Hi 

 

Thank you for the comments. 

 

The next booked outing at the moment is York at Easter.  
 

May have a proper baseboard with most of the structure erected.  
 

Andy

Edited October 15, 2022 by Trams and Locos

[St Enodoc]

On 24/04/2022 at 08:32, Andy Ross said:

So its bee a while since I posted anything and the loss off all the photos is very disappointing. I tried to up load a few, but it will take for ever so that is not going to happen. Let's hope they manage to restore them all. 

 

One of the the reasons there has been little physical advancement in the layout is that I have been learning how to use 3D Cad. I have tried in the past and not managed to get my head around it. I have this time got a lot further as you can see from the short video below.

 

This is a D & M Brake Cylinder for the Snowdon locos. There is a photo below of the real thing on the loco, just below the cab. 

 

 

 

I am going to continue with a few more items for this loco and arrange for a fellow club member to do some prints and see how they come out. 

 

Andy 

Was that Roger's last design? I remember him giving a talk on it at an IMechE meeting many moons ago.

[Andy Ross]

No Roger was around until Telfos took us over a few years after the first two were built.  

[Andy Ross]

So with our exhibition at the weekend at the Leeds Grammar school I have managed some last minute 3d printing. 

 

After a serious rummage through the Davis and Metcalfe files at work I found a manual for dual operated train brake valve arrangement. Although it was not a detail drawing there was enough basic dimensions to do a 3d drawing. 

 

 

 

The connection between the master valve side and the slave leaver is actually a chain. This would have been too small to print so it is just a representation of a chain. 

 

I also found a drawing for sand ejectors so they were drawn up. 

 

They are very small but they finish off the sand boxes. although these are not very visible with the loco on the track, you will be able to see them when the loco is suspended on the crane. 

 

 

They are set up to print as a set of four. 

 

 

The view below also shows the 3d printed brake gear. Not sure how long this will last but it is quite flexible so should take a knock. Also in the view is the drawer pockets and axillary air reservoir.

 

I know I have already mentioned it but don't forget it is the Leeds exhibition this weekend at the grammar school. If you come along, please say hello. 

Edited October 18, 2022 by Andy Ross

[St Enodoc]

3 hours ago, Andy Ross said:

If you come along, please say hello. 

If only...

[Andy Ross]

All set up for the Leeds show at the Grammar School. One of the cranes has been stunbborn today but after some tweaking they are both working ok.

 

 

The workshop section is looking full with the MOD loco for wheeling, a Snowdon rack loco in build along with a Bord na Móna. 

 

The small loco on the test is a 2" gauge 28hp mines loco for India. 

 

If you have the chance please come along and say hello. 

Edited October 22, 2022 by Andy Ross

[Andy Ross]

Today has been a good day at the Leeds show both for the display which has had some good positive feed back and for the club as well due to good flow of visitors. 

 

I need to do a little maintenace on one of the crane crabs in the morning but generally everything is good.

 

 

 

Mike Edge also brought along a couple of Hunslet Diesels to add to the display. 

 

The standard 388hp 0-6-0 looks small next to the MoD 0-4-0 but this is due to the Mod loco being built to German loading gauge. 

 

The show is open tomorrow (Sunday) 10:00 to 4:30 if you want to came along and say hello.

Edited October 24, 2022 by Andy Ross

[Andy Ross]

Sunday was another good day at the show apart from an intermittent short on one of the crane crabs that would still not go away. At one point I thought I had found it, the flange of one of the wheels was just rubbing on the underside of the dummy gearbox for the Auxiliary hoist. But this on its own could not be the problem. Fortunately, fellow member Ian Morris spotted some binding on the diagonally opposite wheel. This again was the flange catching the edge of a hole in the bed plate that should have been clear but was not by a fraction of a millimetre and could not be seen. With a bit of digging and scraping with a scalpel the problem was final solved.

 

There was also a lot of talk over the weekend about the baseboards and this is now moving forward. The plan is to have these by the end of the year. I was also talking to the York Show Exhibition manager, and I have committed to hopefully having the main board with most of the structure mounted by Easter to form part of my demonstration display.  I seemed to remember saying at one point in this project I would not give myself deadlines and I was not even in the pub when I said this. 

 

Andy 

[simontaylor484]

Andy

 

I saw your work at the Leeds show on Sunday its fantastic. I didn't get chance to talk to you about it as you were busy trying to get the crane to work properly.

Would love to see it on baseboards 

[Andy Ross]

Its official - I have finally finalised the phase one design of the base boards and the drawings will be passed on to my friend Peter Kirmond at the NEC next weekend. This will include a full size plot of the top with all the slots in for the pit and the door mechanism. 

 

I have purchased three sets of adjustable trestles to use as legs for the time being which will allow the boards to be a different levels for different stages of building. 

 

I also found some thin head bolts for securing the door shaft brackets etc. the holes will only need counter boring 1.4mm deep keeping everything flat on the baseboard top. I have also obtained the special counter bore tool. 

 

In Addition I finally sorted the etch out for the wheel shop structure. I had finished this months ago but it also had a lot of parts for the Snowdon loco included on the sheet which I have now 3d printed. I have removed all these parts and re-nested the parts on the drawing and sent it off to PPD today.

 

This makes both types of uprights/crane supports and the crane tracks. 

I have made the tracks so they will accommodate a working crane but this is way down the priority list at the momnet and will probably only work on the long travel.

 

 

See photo of actual wheel shop below. 

 

 

It's been a long time coming, but we are finally moving onto the next stage. No more mock ups and trials. All these will now be but put into practice.

 

With all the prebuilt structure available we should see some real progress in the New Year. 

Edited November 20, 2022 by Andy Ross