DS499 SR Shunting Tractor - First Test Run

[The Bigbee Line]

Please see images of an attempt to power a Bachmann 04 body.

 

I'm using a new Kato power truck.  Complete with coreless motor.

 

First stab was to cut a couple of slots in the footplate and remove some lumps from underneath to allow the body to fit onto the power truck.

Tonights effort was some packing to lift the body to give the correct buffer height.

I need some buffers as one is missing.  Kadee couplers will be fitted.

 

Tomorrow the side shields.....

Edited March 26, 2014 by The Bigbee Line

[Red Devil]

Could you possibly tell me the wheelbase of the Kato truck, I've just ordered one from Japan to mess with and was wondering what I can use it on? Thanks.

[The Bigbee Line]

Could you possibly tell me the wheelbase of the Kato truck, I've just ordered one from Japan to mess with and was wondering what I can use it on? Thanks.

Wheelbase is 31mm.  I got mine direct from Kato USA

[Red Devil]

Thanks, might be a slightly different one to what I've ordered but will soon find out....

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10186721 about £25 inc post

[Grasslands]

Looking good. Here are some shots of the side skirts on mine.

 

 

 

[The Bigbee Line]

A job I have wanted to do for a while is to strip one of my Kato Power trucks with the coreless motor.  I had emailed Kato USA for some information, but they had been sent nothing by the Japanese.  I didn't do anything until reading a post about axle hung motors.  I thought what the heck, what's the worst that can happen?

 

As with all things Kato it shouts quality and is designed to be assembled easily, not take apart.  If you put all the bits in a box and shook them around eventually it would end up in one piece.

 

So here we go:

 

I started by unclipping the motor leads, easy as they are sprung into a groove on each side of the frame (split frames)

 

The motor is held by a 4 legged grey plastic clip.  It was winkled out using one side of some fine tweezers

 

The motor is 20mm x 7mm with a tiny ball joint on the end

 

Under the motor is a 'paper' packing piece

 

Next to come off was the centre pivot.  This too is on four fixings.

 

Final part from the top side is the worm clip.  You guessed it, on 4 legs

 

Here is the worm in position before removal

 

When removed you can see the flywheel, worm and female coupling, plus the two bearings.

 

The sideframes were a little stubborn as it is not immediately apparent what holds them on.  There are two outer arms that are easy to spring out (They will keep springing back together), the two inner arms need to be sprung inwards to release them.

 

The undercart is a little exercise in wrestling

 

Here are the two halves of the main frame with the very tiny gears still inside.  I did not break it down any further.

 

Close up of the motor

[The Bigbee Line]

On examination of the Kato power truck I realised that the conductors that are fitted on the axle ends also act as a form of compensation.  These beams are pivoted in the middle and allow the axles to pivot, yet the gears stay in mesh.  Very clever.

 

 

[The Bigbee Line]

Once I discovered that the Kato Power Truck had simple compensation it became clear that the bulky outside frames were not required and it might be possible to fit it into a small 'wagon' based unit. ie it is wasted on the 04.  One that sprang to mind is DS499 a small shunter based at Lancing Carriage Works.  Its main use was moving coaches on and off the traverser

 

See image below (Thanks to Middleton Press) from the book - Brighton to Worthing:

 

 

As it looks like a shrunken 'pill box' brake I drew up an adaption using Pill Box dimensions and those of the power truck.  There are several things that I will use straight from the Cambrian Kit eg axleguards, but it's a trial run for using the truck.

 

The solebars are 'cut and shut' to give the necessary wheelbase of 31mm

 

 

This show the equalising / pick up beam in its location.

 

 

Shortened main frame 'dry run' over truck axle ends.  You can see the equalising pivot in the middle just under the solebar.

 

 

Need to be patient now to wait for the shortened mainframes to fully set before the next stage.

[PhilJ W]

DS499 was built about 1929/30 by a company called FWD. The company was absorbed about that time by AEC, they used AEC petrol engines. The original locomotives were based on the American FWD lorry chassis of WW1 but by the late 20's were entirely British made. Quite a few locomotives were built for industrial use, the Mumbles Tramway had one fitted with an overhead servicing tower. Most featured a radiator and bonnet at each end, the extra radiator was to aid cooling when running in reverse and the bonnet hiding the fuel tank.

[The Bigbee Line]

DS499 was built about 1929/30 by a company called FWD. The company was absorbed about that time by AEC, they used AEC petrol engines. The original locomotives were based on the American FWD lorry chassis of WW1 but by the late 20's were entirely British made. Quite a few locomotives were built for industrial use, the Mumbles Tramway had one fitted with an overhead servicing tower. Most featured a radiator and bonnet at each end, the extra radiator was to aid cooling when running in reverse and the bonnet hiding the fuel tank.

So it didn't have a power unit under each bonnet, thanks.  Any idea if there are any pictures of the others?

[PhilJ W]

I have seen a picture of the Mumbles one, it ended up as the chassis of a horse drawn coach replica used to mark the 150th anniversary of the tramway. There are no survivors AFAIK but the AEC locomotive preserved at Didcott was built using parts 'left over' from the AWD locos. 

[The Bigbee Line]

Any hints on a 1939 /1930ish white metal radiator / bonnet end would be appreciated.  I need to squeeze as much weight in as possible.  This is where white metal cab would be useful.

[Fat Controller]

Any hints on a 1939 /1930ish white metal radiator / bonnet end would be appreciated.  I need to squeeze as much weight in as possible.  This is where white metal cab would be useful.

ABS or Langley?

http://www.langley-models.co.uk/index.html

[shortliner]

That looks very similar to the US Mack switching loco

http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=3698&forum_id=46&highlight=cab

Edited March 22, 2014 by shortliner

[The Bigbee Line]

Thanks for the link Shortliner. I hadn't thought of casting in whitemetal. I have plenty of donor material. Something to give serious consideration.

 

Note - that's the plus point of RM Web. There's no monopoly on good ideas.

[PhilJ W]

Any hints on a 1939 /1930ish white metal radiator / bonnet end would be appreciated.  I need to squeeze as much weight in as possible.  This is where white metal cab would be useful.

The nearest in appearance would be the contemporary Karrier.

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Karrier_Motors

[The Bigbee Line]

A 'dry run' piece of 30thou plasticard was cut to form a floor.  The Kato truck assembly sits inside the chassis, located by the ends of the stub axles

.

The shortened side frames and the floor were assembled and the solvent left to harden overnight.

 

First job this morning was to spring it onto the Kato truck.

 

Here seen sitting on the track.  The equalising / pick up beams not fitted at this stage.  I will need to check buffer height.  Any adjustments are easily made by altering the axle guard slots.  I need to add packing pieces behind each axle guard, these will be the opportunity to adjust the ride height

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have 2 x 'scale link' AEC "Y" type "00" bonnet/radiator castings ordered.  Once they arrive I can sort out the above floor level bodywork.

 

The task list includes:

 

Finding space for a decoder.

 

Adding as much weight as possible.

 

Fitting Kadee 'scale' couplers

 

[The Bigbee Line]

I took the part finished underframe to the Norwich Model Railway Club and it was running night.  I clipped the worm and motor back into position and tentatively applied some power.  It's a little quick off the mark, but had no problem propelling a raft of wagons around the track.  I was very impressed.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55938574@N03/13434951305/in/photostream/

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55938574@N03/13434947945/in/photostream/

Edited March 26, 2014 by The Bigbee Line

[PhilJ W]

FWD locomotives were sold under the Name of Hardy Rail Motors. After the company was absorbed by AEC they went on to produce the GWR diesel passenger railcars.

[PhilJ W]

There is a picture here of the engine and radiator.

http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/aec1.htm

[sparks]

A good picture of the Padarn Railway Hardy tractor here:-

http://www.penmorfa.com/Slate/padarn-railway.htm

[Lyddrail]

Ernie,

 

There is a picture of DS499 in The Southern Way issue No.29 in a piece "Lancing Pictorial" with many pics of the works.

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

[The Bigbee Line]

Ernie,

 

There is a picture of DS499 in The Southern Way issue No.29 in a piece "Lancing Pictorial" with many pics of the works.

 

Cheers.

Funny you should mention that. I picked up some good magazines at the NNR Steam Gala last weekend and one of those had a picture of the tractor that I hadn't seen. I'll check it out, thanks,

[The Bigbee Line]

The picture I saw was in Railway Bylines - May 1999.

I'll check out the Southern Way. Thanks

[Echo]

I have come into this discussion rather late, but there were a few other Hardy/FWD vehicles around

 

This one was built for New Zealand http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov03_03Rail-t1-body-d10.htmlThe article includes some useful technical information.

 

Also, the Spurn Head Railway (War Department) had a Hardy railcar. See http://www.skeals.co.uk/Articles/Spurn%20Railway.html. No photo, but a mention.

 

Edit

 

Incidentally, there is now a 1:72 FWD Truck kit by Roden which might be a source of some useful parts.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Echo