petertg Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Hi all! I beg your pardon for being so boring with my Wrenn locomotive but, after having the engine dismantled for six months at least or even more, the inevitable has happened. After taking it out of its box, fiddling around with it as you all know, putting it away again, taking it out again umpteen times, now that it seemed that I was on the right track and could start rebuilding it, I have discovered that a piece is missing. I have lost the tie-bar connecting the engine with the tender. If there is anybody out there with a Wrenn City class locomotive and could post me a drawing and the dimensions of the tie-bar so that I can try and make a new one, I would be eternally grateful. P.S. It's OO gauge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 They are usually available on eBay* (the one from the Dublo 'Duchess' is the same AFAIK despite the different part numbers**) (I assume you mean the loco drawbar and not the plate and peg bolted on the front of the tender). http://mtrains.co.uk/3.html (service sheet 12) - Dublo and earlier Wrenn locos are identical, but there differences in later productions. * There's one at the moment at a ridiculous price and another with a spare pony. ** It is possible the diameter of the larger hole that fits around the pony fixing screw is different - the 'Duchess' has a boss on the casting as the pony pivot,whereas the 'City' uses a shouldered screw. In the meantime I'll post the dimensions, if I'm not beaten to it - I have made them from wire in the past or the long tags used for fixing cabling in electronic equipment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I find my 'City' has a non original 'manufactured' drawbar - I'll see if I can measure up a 'Duchess'. Anyway dimensions as follows:- between centres of holes 42mm larger (pony) hole 5mm diameter smaller (tender) hole 2mm diameter from pony centre to step 33mm step 3mm (possibly1/8" - Dublo is all imperial!) (from memory - in the original, the metal is about 1/2mm thick - mine is rather thinner Apart from the hole diameters which need to be a close, but not tight, fit, these dimensions are not critical. In fact the drawbar can be made a bit shorter to close up the large distance between loco and tender. EDIT The 'Duchess' drawbar is 43mm between centres (the step slopes more than my home made one) and the two bosses are 8mm and 5mm in outside diameter. The smaller hole is more like 2.5mm, but as I said needs to be a close fit. The metal is 1/2mm - 20thou thick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted February 17, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 17, 2014 Hurry up & make one, then the original will turn up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 ...the drawbar can be made a bit shorter to close up the large distance between loco and tender... Another vote for this approach unless complete originality is desired. These toys were made to be whanged around 14" radius at near warp velocity by small boys. Treated in a slighly more realistic manner on easier curvature they can be coupled as closely as the smallest radius allows, and look so much better for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Another vote for this approach unless complete originality is desired. These toys were made to be whanged around 14" radius at near warp velocity by small boys. Treated in a slighly more realistic manner on easier curvature they can be coupled as closely as the smallest radius allows, and look so much better for it. It's even long for Dublo's curves.... Removal of the front tender coupling* and replacing with a screw will enable the drawbar to be shortened considerably. Keep the coupling in a safe place (e.g. inside the tender) and the model can be restored to original condition at any time. *20776 Drawbar Plate Assembly according to Meccano Ltd. EDIT Dublo's specification for these locomotives is a minimum speed of just over a scale 100mph, pulling four Dublo coaches (not the lightest or most free running!). Many will do more than this, which is sufficient for them to fly off the track in a spectacular manner! EDIT I realise that my use of English is open to criticism (not the first time!). I mean of course that the speed at full power (12V) should be at least just over a scale 100 mph*. The minimum depends on the controller - with a decent one a crawl can be achieved. *Actually 5 circuits of the standard Dublo oval (about 10 feet around) should take at most 25 seconds (new locos - repaired ones were allowed a second longer). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
petertg Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Thank you for all this information. I'll now see how good a piece maker I am. Will inform if successful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I can recommend this supplier (usual disclaimer) if you require a genuine spare (listed as E71 at £3.80 including UK postage, but he can quote for Spain. http://mainlytrains.webs.com/PriceList.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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