John,
I am very interested in the idea of cylinder/piston assemblies, I intend to persue building my own steam engine along the lines of the Bargs prodject, moving onward to a tram type enginge for either 45mm or perhaps "O" (just to sayI've done it). How practicle are the sizes needed for simple H.O. designs........?
Enjoying the Learning Curve,
Dan McGrath
Daniel J. McGrath
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: sslivesteam@colegroup.com >To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <sslivesteam@colegroup.com> >Subject: Re: sslivesteam-Digest - Midwest Boiler >Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 21:14:47 EST > >When I made a modified Bagars I took the Midwest boiler and made a new >shroud sheet from hobby shop brass sheet. I put twice as many air holes as the >original, and raised the pressure "can" about another 1/2 inch or so. Also >soldered in a ring of "heat gatherers" on the bottom of the boiler can. They were >stubs of #10 copper wire about 3/4 inch long with most of the wire hanging >down into the fire. I made a burner of three 1/4 inch tubes about 1/2 inch long >soldered (silver solder) onto a tin can metal disk. The tubes were arranged >in a triangle and
1/8 inch fuel line fed them in a Y pattern. >Instead of a Midwest single acting engine I made a double acting oscillator >of 1/4 inch bore and about the same stroke from scrap brass I had around the >shop. >The only problem I had was that I could not find the fine chain and >sprockets and the sprocket I had made me use a large one on the wheel axle and on O >gauge tin plate (Lionel 027 track) the chain hangs between two of the three >rails so the little guy can not go through a switch or crossing. >I made this engine for a friend so it is no longer in my possession, but >looking through my brass to make an O gauge engine with direct drive to the >wheels, more like a regular locomotive without chain drive. I can knock off >double acting oscillator cylinders now pretty quick as long as my scrap box holds >up. >(maybe I should go in business and buy
some brass and make cylinders and >port plates for small locos that others could adopt to their own locomotive >designs. Any interest? Drop me a line.) >John W. Meacham >High desert of California >LBSC Virginia in 3.5 gauge 