--- In [email protected], Bob Werre <bob@...> wrote:
>
> I've had a couple of requests for some documentary photos of the PA
> conversion that I made many years ago. If you have ever seen the video
> put out by Paul Riley, it contains some footage of it in action on the
> Houston S Gaugers modules.
>
> Anyway all I can do is describe what I did from memory. I suppose I
> should have written an article back when the AF shell was often carved
> up for a better outcome. The photos are in the photo section under my
> PhotoTraxx folder
>
> The view of the nose will show a brass horn, real glass windows (one
> open), cut levers carved in lower nose, grabs installed in later years,
> a solid Plexiglas nose filler and coupler mount, and large EMD type
> number boards, made again from solid Plex, that the UP also installed
> during their life. The original shell had the abbreviated plastic steps
> under the door, so I modified a mess of SSL&S ladders designed the back
> of steam engine tenders. The number boards were made on Jack Troxell's
> milling machine, so we made up a bunch for all those who thought they'd
> ever need some. I also spent some time with miniature files cleaning
> out the Pa's truck castings that were filled in and shouldn't have been.
>
> The other two view are the chassis next to the shell. This shows the
> large can motor that is usually reserved for 0 models--it is a snug
> fit. We used Hobbytown universals. I used Plex rod to extend the
> original mounts for the chassis. The chassis itself is a solid sheet of
> brass shaped to fit the shell. We also cut some slots on that floor,
> sort of making bomber doors that allows the motor to set nearly level
> with the drive line. Each truck is mounted on 'n' shaped brackets
> soldered to the chassis--I don't recall how we bent them that
> accurately, but I'm sure that was Jack's deal. What is hidden is the
> way we transferred power down to the wheels. First we re-bushed the
> original wheels with brass bearing as the original graphite ones were
> very wallowed out to the point where the worms and worm gears were also
> too worn to use. We used new drill rod to make up replacements and
> soldered on two new worms plus a plastic chain drive sprocket. Of
> course two of these had to be made up. At this point I had to carve away
> much of the original truck chassis to make room for the sprocket that
> occupied the area formally used by the AF motor I was able to find some
> of those AF conversion wheels once offered by the Hobby Shop. Next we
> used the drill rod again and put another sprocket on those two shafts.
> These shafts were positioned directly above the other sprocket and run
> through solid chunks of brass blocks that hold the shafts. I don't have
> any idea of the sprocket ratio.
>
> The last thing I could mention was that I enclosed the lighting system
> to prevent stray light from entering the cab. Marker lights work via
> fiber optics, while the two headlites and numberboards use standard 1.5
> volt bulbs, I think. You will also notice two large chunks of printer's
> lead used to keep it from flying off the layout at speed! It does pull
> very well. I also have a B unit that except for couplers, diaphragms,
> grabs, paint and decals was pretty much unaltered and unpowered. I used
> a very vintage set of Enhorning decals plus some Microscale red stripes
> where needed.
>
> I am still generally pleased with the results although some things could
> certainly have been done easier...but it was my first engine to work on.
>
> Bob Werre
> PhotoTraxx
Bob, Nice modeling! The Flyer PA's while the only PA's at the time are
close in most dimensions from the real PA's. Had a friend years ago who, along
with several others, crawled all over a dead line PA on the Pennsy and measured
everything. Except for the roof, which while it at first appears flat, is
actually not. The mistake Am Flyer made was in the curve where the roof meets
the upper sides, its too large a radius. AF also, for some dumb reason, put two
exhaust stacks on the roof, one in the proper as built, air cooled lengthwise
position and the other crossways, which was correct for later water cooled
conversions, but in the wrong location!
Amazing how filing out the sideframes disguised the shortness of the trucks.
I did the same thing at a later date with the Jon Beveridge drive. Those
sideframes were softer castings. Sold those units when the Omnicon drives came
out.
Do you still have any of those angled number boards? NKP also used them,
among others.
Bud Rindfleisch
>
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