Ric Golding said:

Dan Padova said:

Thanks Ric.  The power trucks will be the more desirable as I want two four wheel trucks under the combine.  

Dan,

I know you want to build this, however you might want to look at an HLW Rail Motor Car.  It is almost exactly what you want with 2 powered trucks.  I have one and it is one of my best units.  Radio Control and batteries fit inside and its a real puller.

.

http://www.h-l-w.com/rail-motor-car.html

.

If nothing else, it will give you a great example to follow.

 

 

Ric, thanks for the link. I had remembered that car. I must say their ad copy gave me a chuckle... 'could be 1/5 the cost of a steam locomotive.' The list price is the same as I paid for an HLW  Jupiter 10 years ago! Oh the irony.

That sounds like a good idea for a custom build Dan. 

I have watched the prices on doodlebugs and RDC's go up and up and I'm thinking why not build one...  someday..

Do keep us posted on your progress.

Dan Padova said:

Thanks Ric.  The power trucks will be the more desirable as I want two four wheel trucks under the combine.  

Dan,

I know you want to build this, however you might want to look at an HLW Rail Motor Car.  It is almost exactly what you want with 2 powered trucks.  I have one and it is one of my best units.  Radio Control and batteries fit inside and its a real puller.

.

http://www.h-l-w.com/rail-motor-car.html

.

If nothing else, it will give you a great example to follow.

Pete Thornton said:

Dan Padova said:

I was thinking of kit bashing a Bachmann combine into an interurban trolley.  What would be suitable power trucks to use ?   

Light Rail Products had a set of resin pieces for doing just that.  Duckbill roof, resin ends.  I wonder if they are still around.

http://www.lightrailproducts.com/index.html

 

Just checked.  Their site comes up.  I sent them an inquiry.  We'll see if they respond.

 

 

Dan Padova said:

I was thinking of kit bashing a Bachmann combine into an interurban trolley.  What would be suitable power trucks to use ?   

Light Rail Products had a set of resin pieces for doing just that.  Duckbill roof, resin ends.  I wonder if they are still around.

http://www.lightrailproducts.com/index.html

Thanks Ric.  The power trucks will be the more desirable as I want two four wheel trucks under the combine.  

I'd start with a prototype that gives you a basic design.  USA power trucks work well, but for a single axle - HLW has an excellent power axle with a vertical motor mounted to a differential.  Lots of examples out there, the research is half the fun.

I was thinking of kit bashing a Bachmann combine into an interurban trolley.  What would be suitable power trucks to use ?   

Also Jim, for your sticks, you might consider using bits of wire with red or brown insulation. Maybe 24awg or thereabouts... 

Jim, that's so cool, they're looking great!

John, I used to have some of those lamps...  Carbide, so fun! I remember putting some in a paper bag, lighting the bag top on fire, and telling a friend to just dump this water on it to put it out... 

(oops, shouldn't be confessing that... nobody was hurt though...) 

Cliff Jennings said:

John Caughey said:

David Maynard said:

Oh yea, gas lamp or oil lanterns at the powder shack. Bad idea.

Nothing gets by you does it?  

 

Bad ideas sure weren't rare though! Before electricity, workers had to be careful, or else, haha! Unintended boom-booms happened on the Comstock at least, with people leaving candles in a bad place, etc.

 

Which brings Jim the opportunity to do something like this cool project by Dave Bodnar....

http://www.trainelectronics.com/Animation_explosion/index.htm

 

CJ

I was looking for a torch stuck in a holder had to settle for the castle fixture. Candles and later carbide arc lamps provided light...

"When" the accident happens, if my camera and fingers survive, then I'll be sure to post it here, just for you Rooster... :-)

I just wanna know when the accident will happen and would like video of it happening

It is too hot to do much outside, like planking the trestle and installing the steps I have ready. So I'm experimenting with building dynamite boxes. Since it seems like it would be necessary to show some dynamite sticks, I tried making them out of round toothpicks. Still needs top boards, painting of the sticks, and application of decals (thanks Boomer!).

The side boards are a bit thick, but I'm not sure I want them any thinner as they may not hold up outside. Plus this will be 10 feet away from eyeballs.

Kind of fun I have to admit. We'll see how they turn out. They aren't exactly like the photos of olde tyme powder boxes as posted by Cliff and Boomer, but at least they vaguely look like boxes...

Cheers!

In the Royal Navy, and I suppose, the US Navy, in the age of sail, a special "light room," would be situated adjacent to the powder room (sometimes directly over) and separated by a window, to keep the live flame of the candle or lantern separate from the powder.  The powder room is always deep in the bowels of the ship, below the waterline, where no natural light can reach it, to protect it from the odd enemy cannonball.  It needed a light assist.

It is said that style points are lost if the flame comes in contact with the powder, outside of the cannon.

Is it possible that a powdershack at a mine prior to electricity might use a similar system?

Yeah, Dave does a bunch of fun stuff for sure. Here's his (I think) more recent project of thunder & lightning, with a "mine explosion" adaptation video at the end.

http://www.trainelectronics.com/Animation-thunder-lightning/

Pete, so U're cornfused?

So is me.

Thought we were having fun?

Now that's a classic for misunderstanding.  Impossible to tell if you are being sarcastic, asking a question, or making a statement. 

Gary Buchanan, FOG said:

You guys are brutal, this is supposed to be a fun hobby

Thought we were having fun? Perhaps you would like to enlighten Pete with some of your knowledge!

BTW if your not finished with that grapefruit we could quarter it up and pass it around.

Great job, Bill! Looks really good.