Large Scale Central

Barry, how's it coming?

Modeling Rolling stock
#161

In that long dissertation I left out one of the points I wanted to make.

I love working in metal, using the proper tools to do a job that can be done no other way.

When parts are machined, especially on a mill, edges are left which are very sharp. Every edge must have that sharp edge “broken” or rounded off. This process is called de-burring. One may use a file or even various files and some “de-burring tools” made especially for this job. Some times the de-burring takes more time than the machining, but it has to be done. And I hate it. I’ve already made the part, can’t I just use it? No, it’s not ready.

Oh well.

The best laid plans do go awry. Today I had a list of other things to do, but ended up machining the lower cover,
40 pieces, two passes each then the de-burring.

Tomorrow, back to the list.

Barry - BBT

#162

Thanks for the explanation on the flat. That seems very straight forward.

I think this will make the Connie a truly great locomotive.

#163

Great–I need a running 1:20.3 engine.

K-27’s totally dead and locked up, and the Connie’s starting to make interesting noises(from the motor, or so it appears)–hopefully I can afford one of these after paying the $60 to ship the K-27 back to Bachmann :slight_smile:

#164

Robbie,

Hang in there, the Connie gearbox is coming and I just had a break through on a fix for the K-27 gearbox.

Barry - BBT

#165

YES!!

#166

My apologies, spent most of the day on things other than the gear box. Have to generate some revenue to keep the doors “open”. And did a bit of investigating in the K-27 gearbox.

Ordered some gears for the K27box, had to cut one in three parts to get two gears. Did a trial fit and it looks good. So ordered some metric bearings and am ordering some 3mm drill rod.

Back to the gear box tomorrow. After three solid days working the mill, I was looking for something else to do which wouldn’t kill me.

The next steps are to put each of the parts through their respective drill jig. In a change, some parts will not be drilled in their own jig, but will be mounted to the Main Body and drilled in the Main Body drill jig (for correct alignment). The top cover drill jig has to be adjusted. But the rest seem to be a good go.

Barry - BBT

#167

In the previous posting I made reference to “something that wouldn’t kill me”, a very poor wording. Meant in humor, and not to be mistaken for anything serious. I apologize, and ask for forgiveness. Sorry.

Barry - BBT

#168
Barry Olsen said:
In the previous posting I made reference to "something that wouldn't kill me", a very poor wording. Meant in humor, and not to be mistaken for anything serious. I apologize, and ask for forgiveness. Sorry.

Barry - BBT


We know what you meant, Barry, no worries.

Glad you are back at it. Just let your body rest, occasionally.

#169

Barry you have to live forever…
Or at least as long as I do. I have a warrenty on a loco remember. :slight_smile:

#170

Geoff,

I told you it isn’t as good a deal as it once was.

But how I feel these days I could live forever.

I fixed some of the drill jigs, then cut shafts, two sizes, 100 pieces. Now the ends have to be beveled and the flats added. Still fixing the drill jig for the Top Plate, that will be done in the morning.

Barry - BBT

#171

Barry,
It would seem you have the go-ahead from your field testers, or you wouldn’t be starting the production run.
May we have a field report from Dave?

#172

John,

I’ll ask him to respond.

Also, I will be preparing the order form, pretty simple and very explanatory. Dave and I are still putting the instructions together. I’m trying to get a pic of the old Bach. Drive next to the new BBT Drive. Quite a difference.

Barry - BBT

#173
John Bouck said:
Barry, It would seem you have the go-ahead from your field testers, or you wouldn't be starting the production run. May we have a field report from Dave?
Okay, here goes. I have two in service. One is a prototype, been in service (hard) for over a year.

Second is production (recent…couple of months) and I shall try to elucidate.

When we do setout, it’s 20 cars up the 4% grade to Whiterock.
The Botch…err…Bachmann 2-8-0’s would spin out 2/3 of the way up.

Just sit there spinning.
Always had to “double” the hill.

I had Paul Austin do a setout using a “converted” 2-8-0.
He got to the spin-out point, I told him to stop, which he did.
I then directed “ahead”, and with 20 cars on a curved 4% grade, it walked all the way up, accelerating the entire way.

MUCH smoother on downgrades.
Much more controllable at slow speeds.

If I had more 2-8-0’s in service, they would ALL have this box.

The issue, I believe, revolves around the smoothness of the drive.
Instead of the cogging with the Chinese product, this one is smooth.

So, now, all my 4-6-0’s have some form of BBT drive, all my outside-frame 2-8-0’s have BBT gearboxes, and, hopefully, some day, ny K in the basement will, too.

What else you wanna know?

#174

<What else you wanna know?>

How bout a loan so I can do all of my Botch’s too?
It’s only three. 2 Annies and a Connie.
The K still runs, for now.

#175

Lots of luck on the K.

Seriously.

The “issues” have not subsided.

#176

I can’t take one of the first production runs, but I’d like to save my pennies and hopefully pick one up within a year. So Barry, please send me the order form/pricing info when you can.

That report of 20 cars up the curving 4% did it. I have a similar curving grade. Even my live steam shay can’t pull many cars up it.

Also seeing Bruce’s 4-6-0 pull the dead live steam bumble bee up Fred’s grade without so much as a whimper was a great endorsement of the pulling power of BBT drives.

#177

Just a quick update.

I have been building gear boxes, no gears just the boxes. Also adjusting the tooling as well as addressing the procedure/sequence of the process. Getting pretty slick. Speed is not a goal, accuracy and fit are. Of forty boxes I think, don’t hold me to this, I have 15 complete with top cover, 12 complete w/o top cover and 21 to go.
None have the bottom covers in place. The goal is to get all of the boxes to the point of fitting the bottom covers. This is the most demanding milling set up I need to do, so I am trying to make it one run - one set up.

Also have started on the order form and the announcement. Have a couple of new pics.

Barry - BBT

#178

I have rounded out the lot number to 40 pieces. 33 boxes are done, except for the dreaded lower end.
Will finish the remaining seven tomorrow.

Barry - BBT

#179

Finished the 40 boxes today. Tomorrow the set up for the lower end. This will involve several passes to double check length, and correct if necessary.

Then apply the lower end cap, finally back into the drill jig. This allows drilling three different pieces on the critical separation line where the axle resides. The three pieces are the main body, the lower cover and the bottom cover. Pics to come.

Barry - BBT

#180

Well, tried to do the pics for you, got two of the five loaded into my file, but couldn’t get the other three. Started an answer, loaded the two pics down, hit a button, lost everything. Regardless, the pics were of the forty gear boxes lined up 5 X 8. Looked like tree stumps. Today I finished the end cap blanks for the forty (but have about 60 more). Am ordering a cutter to process the end caps. Need one about 1.0625" in diameter. Going to be real tricky work. But these are worth doing right. I’ll keep you advised even with out pics. Barry - BBT

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/barry_-_bbt/_forumfiles/Connie%20Gear%20Boxes%20001.jpg)