That’s it Dan you make him ask nicely or beg for them !! This is all your fault cause you WILL mysteriously find them !
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So how do resin 2 axle trucks hold up? I use resin journals on some of my 7/8’s stuff, but not on the regular rolling stock. They all have steel (metal) trucks.
I haven’t used anybi have made yet so really don’t know. Not sure why they wouldn’t hold up. I will use metal wheels most likely but I think the trucks should be fine. They are thick and beefy enough that they shouldn’t break if care is taken.
So here is the first print of the truck assembly.
I thought the individual trucks were going to be too close. But I stuck it on my track and it has no issue on 8’ diameter curves. So I think this is it.
UNLESS a certain someone surprises me with a file for pressed steel trucks.
But until then I think this Vulcan truck not only works for this project but will give me a truck for other cars. It would be nice to create an entire logging themed 1:20.3 train. And I can use all matching vulcan trucks.
So moving past the trucks the next thing is to build the flat car. This car will be 22 inches long. As near as I can tell, all of these cars are at least steel framed. I was going to do a wood flat car, but as massive as this would be in real like, it really needs at the very least a steel frame. And since I am building this as a car. . .and not a load for a flat car, I think the way to tackle this is to build a purpose built frame that the beast sits on.
So thats the approach I will be taking I think.
Yes, A dedicated special carrier for that beast is absolutely the way to go. Since Mikes is steam powered, a tank car and an oil fuel car as well. Or maybe one car with both the water and oil tanks.
Interesting that you went “oil” with it. I would have figured coal. But mine will be wood fired. Maybe never even a thing with these, but my railroad is all wood fired steamers. I guess I have a thing for wood.
But along that line of thinking, I did design a water tank for mounting on the car behind the boiler. Dan Hilyer made a steam powered water pump that I am going to mount under the tank. A hose connected to the pump can be thrown in a creek and fill the tank. Again maybe not the most realistic scenario but my railroad my rules.
And then a combination tool car and firewood flat car. Will trail the beast.
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Wood frame not strong, go back and read The Mik challenge Dave built the Schnabel type,( actually it’s not) Woden depressed center car and load for the tin can challenge!
That is true. I guess even back in the day they could engineeer wood to be strong enough. Good call. I am sticking with steel because I have already begun my planning on how to accomplish it and the design. Scratch built out of .125 styrene.
Devon, you should be aware that the East Broad Top standardized on Vulcan trucks for their steel hopper (and other) cars. Yours look a bit delicate? But please make them 4ft 8in wheelbase!
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That looks like something that would chase me in my dreams 
Peter,
I agree that mine do appear a little too delicate. I made another mistake on them as well and This entire thing may just get revisited. Even If I go with Dan’s pressed steel truck I want, and might as well have, a Vulcan style truck also. So a redesign in not out of the question.
Now I need some clarification. You said make them 4" 8" wheelbase for standard gauge? 4"8" is the track gauge of standard gauge. Are you saying that axle centers also need to be 4" 8" Not sure exactly why or where I am supposed to employ that suggestion. I do agree on mine the axle to axle is too far apart. One of the reasons I think it looks too delicate. But just want to make sure I am under standing you.
So given Peter’s observation coupled with my own I did redesign the side frame.
Its beefier but I also move the axles in 2mm each for a total of 4mm closer together. This will also address my issue of each truck being too close together and having flanges touch on tight corners. By moving the axles in 2mm this effectively separates the two trucks by 4mm from each other. So they should now never ever interfere or foul each other.
Maybe go even a little thicker on the angled parts of the side frames, unless they were “delicate “ to begin with
Are you referring to the little webbing piece between the journal and frame. . . If so the appear to be thin compared to the rest of the frame. Definitely distinctive in all the pictures I have looked at.
With all this great discussion on the vulcan truck, and I will pursue it further, but Dan’s pressed steel trucks (first set) came off the printer and are in final cure. If they work, and I see no reason why they won’t, they are gonna get the nod. Just a very unique truck for a unique piece of iron.
And Pete talked me into it. I am back to a wood car. Much for the same reason as the trucks. . . Visual interest. I will just make it with heavy timber beams and several of them. May visit Dave’s MIK build for inspiration.
This thing needs to be a statement piece. Since my MIK crane car, my former show off piece, met its demise to my daughter’s dog I need a new show off car.
I think you should some how put ( Devon manufacturing inc. / with date manufactured ) on them.
Some thing like they have info on these .
Sean,
I like that idea a lot. I did that with the furnace blower and the verticle steam engine for the Hecla saw mill. And now is a great time to do it because I scrapped my entire design. After printing Dan’s trucks mine were small and wimpy in comparison. And since this is a 1:20.3 build they need to be more substantial. So I have pretty much made my Vulcan match his Fox. I also realized I designed the way the truck bolster attaches to the body bolster bass ackwards. I put the pin on the truck and was thinking the hole would be on the body. But its the other way around (duh). So I am pretty much taking the entire thing back to one.
I even took the most recent design I posted and scaled it up another 25% giving it much more heft and putting it very close to Dan’s design. Now I think its safe to say that Dan will tell you he is not the final word on truck design. So in my following his lead any mistakes he is making with proportioning I guess I am copying. But I think these will end up looking great. And since I am somewhat scattered all over the place with scale and era, I will designate the Vulcan as my 1:20.3 truck along with archbars.
Then I can use the Bettendorf I have designed as my transition era truck.
