Large Scale Central

What I am doing to my Piko 25 ton loco

Modeling
#1

Recently, after completing my new turntable, and it ancillary tracks, i decide that two of the tracks in the area of my old engine house would be used for cabooses, Loco charging, and possibly as a car repair area. in order to get cars across the table efficiently i needed a short locomotive to perform this task. Its operation will be restricted to this area. I chose the clean machine version to get the RC operation at the most economical price. the first hing was to mount Accucraft couplers to each end.

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Simultaneously i have been working on the Boxcab design.
PIKO
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this is inspired by the 23 ton unit used to rebuild part of the D&RGW in later years around a flood project.
23_ng_boxcab

I am about ready to print the body. i have made accommodation to mount the various boards, the top leds for the lighting will get split into two pieces, and a bigger battery is in store as it is rated to 24 volts.

Al P.

1 Like
#2

Pretty neat. I dropped a couple tickets into the raffle at the show for one of these. The driveline looks like it would be neat for a few things like this.

#3

Bob,
We think alike, I did the same. never determined which version it was. I originally considered the eggliner drive, but it was too long for this need. i am doing a test piece to check hole sizes for the supplied screws for remounting the boards. once proven out will print the cab portion, about 10 hours at the finest resolution .025mm.

AL P.

#4

I did the same with the raffle Bob :grin: I didn’t win…

That is a neat project Al.

#5

Oh wow, this should be cool! I look forward to seeing the progress here…

#6

A fun project, looks great!

By the way Al, congrats on your latest NGSLG article, very impressive.

#7

Thanks Cliff.

some further progress:
test fitting some of the electronics in there new positions

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Roof has been printed and fit to the body.
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and new side ladders and air tanks have been printed and test
fitted to the underframe in existing holes!

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I need to finalize the electronics and install a sound card and speaker, bend hand rails, then it is off to the paint booth.

Al P.

3 Likes
#8

Almost done for now. need to run to LHS tomorrow to get some brass rod for the cut lever on the other end. my plans for sound are on hold for now as the sound card i had is corrupt and will not load new sound files. I did mount the speaker however. other improvements include new horn with a real bell end, and a new bell. i looked at using the stock pieces but the detail was lacking IMHO.

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4 Likes
#9

Finished and in service. I finally gave up on the LHS and found a piece of tubing i could solder together to make a longer piece to finish the second cut lever.

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Al P.

3 Likes
#10

Al, This is beautiful! Amazing work!

#11

Indeed, beautiful!

What’s your secret in bending handrails to perfectly fit the printed bosses?

#12

Cliff,

I believe i printed out the handrails on paper and bent them to match the printout.

Al P.

#13

That’s really nifty. I love boxcabs. I’m betting that you could sell the parts as a kit pretty easily.

#14

Bob,
Quite true, all the hard work is done. i need to show a picture of the inside, to show what i did with the Piko boards to mount them. the tough part was getting the holes sized for the supplied screws w/o breaking the plastic. I used most of the Piko Boards and Put in a 11.1 V battery on Velcro. the only thing that cannot be replicated is the Speaker i have mounted as it is an oval Phoenix sound model. i have yet to determine my sound options.

If anyone is seriously interested, please send me a PM and i can look at quoting a price.

Al P.

1 Like
#15

That’s a very cute model. A MyLocoSound light diesel soundcard will work very well with it. It contains a choice of seven engines and seven horns all of which can be tried out at Light Diesel Soundcard. The three watt speaker we recommend is only about one inch cube and gives a very good sound. The full range is available from G Scale Graphics in Colorado. The soundcard is $99 and the speaker $15.

1 Like
#16

Thanks, i am checking them out.

Al P.

#17

My Ozark boxcab has one in it. I couldn’t find a video with the horn, but it is rather good - even a klaxon option.

#18

Promised interior shot showing the various Piko board mountings. the top board for the lights was cut in two and wires strung between.

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AL P.