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Hi All,
In a massive departure from my usual modus operandi, I finished up my latest
project last night; a 4-4-4 steam engine. The uncharted territory (for me at
least) comes from the fact that (a) the steam engine is *6-wide*, and (b) it is
not based on a real-life design.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=28425
James Mathis, during some conversations this past summer at Brickfest, inspired
me to try my hand at an original train design. So I went about this project
with a completely new outlook, from the very beginning.
Secondly, I also decided that I had to have an engine that was
trainshow-friendly. Some of my other engines are too large to run on any
normal-sized layout (the Hudson 4-6-4, for example), or too temperamental to
run without continuous supervision (the BR52 and BR18). They all run okay, but
they aren't ... exactly ... conducive to the train show environment. So a
paramount goal in this effort was to make a steam engine that was!
Additional inspiration came, again, from Ross Neal's gorgeous 4-6-2. After
trials and trials with different types of wheel designs, I settled on the
technic hub with the thin pulley-wheel for traction. Then, in looking back, I
realized that this is the same design Ross used in his engine; undoubtedly my
subconscious kept the idea in storage until it was needed.
The pistons do indeed work on the straightaways, and they are actually my
smoothest-running piston design to date. On the curves, the drive wheels
(which are affixed to the chassis) shift off the rails slightly, so there is
not enough contact to run them. This is probably for the best, though, as
opposing drive wheels share an axle, and the different radii would cause
binding anyway.
Other points of interest:
(1) The engine has a firebox that can be opened from the cockpit (?), with
flames visible inside
(2) I was able to use the Hudson's cowcatcher design again … one thing I really
like about this design is that it can be customized to any size
(3) It is made using only standard, contemporary parts. I wanted to make a
design that anybody else could build, once I finish the instructions, so I
constrained myself to readily-available pieces. Even the one part number 44,
the smooth-bushinged axle connector, is available in '02.
(4) The wheels are geared together to assure that they move together; I've
found that this is absolutely necessary in steam engines, since the pistons
will bind otherwise.
(5) The engine is technically 6-wide! The widest part, the cylinders, are
about 8-wide, but other than that it's all in LEGO scale. It definitely felt
very different from building 8-wide or 10-wide, particularly in that it seems
so thin, narrow, and high
Some of the items I'd like to improve on (or have somebody else improve on!):
(1) The drive pistons are not collinear with the centerline of the drive
wheels. For the time being, this is because the 2x3 modified plates used as
cylinders interfered with the leading wheelset when the pistons were correctly
lined up. It might be possible to rotate the cylinders 90 degrees, though I
didn't have time to try it out before the show this weekend. In forward
operation, this doesn't have any real effect. However, the pistons do bind
when the train is run in reverse, which would not be the case if they were
properly aligned.
(2) No lights! The body has plenty of space to house a light and wire, but I
didn't have time to incorporate it this time around. I originally had an a
larger main body cylinder, with an integral light just above the 4x4 radar dish
on the nose; the body looked oversized, though, so I removed it and placed the
"light" on top instead. I'd like to somehow figure out a lighting scheme, for
at least the headlight, and maybe even the firebox.
(3) I was just looking over the pictures, and I realized that the front wheel
(the leading 4) look too widely spaced. That will be corrected by about 6:30
this evening ;)
Other than those two items, I'm very happy with the result! A special thanks
go out to Mark Pappenfuss (Land of Bricks) and Paul Jansenn (Missing Brick),
who both graciously accommodated one of those
frantic-last-minute-express-delivery Brickshelf orders, and sent my pieces in
plenty of time for the show this weekend.
Anyway, let me know what you think. An Ldraw model will be forthcoming
shortly, since sharing the design was a major element of my outlook on this
project. Look for it soon …
Thanks,
-s
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | Re: New MOC: 4-4-4 Steam Engine
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| Hey Shaun- Good idea, and nice MOC! It is a rare engine indeed that can both look the most detailed it can AND be highly functional as well. I am going to ask Ross to take on your challenge of modifying your design and see what he comes up with-- I (...) (22 years ago, 15-Nov-02, to lugnet.trains)
| | | Re: New MOC: 4-4-4 Steam Engine
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| (...) Shaun, I really like how you used a standard train base plate for the foundation of this steam locomotive model. I love how you disguised this base plate at the piston/cylinders with the hinged panel; dropping it SNOT-wise at a slight angle to (...) (22 years ago, 15-Nov-02, to lugnet.trains)
| | | Re: New MOC: 4-4-4 Steam Engine
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| (...) I can't wait to see how those pistons work. Lookin' forward to those instructions! Great steamer! I've three suggestions though; a) the tender (IMO) would look better if it were slightly elongated and if the slopeback were given a bit more (...) (22 years ago, 15-Nov-02, to lugnet.trains)
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