Subject:
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Re: New MOC: 4-4-4 Steam Engine
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Sat, 16 Nov 2002 04:59:57 GMT
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Viewed:
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780 times
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In lugnet.trains, John Neal writes:
> 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 like the idea of a Sullivan-Neal collaboration:-) Actually, it would
> be fun to see many people's mods of your design-- a kind of variation thing
> HoMa is doing for set 1592 would be cool:
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=15676
lol thanks, John. My goal is to ensure that every LTC has a steam engine
running on it! Seriously, tell Ross not to try anything *too* spectacular ...
I'm running out of black bricks, plates, and slopes, and I'm not sure I can
keep up anymore. Every time he posts a new design, I run off with a dozen
different ideas.
The good news is I've already started the LDraw file. Soon, soon ...
> Personally, I am hoping that one day TLC will make efforts like yours and
> Ross' moot and fit for the history books by creating specialized parts that
> enable such detailing (driver rods, etc) possible without sacrificing
> functionality. You guys (and I'd stick James M. in there, too) are true
> pioneers, and you have train modeling in LEGO to an art form.
This coming from a man whose brickshelf gallery I peruse everytime I start a
new building ... talk about art forms!
Thanks for the feedback,
-s
> Thanks for sharing.
>
> -John
>
> In lugnet.announce.moc, Shaun Sullivan writes:
> >
> > 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 is in Reply To:
 | | 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)
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