HOn30 Tribute Diesels

[Bernd]

Starting the story behind the freelance HOn30 engines , here forth called "The Twins". Why? Because they are semi-permanently coupled. The idea for this came from a prototype engine that was built on an SD-40 truck called the TP-56.

The pictures show what it looks like. There is more info on the prototype build but it's more than what would apply to this build. The idea was that they used a truck from a road engine and created a switcher engine.

Here's more info on the engine here: https://www.tractivepowercorp.com/technology

And a video from nine years ago:

A drawing showing dimensions.















The 5601 number stands for 56,000lb tractive effort and the 01 stands for the first prototype engine.

The search was on for an "N" scale 6 axel engine. None of the 6 axels were usable due in part to the chassis construction. This got me to looking at an N scale DD40. These were the double diesel engines used by the Union Pacific. I purchased one from E-bay.



These had a much better chassis than the 6 axel ones. And two motors to boot.



First thing needed was a platform to build the shell on. I made two out of brass. Don't remember the thickness. Probably .020" or .040" thick



Now with a platform made I moved on to what the shell would look like. I basically used what I've seen in drawings of boxcab's.



I used a CAD 2D program to draw up the sides. Printed them out and glued to cardboard sides to see if this is what I wanted.

Next up I converted the DXF files in my CAM program to generate a G-code for my Sherline CNC mill to cut out the sides.



Once eight pieces were cut out it as time, as Norm Abram used to say, for a little assembly



The block of wood is a piece of MDF with perfect 90° corners.

I'll get into the assembly in the next post. There are over 100 pictures in this build, and I'm going to take it slow, there is much to this build.

Until the next post.

Bernd

[cuse]

Love the look of the prototypes...I'll be watching as a fellow HOn30 guy

[Dave Buchholz]

I'm always looking for your latest posts to see what you are up to.

How about scheduling a visit for the CEO of the North Coast Railroad? We can haggle about an interchange and trackage rights over a cup of coffee and a bowl of Cheerios.

[ACL1504]

Bernd,

This will be a fun thread to follow. Great work for sure.

Tom 

[Bernd]

Love the look of the prototypes...I'll be watching as a fellow HOn30 guy

Hey Cuse,

Glad your along for the ride. I'll much more in the HOn30 department. The quarry line will occupy a space of about 8X24 feet with an transfer facility to standard gauge tracks.

Bernd

[Bernd]

I'm always looking for your latest posts to see what you are up to.

How about scheduling a visit for the CEO of the North Coast Railroad? We can haggle about an interchange and trackage rights over a cup of coffee and a bowl of Cheerios.

I'm up to about 5'6" right now. Oh you mean what I'm doing modeling wise. Right now, I'm chasing to many shiny objects. Just recently got a dozen ESC (electronic speed controllers) for my radio control method of controlling engines. I'm in the R&D stage right now.

Sorry but no Cheerios at this house. I'm staying away from sugary foods like that. My A1C1 doesn't like it.

We'll have to set up a day for visitation.

Bernd

[Bernd]

Bernd,

This will be a fun thread to follow. Great work for sure.

Tom

Thank you, Tom. I've got lots to post.

Bernd

[Bernd]

Ok, picking up from the last post.

Now comes the fun part. Soldering up the four sides and keeping them square. Here's how I did it.

You do that with fixtures. I made two fixtures. The one on the right is for soldering a back and side together. Then both of those parts are held together in the fixture on the left and soldered together. The blocks were milled out on my Bridgeport milling machines. Yes you can mill wood. The lighter colored block is rock maple and the darker one is MDF.



Using my home made resistance soldering iron I soldered the sides together at a perfect 90°.



The ends and sides have been soldered together.



Next those two piece are soldered together in the rock maple fixture.



The soldered shell.



Temporarily placed on the chassis to check fit.



Times two.



Next I figured out a way to fasten the shell to the chassis. I bent up some angle brackets. They were soldered on to the shell at the appropriate height when mounted to the floor.



Using 0-80 optical screws to secure the chassis and shell together.



A piece of styrene was added to the front to extend the chassis.



Two holes were located drilled and tapped 0-80. I always buy the longest screw I can get in the size I need. It's easier to shorten a screw than it is to lengthen it. At least I haven't found a way. (and perverts please keep your mind out of the gutter)



The green circle denotes the front end with the screw heads showing. The red circle denotes a "Z" bracket I made that holds the back end down secure. The screw holes not used is for the drawbar.



Next we'll get into making the roof.

Until the next time.

Bernd



 

[Mr. Critter]

Having an old brass Jonan Climax kit that's begging to be assembled, and having a resistance-soldering machine I've still yet to use, I'll be brazed to this thread.

[friscomike]

Howdy Bernd, nice soldering tools and work. I'm looking forward to your build.  Have fun, mike

[Philip]

Fabulous work Bernd!

[Bernd]

Having an old brass Jonan Climax kit that's begging to be assembled, and having a resistance-soldering machine I've still yet to use, I'll be brazed to this thread.

Thanks Mr. Critter. There's more to come, plus the four electrics I'll post about after this thread is done.

Bernd

[Bernd]

Howdy Bernd, nice soldering tools and work. I'm looking forward to your build.  Have fun, mike

Thanks Mike. It's the little things like the tools that make for fun work. More to come as I told Critter.

Bernd

[Bernd]

Fabulous work Bernd!

Thanks Philip.

B

[Bernd]

Ok, let's begin making the roof. I'm trying to remember exactly how I did this and get the pictures in the right order. I had to make two roofs and from looking at my pictures I must have done each roof separate and took pictures of each as I did them.

First a drawing was made and run through the procedure of making a G-code file for the machine. Cutting curves with a CNC is a breeze.



All cut. Now to saw through those little tabs to release them.



Next, I bult a rafter frame, at least that's what I'll call it for lack of a better explanation. I use two pieces of 1/8" square tubing.



Using my square assembly jig from the sides I assembled one side to make sure it'll be square.





Next I used a small metal square and assembled the two pieces on a piece of ceiling tile. I used pins to hold everything down for soldering.





I'll stop here for now. I'm trying to figure out what I did next with the pictures showing the roof construction. Something is out of place.

I'll carry on when I get it straightened out.

Bernd