5 inch 0-4-0 Shunter

Well done Ron.

For some reason your video made me think "Gerry Anderson!"

Neil

You mean a bit like Thunderbirds..? ....lol

It has the same feel as when you see his big models moving around!

Neil

P.S. congratulations!

Made up a simple throttle lever, looks a bit more in keeping than a plastic knob.

In theory I don't care what controls look like as long as they work. In practice your throttle lever is an obvious improvement, better grip, visually attractive and far more in keeping. It's great what can be done with a lathe! Everyone should have one...

Dave

"Warp factor 9, Mr. Sulu."

I like the lever Ron, looks great. Probably easier for the grandkids to use as well.

I think Neil should fit ones like this to his guitar!

An artist I am not, so I hope my attempt at a Thomas type face will get the girls approval. Sunday will be our two great grand daughters first outing with the loco and to turn up at the track with a faceless engine would not go down well...lol

I had to quickly come up with something so made up a removable card cover that fits over the radiator grill. I did most of it with a compass including the s/adh vinyl cut with a compass cutter.

Anyway the best I could do but the girls wont be slow in telling me.

Fantastic work.

I am also building a 5 inch gauge locomotive. Can I ask, I have sued the same controller, have you fitted a fuse box and circuit breaker? and if so which ones have you used?

Many thanks in advance.

Tim

Hi Tim,

I only have an in-line 30 amp fuse, I havnt gone with a circuit breaker. My controller (TE535) is 40 amp sustained and 60 amp max plus the most I have seen the loco draw to date is 23 amps so I went with 30 amps. A circuit breaker is probably a good idea.

Ron

Well a good time was had by all, yesterday was the first track day for the girls plus our 9 year old grandson came along as well. The three of them really did enjoy themselves and to be honest more than I expected. Fitting runs in between other track users we had about one and a half hours track time which was good.

They all had some driving time with me as the brake man and considering the girls are just 6 & 7 they did really well. The grandson took to it like a duck to water, a couple of circuits and he had it sorted, using a combination of throttle and brake he had just about the ideal speed for all parts of the track. The girls thought the Thomas face was "cool" so I was on a winner there but grandson thought the loco looked better without the face.

I suppose I had better mention it, but I got a yellow card plus a polite ticking off as I was spotted driving through a red track light....oops. I wasnt the only one though, two of the steamer guys had done the same, one of them has over 20 years experience so he came in for quite a bit of stick.

The weather was good and the wife had packed a nice picnic which topped off the day....very nice.

Oh Ron! Category A SPAD, suspended immediately from footplate duties and relegated to shed cleaner!!

Seriously, glad it all went well and all enjoyed themselves, that's what it's all about at the end of the day, makes the solitary hours in the shed and the head scratching trying to solve the design and machining problems all worth while.

Paul.

A club member gave me a short clip he had on his camera from last summer with our grandson taking the controls for the first time with our great grand daughters and myself as passengers, the children really did enjoy themselves.

Well done Ron, Ive only just seen this thread, its an excellent read with lots of info. Im hoping to build something similar in 7-1/4" and I feel a bit happier as how to go about it now, keep on building and again an excellent read.

Clive

Hi Clive,

Glad you found some of it of interest, good luck with your 7-1/4", have you decided on the type of loco and the power train yet..? Let us know when you have its always of interest and also your progress when you make a start.

Ron