My first part on my long journey

Well as you can see I have followed your much appricated advice and brought myself a coupling hook. What I would like to know is does this have drawings to work from or do I just need to tidy it up a bit by moulding it with a file to look more realistic. If it does have drawings does anyone know where I can get them?

Thank you all, its very much appricated

Paul

Well I expect most will say you cheated by buying a lazer cut one rather than starting from plate so thats that bit out the way first. This would have given you some practice in marking out, drilling, sawing and some of the filing.

Yes you need to do quite a bit of shaping to the hook part, it should taper down at the point, the end of the square section will need rounding and a thread cut onto it. Lazer cut edges need cleaning up

Is it not shown on yout Springbok drawings, page 38 will give you an idea of what it should be like but I think they vary between railway boards, locos are not my thing

Edited By JasonB on 09/08/2013 13:23:24

I dont have any drawings yet as i was just going on what people said about starting with a coupling hook before i make a comitment on a loco. sorry im very new to this and still dont get what a lot of things mean although i am quite a quick learner and will get it in the end. im good with my hands and had to work from drawings when i was doing pipe fitting. i know this is different but i get the hang of things and am quite technicaly minded once i get what everything is. I didnt think about plate and starting from scratch (feel a bit stupid now) just thought about getting a hook and making it into something better.

Ive never looked so closely at loco hooks before, but now whenever i see a picture of a locomotive im always looking at what the hook looks like.

Edited By Paul Russell on 09/08/2013 13:32:04

It is a bit chicken & egg, try a bit before comitting but a set of drawings is quite a comittment. Maybe one of teh loco builders may be able to furnish you with a generic hook drawing to suit your engine.

I'd certainly suggest you try to get hold of the old ME mags that cover the build, they will give a lot of info on how to make the parts and also include a lot of the drawings. If you are in a club they may well have the volumes 121-123 in their archive.

J

Hi Paul,

The book "Model Engineering: A Foundation Course" by Peter Wright is a very good introduction to most of the skills and techniques you will need on your journey. One of the first books I read when I started. At over 400 pages, good value as well.

All the best with the build.

Gary

Thank you Jason and Gary. i will try and have a look at both of them. I know this is very ambitious but we all have to start somewhere and hopefully i can make a post on here in 20 years saying 'My final part'

Dont forget to make two of em!...and the chain and linkage.

HI Paul,

I swore I'd never build a loco. then I did, and it only took 9 months (a bit smaller and simpler with a battery not a boiler!)

These were some of the most rewarding bits, and might give you an idea of the finished shape.

Click the picture for an enlarged view.

Neil

and no one would believe you if you told them how many processes and how long they take to make.....

Interesting thought Fizzy!

Let's see..

1. Cut out blank.
2. Mark out hook shape.
3. Drill big hole in hook.
4. Drill small hole for link.
5. Rough out shape.
6. Taper sides of hook point by filing
7. profile around hook and its gullet
8. Round off the rest of hook profile
9. Round off spigot.
10. Thread spigot.
11. Tidy up hook with emery cloth
12. Find suitable chain!
13. Squash chain to get right proportions.
14. Cut U-link.
15. Drill out a rod for end of links.
16. Cross drill rod to suit U-link.
17. Cut cross bar from thin rod
18. Notch ends of rod so it jams in link.
19. Silver solder cross bar and end of links rod in place (with next link already attached!)
20. Cut end of links rod to give two round eyes.
21. Turn link pin spigot.
22. Cross drill No. 60 (ouch)
23. Part off link pin and then tidy up head.
24. Drill rod for spigot.
25. Part off washer.
26. bend up clip on end of a guitar string.
27. Cut it off
28. Lose it, then repeat previous two steps.
29. Fit pin through link, hook and washer and fit clip.

Now you are finished except for finding/making a suitable spring, nut and washer for fitting.

29 steps... perhaps using a laser cut blank for the first five doesn't save THAT much effort after all

I think they took me three evenings.

Neil