MOC: A PF shunter: Work in progress

[JopieK]

Inspired by Selander and reinstein I decided to build my own 7760 PF edition. Although I think that Selander did a great job, I liked the version by reinstein even better.

He does not provide us with a full building description, that it why I started out with LEGO Digital Designer and came up with this:

Other side:

The engineer is able to sit in his chair. I used a dummy li-ion pack in the building process. I might also put some more electronics in to make the lights work etc, but will see about that.

First I created the chassis:

The second video shows that the traction is not optimal yet (it is the engine car though, with a PF motor, Li-Ion, receiver, etc)... but I might increase traction by adding rubber rings to the Medium BBB wheels that I used.

I used 2x 2 normally flanged Medium BBB train wheels and 1x 2 Medium wheels without a flange since otherwise it won't be able to take the curves.

A link to the solution for getting more traction

Will be continued...

[ronenson]

Nice. Last year, I converted my old 7760 to PF by using the original 12V motor, a 9V block battery, and the PF IR module.

[Duq]

Adding weight will also increase traction.

[JopieK]

yups like the original one, but in my test I already used a battery box with AAA alkalines so it should be quite heavy.

[UrbanErwin]

Cool, I think the finished product will look even better, especially with some good stickers ( which you'll probably make)

[JopieK]

of course ;) I'm also working on automating it, but that is quite some work (hard coding isn't that difficult but a flexible system)... a good learning project though.

[Hey Joe]

Hey, thanks for sharing that with us, it looks great. I also would like to make a little shunter, but will probably choose that iconic British one (sorry I've forgotten the name of it). Engines like these are great for kids I think.

I for one would very much like more info about your coding project. Please give us some updates.

Joe

[JopieK]

of course it will be all open source, the first tutorial will be in the next railbricks issue b.t.w. but the larger project is too big for an article so I put that online somewhere else, but it takes a lot of time (and I'm very busy at the moment, conference coming up, need to fix part of the speakers for that and still two master subjects to pass) so I hope to finish it in a month before LEGOWorld Utrecht.

[Selander]

Nice to see how you will manage this project, and thanks for reference to my 7760PF.

A few comments:

-To increase traction you can indeed make a groove and attach o-rings, but a more simple solution, that I've successfully tried, is to attach "slices" of bicycle inner tube onto BBB medium wheels.

See links:

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=79509

http://www.flickr.co...N03/8482105218/

-As for the chassis you've built with a horizontal M-motor and PF-battery "on top" - I believe it will be hard to respect the physical dimensions of reinstein's model.

To fit his design, I would go for a vertically placed M- or L-motor like used for my DB 363 in this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45034697@N03/7863142824/

I will follow the developments of your project with great interest.

Edited September 3, 2013 by Selander

[JopieK]

I actually already build the train, only some finishing parts missing, but hope to receive those soon as well! At this point my largest concern is the motor coming loose, I will try to improve that part a bit as well!

Hope to post updates asap

[Hrw-Amen]

Hey, thanks for sharing that with us, it looks great. I also would like to make a little shunter, but will probably choose that iconic British one (sorry I've forgotten the name of it). Engines like these are great for kids I think.

I for one would very much like more info about your coding project. Please give us some updates.

Joe

I guess the British one you mean is the type 08 class. A few of us on here have made them over the last year or so. They are almost everywhere you go in operational train depots. But there a great variety of other small shunters from the history books even if most are only now found on preserved tracks, but there are still a few very similar in private sidings and factory lines.

[JopieK]

hope to post an update tomorrow, apart from the driving rods (zephyr) and lighting, I have just finished the build.

[JopieK]

Tomorrow was a little bit later, but here is the finished locomotive:

And a close-up of the back:

It says: "don't tow locomotive".

I still would like to include lightning options. It has a medium PF motor and it seems to work quite well.

[UrbanErwin]

Nice do you bring it to Legoworld?

[King Aragorn]

Nice to see in real lego!

Beautiful project!

[JopieK]

@UrbanErwin, for some reason my 3 emails (2 to one address and 1 to the other) for LEGOWorld seem to have been lost, so we did not have a place... Too bad. But I will take it to Steenwijk and Brickmania (BeLUG) :)

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Wow, what a great shunter! :thumbup:

The medium BBB wheels and the new rods from Zephyr are an amazing touch!

Superb work and wonderful decals!

Edited October 6, 2013 by LEGO Train 12 Volts

[UrbanErwin]

@UrbanErwin, for some reason my 3 emails (2 to one address and 1 to the other) for LEGOWorld seem to have been lost, so we did not have a place... Too bad. But I will take it to Steenwijk and Brickmania (BeLUG) :)

Okay, But what's happening at Steenwijk?

[JopieK]

http://www.stapelgekop.nl (Sorry, in Dutch, but of course foreigners can visit it as well!!!)

@LEGO Train 12 Volts: thanks a lot for the compliments :) Now working on remote control again... that is why I needed a shunter in the first place of course ;)

and... the 7760 is arguably the best locomotive (at least diesel) that LEGO has ever made of course, so also an homage!

[Selander]

Nice that "tomorrow" finally occurred ;-)

Though, I do think it looks a bit high... How does it look together with some "standard height" TLG rolling stock?

[JopieK]

it indeed is a bit high indeed, that is the price to pay if you want to make it with just regular PF parts and make it 'all inclusive':

And a bit different angle:

The waggon is 'waiting on bricklink parts' as you can see!

If you compare it to the real deal it should be just ok though: link to nice but large image

[zephyr1934]

Wow! She looks great. A fantastic combination of classic Lego and just the right amount of aftermarket parts and stickers (grin). Personally, I don't think the height is much of an issue, but, one thought to try and make it look shorter, could you move the door up one plate?