MoC/WiP: DRG T18-1001 in 7-wide

[Commander Wolf]

Updated model and video. See below for the original post. Instructions also available on Rebrickable. 

 

Hey Train Tech, long time no post. This MoC has been a WiP for a long time now, but with my local LUG's Christmas show coming up, I'm trying to make a push to get it done.

The T18-1001 is a German steam-turbine locomotive designed in the late 20s. Unlike my previous two "advanced steam" models, the T18 was actually built in 1928. As far as experimental locomotives go, the -1001 and its slightly younger, slightly different sibling, the -1002, were moderately successful, though steam-turbine traction never really took off anywhere.

This unit went through several modifications during its 12-year history; I'm referencing a later variant as depicted in this lovely Trix model. The scale is my usual 155mm per plate height, which makes the locomotive approximately 7-wide. The length with the (very work in progress) tender is 64 studs, magnet to magnet, and it can negotiate all of the usual Lego track features.

In my opinion, the distinguishing physical feature of this design is the crank from the turbine between the two pilot axles, so I had to make sure the whole assembly worked. As I really don't like using flangeless 3B wheels for anything smaller than XLs, the chassis is articulated 2-4-4-2, and the two sets of driving wheels are connected with the same mechanism as the one in my ACE 3000. All the (asymmetric!) turbine greebles between the wheels and the boiler were a nightmare.

Anyway, I'm looking for any thoughts while I'm still working on the thing (and thus actually motivated to change it!), especially with regard to all the said greebles on the locomotive. I feel like this really needs like 2.5 diameter rounds and 1.5 diameter tubing, but I haven't been able to think of anything better than those freestyle wheels and vanilla 1x1 rounds, respectively.

Here's the (once moderated) gallery of mostly wip pics; more, better pics to come when I can get the tender done.

Edited June 21, 2022 by Commander Wolf

[Man with a hat]

Great progress so far, I would say.It looks finished to me, apart form the tender of course.

It is a really interesting model you choose and the details looks really good.

[zephyr1934]

nice detailing

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

This beauty was gone unnoticed to my radar!

You have used some really nice technical solutions!

Great work!

[Commander Wolf]

Well, I hope 2 months isn't too long be bumping this, but I didn't really think it justified a new thread. After another two months of procrastination and development hell, the T18 is finally done!

The locomotive hasn't really been changed too much externally, though I had to rebuild almost the entire chassis at one point to reinforce the structure that supports the gears that keeps the drive rods synced. The drive rods and turbine output wheels have also been changed.

Here is a comparison of the final model with my reference drawing. I think the overall proportions are pretty close, but the greebles, especially piping, were very hard to do in Lego. I also could not find information about the actual width of the unit, so it's only an assumption that it's supposed to be 7-wide at scale

The condensing tender was not necessarily a difficult built, but there was some funky geometry used to get the slopes at the top and some SNOT used to attach the panels that overhang the wheels. The geometry for the latter worked out so well I couldn't believe it!

I'm doing something new in connecting the tender to the locomotive. Rather than using a magnet or a half beam, I'm using an adjustable mechanism such that I can make the locomotive and tender as close to each other as possible without interfering in curves and switches. I'm still drawing conclusions on the practical limits of this coupling, but on the last day of the BayLUG Christmas display, I doubleheaded the T18 behind another fairly heavy locomotive, and the assembly held up and didn't compress.

Finally, a bonus! Here is a simple gondola that my friend and I are planning to mass produce for running at shows and displays. It is largely in the spirit of the 4543 Railroad Tractor Flatbed. We were looking for a design that could suggest both American and European rolling stock (so that we could run the same train behind American and European locomotives) and we thought that 4543 did the job well.

Anyway, here is the final gallery when moderated; any additional thoughts are appreciated!

Edited January 28, 2014 by Commander Wolf

[UrbanErwin]

She is looking good!

Edited January 28, 2014 by UrbanErwin

[zephyr1934]

Great looking work with way too many details (and the BttF license plate is a goofy touch)