big boy 4-8-8-4, some questions

[someguy]

got instructions off the internet for this, have changed a few things to, in my opinion, make it better. (you probably wont be able to see the changes)

made some cars similar to Strasburg RR cars (I hope)

tried to attach some pictures but all of them were too big to attach, so here is an imgur link.

http://imgur.com/Q9tIqlD,C9l9O5C,ZBSFxbS,U5LTfX7,lISKi0Y,nHXf3gq,aoGMcVX,04e82Wa,8wgaALj,rISciWp,ikFy5TI

1) the engine

2) all the pieces

3) gears on the motors, the instructions had small gears on the shafts coming from the motors, but I switched that around. this way the motors have to do less work to move the train farther.

4) some pieces like this one I could not get to fit properly in the program, but am confident the will fit once I actually build it. if they don't fit, iv got a sander.

5) 2 passenger cars

6) decided not to use magnets to connect the cars. plan on moving the cars closer together, WIP. The pieces on top are still a WIP.

7) sample of the stairs and trucks/wheels, the wheels will be axles removed from the Lego truck assembly.

8) no, the aesthetics do not rub.

9) found this online, essentially what my gearing looks like.

10) someone elses trains, just for size comparison.

11) Compare that guy standing there to the lego fig in # 10

I plan on buying Big Ben Bricks for leading, driving, and trailing wheels.

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=34413

Read this thread about the wheels earlier.

If I plan on having 8 to ten cars of similar size to my 2 current passenger cars, will I have to worry about wheel slip?

The tender is going to be changed as well, lengthened a bit and with possibly an electric coupler since the rest of the train will be a pain to hook up.

also, what do you think so far?

[El H]

I think it looks amazing for a display piece. It'll be a nightmare to try and run on lego track

[ShrikeArghast]

I've never understood the draw of articulated engines, to be honest. I'd rather see two smaller locomotives doubling a train,.

[Gioppa]

No way, i'have build up a Big Boy(but sorry, i loose the video in my computers), and it run very well...ehm...on a flat surface, without low monorail bridge,with full battery,and a very straight railway, with not so much curves.....

And now i check the original(the real one) and i know something to do to run it better...is not so easy, but i try...

Do you think is better to run on a 4,5v grey era,because the wheels have more grip, in my opinion,instead of the pf or 9v rail...of course on a very flat surface!!!

[someguy]

thanks for the comments. will probably end up using it very little just because I'm too busy with class and work atm. but to be honest building this out of Lego is so much cheaper than buying a Lionel version.

about it taking curves, I found some videos on youtube that have the same pivot point as mine does. but I think its the same engine that I got instructions for anyway. (plus, I am sure I can fix something up for larger radius curves real easy, ) maybe take a couple of wooden boards and choose some radius that fits my layout. say 50 inches. clamp it together with some glue and screws, draw 2 lines for inner/outer curves, take a drummel tool and carve out the center, band saw off the excess on the inner/outer sides of the rails, sand, cut notches for plastic rails to fit in for entering/exiting the curve.

about which rails to run it on, I have no clue about that. all I know is that I have some grey colored track with metal rails that I hook a transformer up to. I do know the one I built is not powered through the rails though.

and here are some more pics on imgur. this isn't my train, but the base is all the same.

http://imgur.com/t0bt9s6

Edited March 7, 2014 by someguy