ritztoys

Eurobricks Citizen
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Posts posted by ritztoys

  5. Posted

    7 hours ago, Alban Nanty said:

     

    Anyway, small tips, when you do a layout, I suggest to place the baseplate in one layer, and the rails in another layer above it.

    This feature evaded me until I became aware of the layers, took several tries....Anyway a fantastic program!

    This program is really helpful especially when you decide to change your show layout. This helps to not disturb the home place by laying out my display all over the house,

    (insert Wife not happy)  :hmpf_bad:

    So much easier on my laptop computer!

  6. Posted · Edited by ritztoys

    On 2/10/2020 at 3:19 PM, coaster said:

     

    Just to update everyone, the mold shop doing the tracks and wheels is closed due to the coronavirus. They were hoping to reopen today, but I don't believe that happened, so at this time I have no ETA on when these parts will be finished.

     

    I know this Virus is a serious thing (especially those in China) hoping all those folks associated with building/molding your products are okay and get back to work soon, I'm holding out for your products as they are the best out there.

  7. Posted

    As you have shown in the past(way past) your creations as well as this one just take my breath away!

    I'm still showing your Red High Speed Train and your magnificent Central Train Station in my display during Brickworld Conventions, always getting compliments, which I then direct those people to you.

    Keep making these great creations.....

  12. Posted

    8 hours ago, Sérgio said:

    this little felow?

    Dresine

    Its just a Draisine/Dresine

    5811651554_dbfd905315_b.jpg

     

    10509745635_32268db54a_b.jpg

     

    60615236_10214245924202936_8894171293356

    60653585_10214245924442942_7413849242139

    Those last two Pics are from a friend (Jorge Reis) who buy me instructions and build it :)

    Can you share where your friend got BI for this great looking work train? btw your Train station is flawless, better in LEGO than real life!

  13. Posted

    Apparently the 'quote' feature isn't working for me today....I'll try to answer your questions though.

    Yes, the 11L axle would push the plates off the bottom, either due to the cylinder throw being too long or the short mechanical build to support this cylinder(ie. longer mechanical build to support the distance moved)

    Support on the ends of the axle would help, but you still need to match the 'throw' of the cylinder so the assembly wouldn't tear itself apart.(since you can't control very well the position of a pneumatic cylinder, either full "on" or full "off" )

    Using a base plate would help too, use same answer as above.

    Using multiple plates would help in strength of whole assembly, although the 'swing' of the cylinder could catch on passing rolling stock/locomotives with low hanging parts, if placed too close to tracks. You might be able to use a longer axle away from tracks with proper support and strength.

    If you use a shorter arm to rotate the axle, you might have to match a cylinder with a short throw or change gear ratio.

    The 'throw' will depend on which double-acting cylinder style you pick, not a whole lot to pick from for what you are wanting to do.The small one should work instead of the one I used, but this will work!

     

  15. Posted

    @Roadmonkeytj Sorry took so long to test.......

    I found the lowest of plates under the 'driving axle' would separate at full cylinder extension during it's movement. I would try an additional plate layer to hold the dual 1x2 plates that support the 1x2 brick w/two holes, that support this axle.

    Also I didn't have a good selection of pneumatic cylinders, so I used the ol' square based one to test.

    800x450.jpg

    800x450.jpg

    Picking the correct "throw" of a cylinder would help in it not tearing everything apart, during it's operation. 

  16. Posted

    Looks to be a good idea for locking the boogies, now how to easily separate the 'cars' with this locking device combined? ( H.O.G. ie. Hand of Grab? )

    I would think that somehow "pulling" a car/coach/rolling stock would separate in the wrong place due to the varying strength of the magnets.

    I do have all these parts, what parts are you concerned with in either success or failure?

    I'm parts shopping today @ my friends LEGO reseller store, I'll construct later today to test.....

  17. Posted

    @zephyr1934 I thought about that very idea!(of course after seeing Dr_spock's loco testing bed) With the way @Jeffinslaw designed the frame, there is plenty of room for a gear on one of the axles. That would drive all the wheels and valve gear too.

    @Jeffinslaw designed the boiler in a new way for me(inside supporting structure) that taught me some new LEGO building lessons.

    I will never knock or criticize the 'lonely headlight brick' again, it's my new friend! :sweet:

    Also thank-you for your help and suggestions, your custom rods are awesome!

  19. Posted

    @Jeffinslaw I found that the 'chassis support' for the boiler needed adjusting, to properly support the boiler across all areas you designed into this creation.(rigid hose on bottom?)

    For reference I modified the support between the wheels(rear most driver wheel) I added a 1x4 plate on top of the "jumpers" under the tile, page 68, step 69.

    The second driver wheel(moving forward), I removed that support completely and replaced with a 1x4 tile only, no slope assembly.

    The next driver wheel has the 'boiler pin' connection between the wheels, I didn't change anything here.

    The next driver wheel has a 1x4 tile across the chassis sides, I added a 1x4 plate, under this tile. The tile barely rises above the flange of that said wheel.

    So the boiler is supported @ three places, including the 'pin'. (rear most 'rigid hose' assembly, connection pin, 'middle rigid hose' assembly)

    The very front bottom of the boiler rests between the 1x4 plates w/2 studs. (seen below at right side of photo)

    800x450.jpg

     

    800x450.jpg

    A little hard to see, I was most concerned where the edge of the 'grills' came too close to the edge of the rear driver wheel, for me if this loco is going to run all day long on my display I wanted everything to clear and not possibly rub on other parts.

    (These notes/suggestions are just my personal opinion here, not bashing this creation at all.)

  20. Posted

    4 hours ago, Jeffinslaw said:

    @ritztoys: fantastic job! You're the first person I've seen who has completed the build and posted pictures of it. What did you think of the instructions? Easy to follow along? What about the build in general? By the way, what was your total part cost?

    -Jeffinslaw

    Thanks Jeff, The instructions are very good and clear to understand, I found only 1 issue. The elevation of the chassis that supports the boiler in one spot needed to change as it 'tilted' the boiler. (didn't look correct)

    Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed building my first "steamer". 

    I think anyone wanting to build such a locomotive as yours should fully 'pull the trigger' and get into LEGO trains!

    I had quite a few of the elements already in my "unemployed brick section", but I would guess I spent around $275-300+, that included the custom 'rods' by Zephyr1934

    During the build I tested this loco on 9v track radius, and it works ok, but this loco desires R104 radius track IMHO......

  21. Posted

    Well Jeff, it's all done. Track tested an' everything! Next step is to find room for a bigger track layout!

    800x450.jpg

    Yes, that's a working headlight, the other LED is buried inside the boiler(not doing anything, I thought about having a "boiler glow", but changed my mind.)

    800x450.jpg

    Once again thank-you Jeffinslaw this was a very enjoyable build, including my personal mods too.

  22. Posted

    12 hours ago, Jeffinslaw said:

    Looks awesome! Nice job!

    -Jeffinslaw

    Thank-you Jeff, your design of this beautiful locomotive was just needing a little more detail(in my mind) as it will have it's own display case.

    Besides, it is very interesting to watch go by on a track layout and see all those 'rods' going through their movements. Not exactly like 'Baker Valve Gear', but similar.

      (I'll tear up the living room and move out furniture to lay out some track to test it!)

    Now all I have to do is build some rolling stock or some fancy coaches.(next fall)

  23. Posted · Edited by ritztoys

    Zephyr1934, I took your suggestions to rebuild, and rebuilt all afternoon..............it worked!

    I added a #10 axle without tech connectors and put 1x2 thin liftarms on each end, and this moved the pivot forward, making all the difference for this mod.

    Thank-you Jeffinslaw & Zephyr1934 for your help......

    800x450.jpg

    800x450.jpg

  24. Posted

    Sorry Jeffislaw, didn't mean to high jack your post, just want to improve a great looking Loco!

    Zephyr1934, I'm still trying different combinations of all parts associated with this type of valve gear(had to take a break, Dentist pulled 4-eye teeth!)

    Your suggestions are well received, with some new ideas..... I'll post what I come up with, maybe nothing changes I don't know yet! I also like your 2nd attachment point too.

  25. Posted · Edited by ritztoys

    First of all, thank-you  Jeffinslaw for releasing BI for this fantastic locomotive.

    I'm a 'detail freak' to the max, so I added valve gear rods the best I could representing "Valve Gear" for this locomotive. Also to member Zephyr1934 for his custom rods too.

    It took several tries to get the valve gear to operate as the real one does, although not exactly like "Baker Valve Gear" some control rods are way too small to replicate in LEGO elements. I moved the 'pivot point' of the added valve gear all over the place where it didn't interfere with the driver wheels or any other moving/stationary parts. 

    The downside to all these added parts makes the SP Loco almost 10, actually it's 12 wide across the ends of the half crankshaft!

    So I will be adding separate train tracks just for this in my display as it will not pass through my new train station unless I like picking up parts sheared off from the platforms as the train tries to go through!

    Suggested valve gear adds........

    800x450.jpg

    I had asked @Jeffinslaw about various liftarms to use and found the 'half crankshaft' to be the best choice in my MOD, as the 1x2 technic liftarm moves the valve gear to much and everything "locks up" through its' cycle of movement.

    800x450.jpg

    I'm also going to add an LED headlight to this creation too, this locomotive must have a headlight in my book!