AbleChristopher
-
Content Count
36 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
I'm not yet sure. One of my "building beliefs" is to have instructions be available to as many folks as possible while also helping offset the cost of the initial build. My other instructions are $25 each, so somewhere around there is reasonable to expect. I hope to run it at Bricks Cascade next year, so I have got to hurry and get this thing put together and started on its trial runs! https://www.brickscascade.com/ -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
It will be powered by two large PF motors within the boiler. -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Much appreciated @Vilhelm22! I am quite happy with it so far, I am building her exactly as she would have been in April of 1949 at 1:48 scale. A full greyhound Overland Limited consist would be incredible! I hope to see that of yours someday. -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
All parts are in and the build is underway! -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Thanks! I've done all I can do keep the part count low, all the internal pieces will be colored purple indicating you can use any color you wish...but yes at this tier I think all models get a bit expensive if you aren't sourcing from your own supply. Worth it in my opinion! -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
On second thoughts Zephyr...I think I've delayed long enough. I'll order the parts this weekend, progress will be slow this time of year, but at least it will get started. Thanks for the motivation! -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Thank you @Mattie305! Historically dating her to the spring of 1949 was difficult but I am confident that I pulled it off correctly. I am using a 20 tooth technic gear as the drive gear which connects to a 12 tooth technic gear as the driven gear. (Driven/drive = gear ratio -> 12/20 = 3:5 ratio). As far as weight and speed goes...I wish I knew! I will only have a good idea once I put her together. No updates as of yet, I was moments from making the big order when a couple (good) life events popped up. It's killing me but I will have to put off the part order for a little while longer. I am a geologist and caught in the summer rush of field projects. Fall and winter will come soon...then I am hoping to begin the build, testing, rebuild, retesting and finally...final instructions. If there is a silver lining its that this will give me time to fully flush out the decals with Monty's Trains so that each instruction set will also come with a digital file of all the decals. I have a copy of the plans for the locomotive including lettering and numbering...cant let that go to waste! -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Thank you @Vliebricker! Yes that is correct, the official name is "two-tone gray" and it was a paint scheme used by UP during the 1940's until 1952 when a directive ordered all locomotives back to black. While the scheme of gray and yellow was very short lived, it made an eternal impact on the rail community. So much so that they repainted 844 (then named 8444) in two-tone gray once again in the mid 80s, commonly referred to as the greyhound scheme. -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Very kind, thank you! Yes me too, draft instructions are in progress, physical build hopefully coming soon. Yes, I will be selling instructions...stay tuned! -
Union Pacific FEF-3 #844: The Living Legend
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Thank you! Yes will do, hopefully a post of the physical build soon. Much appreciated! I love your TTG challenger, I can't believe we both had these projects brewing away at the same time. Kind words, I was fortunate to find a boxpok 3D file. The physical model will hopefully have different counterweight sizes too. -
Hello all, I would like to share with you my most recent model. It is currently digital, but a physical build will be coming soon (with instructions). UP #844 is one of the most iconic locomotives that has ever graced the main line. Both powerful and elegant, she has captured the attention and imagination of railfans since her delivery to Union Pacific in December of 1944. #844 was the last steam locomotive delivered to UP and the only steam locomotive of any American Class 1 railroad that has never been retired. She has seen revenue and excursion service for over 78 years. During this time, she has had several modifications and upgrades. Some minor, such as a livery change and some major such as a Worthington SA feedwater heater added around 1955. For this build, I wanted to capture her essence and model her as she would have appeared in April of 1949. A careful eye will note several key features: by this time she was modified to be oil burning, a mars light had been installed, she was still using the Sellers exhaust steam injector and she wore the two-tone gray paint scheme in Harbor Mist Gray and Armour Yellow. This model is 8-wide, 1:48 scale and displays #844 as she would have been seen while pulling the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited or Portland Rose in April of 1949. #844 represents the absolute apex of duel-service steam and I want this model to represent nothing less. It is powered by two large power function motors with a 3:5 gear ratio so that she has both high tractive effort and can travel at high speed. Next step…building the instructions and ordering parts!
-
[MOC] Oregon Pacific & Eastern 19 - "Emperor of the North"
AbleChristopher replied to Glenn Holland's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Well done! I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we enjoy the lengthy posts. -
MOC UP #844 Power System Opinions
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
Yeah I plan to reinforce the whole assembly, with some thin liftarms and probably will double up the brick tower if not convert the whole thing to technic liftarms and connectors. Thats great feedback that you have had issues with the bricks/plate method, I will almost certainly convert the whole thing to be a technic assembly. -
MOC UP #844 Power System Opinions
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
I am hoping for speed and strength. My worry with one L motor is that I won't have enough torque to pull a significant consist. The gear ratio should actually be 3:5 to the driven axle (20 tooth gear down to a 12 tooth gear) which is then connected to XXL diameter drivers. I think that one L motor wont provide enough torque to get a significant consist rolling. Ultimately I would like this to have a fast running speed, akin to the real life counterpart. -
MOC UP #844 Power System Opinions
AbleChristopher replied to AbleChristopher's topic in LEGO Train Tech
@zephyr1934 I agree, axle connectors are a must in my opinion, otherwise all the strain is being put on the main rod which is brittle and more for show anyway (on Lego models). I used that bevel gear system through the frame on the Mercury with a motor assembly like option 2 above, but option 1 is probably much stronger. I have come up with a third option...both motors will turn in the same direction relative to their orientation here (i.e. one of them will have the polarity reversed on the controller). Gears are in blue so they are easier to see.