D51-200 Tender Locomotive 2-8-2

[Steamer5]

Hi John,
 What an amazingly detailed kit! You are going to need up with a very nice model. Enjoying the build.

Sorry to hear about your forth coming trip, I hope all goes well. Having had a recent scare myself, all good thankfully, i can appreciate what you may be going thru. I had contrast with a CT scan & now appreciate what my good lady of a certain age goes thu! It’s a very weird sensation!

Cheers Kerrin

[J.L.]

Thanks Kerrin.

The motion frame is mounted on the underframe. I do not know what a motion frame is! It also has a reverse shaft? (brass)

[J.L.]

The Suspension Part 1: (83 parts)

[Johnmcc69]

As mentioned before...beautiful details!

 You're making great progress John! I'm really enjoying following along.

 John

[J.L.]

Hi John,

I'm happy that you are enjoying following along with this build. Although I havent made the parts, I'm  thoroughly enjoying assembling them.

I am beginning to downsize my shop due to health issues. I have sold my General 160 wood lathe, my 13" thickness planer and my floor stand drill press.

Time to think of the future.

This photo shows my principle workshop now - my model desk! 


I still have hopes of finishingf that Lincoln double cylinnder stationary mill engine for the unfinished diorama, so the metal lathe and the milling machine remain.

Cheers...John

[b.lindsey]

It's fun to see as each new part or section is added John. All the best on the health issues.

Bill

[Johnmcc69]

Nothing wrong with assembling parts John, sometimes we all need a change or distraction. You're still keeping at it.

 I'm hoping this will be a good way to get others into this hobby. I'm happy you posted it!

 Sorry to hear you had to let machines go, but your model desk is pretty nice & will be able to afford (build) adding this next to my computer in my humble workshop (basement).

 Keep 'em coming John....
 

[J.L.]

Thank you very much for the kind words and encouragement John.  Appreciated.

Here is work assembling the first part of the suspension...

[J.L.]

Do you see the correction in the second photo after comparing it to the first one?

When I was studying the photos for thethird and fourth set of leaf springs I noticed that the springs are mounted under their straps, not sitting on top of them. 

Correction made tonight.

[Admiral_dk]

Makes quite good sense as breaking one of those bolts will collapse the lokomotive when placed on top.
Placeing the spring "in the loop" reduces the load on the bolts to being guides => much higher reliability.

[J.L.]

Quite so Per.

I did not know that only one end of the banded leaf springs was allowed to float. One end was bolted firmly to the frame and the other end was fastened to the pivoting equalizer bar seen here. A bush was used to keep it from touching the frame and logner bushes at each end of the bar kept the link straps from also making contact with the frame.

[J.L.]

Pack 3 is now complete.

The first two sets of wheels slipped nicely down into their frame recesses and were fastened to the leaf springs.

[b.lindsey]

Really taking shape  John. Looking like a real locomotive now...very impressive!!

Bill

[J.L.]

Thanks Bill.
I am learning a lot about the engineering involved as I go along.

These shots show the installation of the split axle boxes. They are grooved on each side so they can slip down into the frame. The axle box guards hold everything in place

[crueby]

Clever design - when I first looked at the photos I thought they were eccentric followers. The arm out the end looks to go down (up?) to the leaf springs?