Another Kozo A3 Switcher

[Prowler901]

Hello, and welcome to my Kozo A3 build log!  I started this project in October of 2012 and have worked on it off and on as I've moved through this game called life.  There's been years between some of the work.  But, in the last two years I've settled in to a real nice place and have a nice organized shop that I feel good in.  So, it's time to get back to this little steamer.

It's been a dream of mine since I was a little boy to have a functioning steam locomotive.  And Kozo's designs are a dream come true.  When this one is finished and operational, I shall be starting on his D&RGW K-27 design.  I'm a huge Rio Grande narrow gauge fan, and the K-27 is my absolute favorite loco of the K series Mikados.  So obviously I was super stoked when Kozo announced this project.

But, let's get back to this little A3.  I've made some minor modifications to Kozo's design.  They are all esthetic based.  I've found pictures of the prototype that ran on Long Island back in the day.  So, I've made some changes based on those photos.  Most notably is that the steps on the tender back are on the opposite side.  A rectangular water hatch instead of the round one.  And, it has a modern head lamp on the loco and tender, and a generator on the loco.  So, I will be modeling these different parts.

Currently the tender is "complete" with the exception of the head lamp (tail lamp?)  And, on the loco I'm up to the point of making the main rods.

So, on with the show!


Current state of the project.


Tender Trucks.


Tender showing mods I've made.


Tender hand pump and fittings.


Loco frame on drivers.


Driver quartering.


Side rods in process.

Here is a link to my Flickr page which has many photos from the beginning till present.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118361445@N06/albums/72157642071268024

Until the next update, keep steamin'!

Todd

[Kim]

Most Excellent, Todd!  I love the look of all that brass!  Just beautiful!  Are you going to leave it that way or will you be painting it eventually?

It's a bit like I'm looking at the tender in a mirror, with the handrail and stairs on the other side! I'm just not used to it that way but it sure looks great!  And the rectangle water fill hatch - that really looks great!  Beautiful work on that - on the whole thing!  I just can't get past how nice all that brass looks.   

You'll have to post some pics of your nice new shop too! (over in the "My Workshop" section.)  We love to see other people's shops and tools.

Thanks for posting.
Looking forward to following your progress.

Kim

[Admiral_dk]

Great looking Tender + rest of the family + Love the paintjob on the Wheels     

Best wishes

Per             

[cnr6400]

 

Great progress to date Todd!

[RReid]

That all looks like top notch work, Todd. Very nice!

[Kim]

Todd, did you use the Friends castings for the drivers? Or did you make your own? They do look very nice!

Kim

[vtsteam]

Beautiful work!

[Prowler901]

Thanks everyone.  I really do appreciate your kind comments. 

Kim, yes these are the Friends castings.  They really are good castings, and they machined beautifully.  I managed to score a good deal on them.  They gentleman that had them decided he wasn't going to pursue building the loco.  He also had the cylinder castings in bronze.  I got the set for about half the price.  So, I'll be attempting to make the cylinders from these castings.  That should be interesting.  I'll be calling on the collective knowledge of the group here on where to start on those.  My first inclination is to bore them first.  Then reference all other surfaces from the bore.  in any event, that will be coming up soon.  I just have to finish the main rods first.

Todd

[Krypto]

Wow, that's a beauty! 

You guys really impress me with taking on such a long, multi-year projects like building a steam loco.  You gotta have a lot of faith in yourself that you can see it the whole way through to completion.

[Prowler901]

Thanks, Krypto!  They are a long haul journey for sure.

Well, I've managed to get some more work done on mine.  The Main Rods are almost complete.  I followed Kim's method an did the math to find the angles and then the positions of the holes that needed to be drilled in my fixture.



Then mounted the part and checked to make sure that everything made sense.  And, fired up the mill for work.  The fixture worked great!



And here are the final products.  I cut the ends off with my band saw.  Then mounted them in the rotary table to finish up the ends.



I still have to drill and tap the holes for the fake cotter pins/bolts.  I'm excited to have these done as the next step is the cylinders.



Until next time,

Todd

[Kim]

Your main rods are looking good, Todd! Those are some of the defining features of the loco! 

Kim

[Prowler901]

Thanks, Kim!  Sorry for not updating in months.  I have been working on the project.  But, we've also been having a busy summer/fall.  I can't believe it is almost Christmas.  What happened to 2023?!

I've just about finished the Cylinders.  The castings machined very nicely.  There were no occlusions.  And, only some very minor porosity.  Nothing that will affect operations.  There was quite a bit a material to remove from them. 

First up was to bore the cylinders to 0.875".  And, then face each end to length.


First end faced.


Swap ends dial in and do it again.


You can see that a lot of material is removed.




Both cylinders faced to length.


Next up is to machine the valve and mounting faces.  That is complete, but I'll show it in the next post.

Regards,
Todd

[Kim]

Nice to see an update on this Todd!   

Yes, the year has gone by in the blink of an eye, hasn't it? 

Kim