 | | | | | |
Here are some pics of an attempt to model James from the Thomas the Tank
Engine stories. It was a joint effort between me and my 11 year old
son. We tried to be as faithful to the original model of James from the
videos (spent lots of time searching and freezing for different shots of
James:)
Although the wheels on the 12 volt motor are obviously too small, and
the superheater should be yellow (doesn't come in that color yet), we
are happy with the outcome. The 12 volt motor runs off of a 9 volt
motor which is used as the lead truck in whatever we have James pulling
at the time.
We haven't done so yet, but we are planning on producing decals which
mimic the real James for the finishing touches. I realize that I might
take some heat for participating in a 6 wide venture, but I think it's
perfectly logical because we are actually modeling *toys* here.
Enjoy:-)
-John
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=1644
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
> Although the wheels on the 12 volt motor are obviously too small, and
> the superheater should be yellow (doesn't come in that color yet)
Um. Um um...the _superheater_ goes _inside_ the boiler, not outside :) (of
course, it is not the great Lar++, that would be much more fun! he never makes
Misteaks!)
Nicely done, I like how the boiler is constructed. A Q1 might look good done
up like that (although, again, one hits the 4 wheel limit of the 9V motors)
James
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.trains, James Powell writes:
>
> > Although the wheels on the 12 volt motor are obviously too small, and
> > the superheater should be yellow (doesn't come in that color yet)
>
> Um. Um um...the _superheater_ goes _inside_ the boiler, not outside :)
Right you are. Maybe he means a feedwater heater? Those sometimes are outside
mounted.
++Lar
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.trains, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> In lugnet.trains, James Powell writes:
> >
> > > Although the wheels on the 12 volt motor are obviously too small, and
> > > the superheater should be yellow (doesn't come in that color yet)
> >
> > Um. Um um...the _superheater_ goes _inside_ the boiler, not outside :)
>
> Right you are. Maybe he means a feedwater heater? Those sometimes are outside
> mounted.
>
> ++Lar
More simple than that - J2 is refering to the steam dome. He's just confused -
not like *that* is anything new!! ;-)
JohnG, GMLTC
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
John Gerlach wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> > In lugnet.trains, James Powell writes:
> > >
> > > > Although the wheels on the 12 volt motor are obviously too small, and
> > > > the superheater should be yellow (doesn't come in that color yet)
> > >
> > > Um. Um um...the _superheater_ goes _inside_ the boiler, not outside :)
> >
> > Right you are. Maybe he means a feedwater heater? Those sometimes are outside
> > mounted.
> >
> > ++Lar
> More simple than that - J2 is refering to the steam dome. He's just confused -
> not like *that* is anything new!! ;-)
Yes, I was referring to the steam dome, whose function I thought was for super
heating the steam. I think I may have my vocabulary wrong, but I think I'm still
half right (not a half wit;)
-John
>
>
> JohnG, GMLTC
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
> > More simple than that - J2 is refering to the steam dome. He's just • confused -
> > not like *that* is anything new!! ;-)
>
> Yes, I was referring to the steam dome, whose function I thought was for super
> heating the steam. I think I may have my vocabulary wrong, but I think I'm • still
> half right (not a half wit;)
OK, quick steam lesson: Unless your name is Abner Doble, you want to put heat
INTO the steam to superheat it :) Best place to do so, is in the flues, or
across the back of the firebox (even better!).
Typical steam engines have smokebox temperatures that are quite bearable by
humans. The temp at the smokebox should NOT get high enough to burn paint
off. If it does, you have flues/tubes that are too big for the boiler (we've
made this mistake with the Live Steamers). However, if you make them too
small, then you strangle the fire (which is a worse mistake, because then you
have a 1000 hrs work boat anchor for a small boat!).
If you pass the steam through a pipe that goes across the back of the fire, it
will pick up heat. This heat will add to the steam's heat. By keeping the
same pressure as the boiler (because it is open at one end to the boiler), and
increasing the temperature, you increase the Energy within the steam to make
it hotter than the steam in the boiler. This is superheating. Works great!
Now, steam domes: From my little handy Thomas the Tank Engine book, James is
based on a N series mogul (2-6-0 built by Woolwich Arsenal, fitted with super
heat from new). Domes are used to rase the collection point of the steam above
the water surface. UK domes were typically small because of low overhead
clearances. If a dome is not fitted, then what will be fitted instead is a dry
pipe, which is a pipe that runs the length of the boiler at the top, fitted
with a large number of small diameter holes. They both help to dry the steam
out before it reaches the superheater (which you want, otherwise you can get
all kinds of weird things happening). Some locos had the superheater after the
throttle, some before. If the superheater is after the throttle, and a slug of
water goes through, then you can end up with the situation that 'Blue Peter"
ran into in about 1995, where you have a uncontrolled slip by a slug of water
passing into the superheater, and then evaporating. Even if you close the
throttle, you still do nothing until the water has boiled.
(BR paid in the order of 100,000 pounds to repair the damage that was done, the
engine needed completly new motion parts, because they all bent, and it was the
BR train driver who was responsible)(BR=British Rail, now no more)
James
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
James Powell wrote:
<snip the informative lesson on steam which mostly went over my head>
>
> Now, steam domes: From my little handy Thomas the Tank Engine book, James is
> based on a N series mogul (2-6-0 built by Woolwich Arsenal, fitted with super
> heat from new).
The Thomas the Tank Engine website says James is based on a "Hughes Class 28 2-6-0
Superheated tender engine". I'm not too familiar with foreign steam; is that the
same type as what your book says? I'd love to see a pic of what that engine
looked like in real life...
-John
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.trains, John Neal writes:
> Here are some pics of an attempt to model James from the Thomas the Tank
> Engine stories. It was a joint effort between me and my 11 year old
> son. We tried to be as faithful to the original model of James from the
> videos (spent lots of time searching and freezing for different shots of
> James:)
Your version of "James" looks great. I like that you can put "piping" along
the side of the engine. The 12 volt motor with rod really makes a difference.
> Although the wheels on the 12 volt motor are obviously too small, and
> the superheater should be yellow (doesn't come in that color yet), we
> are happy with the outcome. The 12 volt motor runs off of a 9 volt
> motor which is used as the lead truck in whatever we have James pulling
> at the time.
>
> We haven't done so yet, but we are planning on producing decals which
> mimic the real James for the finishing touches. I realize that I might
> take some heat for participating in a 6 wide venture, but I think it's
> perfectly logical because we are actually modeling *toys* here.
> Enjoy:-)
I'm going to try the decals, as well. I could really use some advice with how
best to resize, print, paper choice, print-method, etc. I have scanned in six
varieties of "James" facial expressions from a book titled "James In A Mess and
Other Thomas the Tank Engine Stories". I'll be placing the scans (JPEGs) on
BrickShelf presently at:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=1649
later,
James Mathis
> -John
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=1644
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
James Mathis wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, John Neal writes:
> > Here are some pics of an attempt to model James from the Thomas the Tank
> > Engine stories. It was a joint effort between me and my 11 year old
> > son. We tried to be as faithful to the original model of James from the
> > videos (spent lots of time searching and freezing for different shots of
> > James:)
>
> Your version of "James" looks great. I like that you can put "piping" along
> the side of the engine. The 12 volt motor with rod really makes a difference.
Thanks. It was really fun to see yours and see how you went about the different
design problems in modeling James. Many of our solutions were the same! I
especially enjoyed seeing you use the 1x4 red arch for the curve of the window,
because I went there too! (but decided to go with slopes instead).
Yes, the 12 volt motor rod adds a lot, but I wish the driver wheels were bigger:-(
> > Although the wheels on the 12 volt motor are obviously too small, and
> > the superheater should be yellow (doesn't come in that color yet), we
> > are happy with the outcome. The 12 volt motor runs off of a 9 volt
> > motor which is used as the lead truck in whatever we have James pulling
> > at the time.
> >
> > We haven't done so yet, but we are planning on producing decals which
> > mimic the real James for the finishing touches. I realize that I might
> > take some heat for participating in a 6 wide venture, but I think it's
> > perfectly logical because we are actually modeling *toys* here.
> > Enjoy:-)
>
> I'm going to try the decals, as well. I could really use some advice with how
> best to resize, print, paper choice, print-method, etc. I have scanned in six
> varieties of "James" facial expressions from a book titled "James In A Mess and
> Other Thomas the Tank Engine Stories". I'll be placing the scans (JPEGs) on
> BrickShelf presently at:
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=1649
Ahh, okay:-) I hadn't even thought about facial expressions yet, just the
decalling for the number and black trim. I was planning on using decal paper from
either MicroScale or Champ and using J-1's ALPS printer to print them, although
it's not exactly at the top of my priority list in terms of time allocation:-/
What I think I will do is make up all of my Thomas et al decals at once, once I
finish all of the characters I am currently building (Percy and Bill/Ben under
construction; Thomas, Toby, and James completed).
-John
>
>
> later,
> James Mathis
>
> > -John
> >
> > http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=1644
| | | | | | |
