1876 Parcel van by michael mott

[michael mott]

OK, here is what has been occupying my muse recently. It is a parcel van that is for Gauge 3 (63mm or 2.5 inch between rails) I challenged myself to attempt to build it using the same processes as the original with obvious substitutions regarding some of the materials for ease of building in some areas and for economical reasons, using what I had on hand rather than purchasing more materials.

I did start building this model at the Gauge 1 scale (45mm or 1.75inch between rails) but changed after getting bogged down with wanting to make the undercarriage fully working including brakes.

 

This is as far as the first model went, as many will already know I have no problem starting things over or changing up elements.

 

Next was to make the metal structural parts for the frame this meant making a bunch of scale 3 inch by 9 inch angle, I cut strips of .020" brass and folded them on the brake.

 

 

The angle needed more work to get it a bit more sharp in the corner.

 

to be continued.

Michael

[druxey]

Nice (re)start, Michael.

[realworkingsailor]

Count me in! Always fascinating seeing your work! Glad to see you back!

 

Andy

[Canute]

I'll follow, also, Michael. Operable brake gear? I love it. 😄

[michael mott]

Thank you all for your kindness and welcomes. Here are a few more pictures of the restart as Druxey so aptly called it.

After bending up the angles I then used a vice and a little work with a chunk of mild steel flat bar and suitable hammer to tighten up the corner. Next a set up on the mill to cut each leg of the Angle to the scale 3 inch x 9 inch accurately this was a slow process and a couple of hiccups before all the needed section was produced.

 

The individual parts were marked out and cut to length with the inevitable mistakes because of the right and left handing of angles and holes. I now have a number of extra parts for some other purpose down the road so to speak. A few test samples were made of the riveting of corners a couple of which were very challenging but I wasn't giving up. ( More trinkets in the spares bin.) One of the reasons for some of the changes was my changing the layout of the frame as there is no extant drawing of this particular under-fame and during the late 1800's the Great Western Railway was undergoing all sorts of developments with the design of their rolling stock and Locomotives, as were all the other companies.

Once I was happy with my conjectural configuration based on the best practices and closest other frames of the same era I began riveting the frame together with 1/32 copper rivets.(very challenging indeed)

 

 

 

I ended up with all sorts of oddball configurations of vices clamps and bars in order to sequentially put it all together in all it took a few weeks and even then a couple of time I had to chisel off a connection because I had boxed myself in or the holes did not quite line up.

 

The sole bars were the last parts to add to complete the main structure and again I ended up taking a long time thinking about how to get these parts together.

 

Another oddball combination of vices and clamps allowed me to get the job done.  (where are those nano robots when you need them?)

 

 

we are getting there......

to be continued

 

Michael

 

 

 

[Bedford]

I'll follow this one, I love a scratch build mechanical model and you'll come up with some very interesting processes no doubt