The Forum for Gauge 3 Model Trains

Rolling Stock => Carriages & NPCS => Topic started by: Geoff Nicholls on Oct 11 2014 18:43

Title: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: Geoff Nicholls on Oct 11 2014 18:43
Are there any castings of Westinghouse break pipes available? I need four sets for my GER four wheeled carriages and loco
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: MikeWilliams on Oct 11 2014 21:48
Do they look much different to vacuum pipes Geoff?  Any photos?

Mike

(P.S. I LOVE your early spelling of "break" - quite right too!

Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: midnight miller on Oct 11 2014 23:44
Hello All

About 2/3rds the thickness of a vac pipe and smooth on the out side , unlike a vac pipe with the wire braiding round it .



                                                       John
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: Gavin_B on Oct 12 2014 10:44
If anyone can point me in the direction of good photos and dimensions will have a go at producing a CAD drawing
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: MikeWilliams on Oct 12 2014 10:45
So, maybe use a standard vacuum standpipe and smooth plastic "hose"?

Do the GER ones stand up or hang down?

Mike
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: Geoff Nicholls on Oct 12 2014 19:44
the use of 'break' was entirely unconscious.  The Westinghouse brake pipe was significantly thinner, and as stated above the flexible hose was smooth and had a hemispherical coupling on the end. Each pipe had a tap, rather like air brakes on today's stock.

Thank you for the offer Gavin, but I'm going to have a go at producing one myself using CAD. I've already made a start on the pump. The GERS produced drawings of these a while back. Then I'll get some patterns 3D printed

I'll post the results once they've been done.
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: MikeWilliams on Oct 12 2014 23:23
If only CAD and 3D printing could be used for everything - I need an LNWR vacuum cylinder and pipes, but in 305mm/1ft - i.e. full size, for use on a real carriage!

Mike
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: Geoff Nicholls on Oct 13 2014 09:13
Actually they can, but at a price. I went to a 3D printing show in Birmingham where they had large complex 'castings' printed in metal.  One of the uses mentioned frequently was bespoke replacement parts for classic cars. And that's actual parts, not patterns.
There are some Colleges that have machines capable of 3D printing in metal, if only we could build relationships with them.
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: Gavin_B on Oct 13 2014 17:50
Aerospace engineers are looking to 3d print in titanium now as well.  Bet that costs more than solid gold
Title: Re: westinghouse break pipes needed
Post by: John Candy on Oct 13 2014 19:19
I read somewhere, a few months back, of a RAF station which prints replacement parts for its Tornado aircraft!

John.