Live Steam 0-4-4 Tank Project

John Candy · Dec 22 2011 11:28

Most of you will be aware of the 0-4-4 tank construction project serialised on gauge3.info and in view of the interest being shown (and the number of enquiries/suggestions being put forward) I think it appropriate to dedicate a board on the forum to discussion of matters connected with the project but not requiring a response from the author of the series, "Ginger".

Thank you,

John Candy

Andy B · Jan 04 2012 21:59

I'm interested in building the MR version - so have made a start at drawing up the frames in CAD so they can be laser/water cut.
The buffer beams will need a different construction to James, as they were a 6 3/4" iron/wood/iron sandwich on the original loco, and with curved ends.

Andy

Andy B · Jan 04 2012 22:12

OK - so png files with no background don't work too well - lets try a pdf instead:

AllWight · Jan 04 2012 22:36

I can see it ok Andy. However, I do have younger eyes so no need for the varifocals as yet. Looks good though. Are the frames specific to one engine only or are they able to be used for other variations of engines of the same or other regions? It would cut down on a lot of CAD work. Baldwin had the right idea of using Bar Frames on their locos just like building an engine from Mecanno. Of course the Mecanno boilers do tend to have a few holes in and don't steam to well.

Mark

Andy B · Jan 05 2012 08:23

Mark,

From my brief review, the MR variants shared a common frame design. The later LMS standard design was certainly different at the front (angled frame in front of the smokebox, where the MR design had a concave-curve. I haven't checked wheelbase, etc.
There may be close similarities with other locos designed by Johnson before and after his time at the Midland - e.g. the GER 'No.134' class - but I have not checked any details to confirm this.

If anyone wants to do some more investigation: my frame drawing is currently at 12mm/ft (much easier to draw straight from an original drawing in ft & in.)
The pdf should print full size at that scale - for reference the driving wheelbase is 8ft (96mm)

Andy

Andy B · Jan 05 2012 08:40

Quote from: AllWight on Jan 04 2012 22:36
It would cut down on a lot of CAD work.

The actual work to produce a frame outline in CAD is really not an issue - it is finding all those dimensions in the first place off the GA's & component drawings.
Given a dimensioned 'fag-packet' pencil sketch, the actual 'fingers-on-keyboard' CAD time for me is less than 1/2 hour.

And laser/water cutting is so cheap and easy that producing an accurate range of frames for different prototypes in small batches (i.e maybe 2 or 3 pairs of each) is still, I believe, cost effective.

Andy

John Candy · Nov 14 2012 23:52

For those of you following "Ginger's" project, Part Eleven has just been uploaded to:-

http://gauge3.info/public_html/0-4-4_tank/week_11.html

John Candy · Nov 28 2012 20:55

Part Twelve has just been uploaded to:-
http://gauge3.info/public_html/0-4-4_tank/week_12.html

John Candy · Sep 29 2013 22:30

Part 14 is now available
http://gauge3.info/public_html/0-4-4_tank/week_14.html

John Candy · Oct 24 2013 23:09

Part 15 is now available at:-

http://gauge3.info/public_html/0-4-4_tank/week_15.html

Tim_B · Dec 10 2013 03:38

hello Group,
Having been prevailed upon myself to write articles for e-zines I fully understand how easy it is to commit, followed by hours of cleaning up the prose, trying to simplify explanations and meeting deadlines.
Ginger has done a great job in getting such a large project to its penultimate chapter, but is it possible to get an adendum giving his thoughts on the (presumably spirit) firing assembly?
Tim

John Candy · Dec 10 2013 07:05

Tim,

Welcome to the forum.

I will ask "Ginger" for an answer to the firing question.

I am expecting to receive the final part of the construction series quite soon.

Regards,
John.

Steve Cook · Sep 04 2014 20:51

I hope I'm not treading on any toes, but does anybody know if Ginger was able to complete the final part of this series?

Having just been to my first G3 GTG I find myself rather enthused by the prospect live steam in this scale and would love to see the final part, the loco as built and some feedback on how well the single G1 cylinder worked. It has been a fascinating read to date although I doubt I could match the speed of the man himself

Kindest Regards
Steve

John Candy · Sep 05 2014 07:04

Steve,

Peter K did say that the final part would be ready by (last) Christmas but shortly after that he resigned from the G3S and reverted to G1 (there was, you may recall, correspondence in the Newsletter).

I did email him early in the New Year but did not hear back.

I will ask again but, if the article had been written, I would have expected to have received it.

Peter also had a couple of other interesting G3 models "on the go" which I had hoped would be "written up" in similar fashion.

Regards,
John.

Steve Cook · Sep 05 2014 09:53

Hello John
Thank you for the update.
I'm afraid that I hadn't made the connection between Peter K and Ginger although I do remember the newsletter correspondence.

It will be a great shame if the series can't be finished, although there is plenty of useful information in there to be getting on with.

All the best
Steve

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