Rabbit Trap - The Model

The prototype was measured on a field trip and a 3D model was produced shown in the rendering above. There use is discussed in detail in a previous article on Rabbit Traps. The model was rapid prototypical and cast in urethane by Peter Boorman Models in Queensland. The urethane castings where assembled into the completed model shown then painted in weathered concrete, washed to age of 30 years. One complete assembly is fitted at each side of the embankment.

No information can be found at this time on the beams that supported the rail except that they were mostly likely steel. The problem is how was the rail fixed and at this point a educated guess is applied in the form of clamps. This form of construction would allow the beams to be completely fabricated off site, fit to any rail and allow replacement of worn sections, so for now this is how it is modeled until better information becomes available.

The pit is 66 mm wide

10000 Gallon Water tank

Decided to finish the 20000-gallon water tank that was on the PC for a number of years. This took a lot more time than you would expect. The primary reason was that the original software that I had used was dropped by AutoDesk and I could not afford the upgrade to Inventor. There was a problem with the 40 Class kits and I had to address that in between the other major project that I have.

That was a long exercise as no one in Australia could do it and I finally found someone located in Russia and engaged him to salvage as much as he could. Finally decided on Albire Professional 3D Software or what I call Solidworks Light, getting a licence for a heavy discount for marketing reasons helped, still $650 a year but it works well and has excellent constraining for assemblies.

The files were finally rescued and sent back in SAT format and at least they could be loaded. The final issue was that it took me 3 plus months to even get my mind in the right place with the software

This is the backstory, but I missed the tank assembly had some parts but not the tank.

After a lot of work, a new tank was generated for the 20000 gallons and finished this is where someone showed a picture of a 10000 gallon and yes it looked better, back to the grind and this is the final result. It is not a museum piece just layout quality like the PC2 Station which can be handled and still have one part at the end of the day.  It has no prototype just a collection of parts with the arrangement based on general structural knowledge and what is available.

Most of the major parts will be 3D printed with the frame Evergreen Styrene. The spout may be either plastic or brass castings depending on success with the latter.

The images are of the model, not a scale drawing so all sizes are of the materials used and the compromises made for the manufacture of one-offs.

10000 gallon Tank with Spout Generic

Details are shown below

Loco Steam

As we are all locked indoors and it does create a strange world.

An NSWGR modeller approached me with a request if it would be possible to add smoke and maybe cylinder cocks to NSWGR small locomotives. Now, this had all been looked at by myself, but there were always a number of reservations on my part, with the main one being the use of oil. A mussed-up fill could result in a real mess as would a serious derailment. The other issue was the reported build-up of oil from a lot of use in a layout environment.

After noting my objections I was directed to a Facebook page of a UK engine using water so the question was how with the most obvious answer a small ultrasonic generator, my curiosity was pricked.

So after a few days of research, I obtained a sample to destroy and then decided to see if it could be possible to have stack and cylinder cocks. with the hardware that is required to be installed.

The renders below show the current results. 

The smokebox is a Model O - 50 Class and it would all seem to fit, so all the parts were sourced and the next step will be undertaken once I have enough parts and a new printer. The parts will have to be a combination of FDM and resin depending on size. The larger parts at this time will be FDM ABS to allow them to be glued into a solid assembly.

Section through Smokebox showing collector hoods

Overall view with Smokebox transparent

This will be feed from a tank in the tender this is where one of the issues arises but in principle, it looks like a 50/50 chance but the use of water is appealing.

Steam Loco with Sound & Steam

If you really want one these are the people in the UK who have it all 

sorted its worth a look Click here