WIP DDa40X

[Barduck]

A long time ago, in a gala..... sorry, got carried away there. Once upon a time, in a magical land ca.... 

Somewhere on this forum my previous version of the DDa40X floats around. At that time it was already a very nice build, but way to big to handle. It would sweep down anything in it's path due to it's massive overhang. 

Almost 2 years ago I did a little study for an EMD nose, which would have served for an EMD SD90MAC -H. While I've yet to return to that design, someone guessed it was the nose for a DDa.

 

I kept that in mind, waiting for the right time to redesign that engine, a time that has come now.

In March I finally started designing this monster of a train, not using the standard train baseplate as a way to put the motors on it this time would require a new truck design for it. If she'll be able to take the standard curves and turn-outs remains to be tested, but I had my trucks. So work on the cabin and then the rest began.

 

While doing that I noticed I was running out of space with the initial length I set her on so I got a blueprint from the internet and put it over what I had so far

 

Blasted, a few studs to short. So I lengthened her base, shortened her cabin, redid some other parts like the windows and then continued working on it

 

And now, she's close to ready to being build, I got someone proof "reading" the made instructions, got a design ready and test printed for the fans on top, and got the basic sticker design close to ready.

 

 

 

(actually, just need to add 2 extra tubes at the front for the other stair railing)

Here she is with some of the stickers added in the render

 

Once the instructions are ready and I've test build the trucks to check for solidity and to see what kind of corners they can take, I can start actually getting the parts and build this beast. She'll be powered by 2 large technic motors (one for each truck) and controlled by the IR receiver (went "old school" as there's still no extension cables from LEGO for the PU system)

 

 

Edited April 18 by Barduck
renders not showing

[Feuer Zug]

That's a beast. Good luck with the test-fix-test cycle. I do suggest something like SBrick for controlling the motors as the PF hub won't give enough power for two L-motors.

[Barduck]

2 Large should be fine, my previous model of the triplex had 3 on one hub and never had problems. 3 is max though

[Shiva]

Nice!

Is there any track gauge in LEGO size, that works for Garden Railways? This loco could be nice for those.

[Murdoch17]

1 hour ago, Shiva said:

Nice!

Is there any track gauge in LEGO size, that works for Garden Railways? This loco could be nice for those.

L-gauge is either 4 studs wide (like the old Indiana Jones tack) or 8 (regular 4.5 / 12v / 9v / RC track) There is nothing wider officially. People using larger G-scale models usually use G-scale track made by other manufacturers, and this loco appears to be much too narrow for that.

Edited April 18 by Murdoch17

[Andy Glascott]

That is an impressive monster! I’d love to build one myself one day but I suspect it’ll be a few years at least before I do, but this is really well done. 

[zephyr1934]

Wow! That's crazy cool. So how did you do the trucks are they actually only two axle? Or do you have hidden articulation and/or sliding in them?

I was just looking at the DD40's a few weeks ago and noticed that the lettering is non-standard. The normal UP lettering has a circular O and C, but it appears that the DD40's have oval shaped O and C. I don't know if that was used throughout their lifespan or just one variant.

[Barduck]

41 minutes ago, zephyr1934 said:

Wow! That's crazy cool. So how did you do the trucks are they actually only two axle? Or do you have hidden articulation and/or sliding in them?

I was just looking at the DD40's a few weeks ago and noticed that the lettering is non-standard. The normal UP lettering has a circular O and C, but it appears that the DD40's have oval shaped O and C. I don't know if that was used throughout their lifespan or just one variant.

There’s articulation inside the trucks. 

[Space78]

WOW, very, very cool.  What will the minimum track radius be?  Any idea of total part count?

[Barduck]

10 minutes ago, Space78 said:

WOW, very, very cool.  What will the minimum track radius be?  Any idea of total part count?

I’m not sure yet, test building the trucks this week. Hoping for r40 although that would look silly. 
As for parts count, it’s around 3700

[Barduck]

Test build of a truck revealed she can’t take r40 or r56. Don’t have any r72 or r88 to test with.. r104 and r120 are no problem. 
edit: although, if we cheat and remove axle 1 and 4 she can take any curve 

Edited April 23 by Barduck
Typo

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I have always loved this big locomotive!

I remember when we introduced our different versions (7 wide mine and 8 studs wide your) in 2014.

Now you're doing a great restyling according to your great skills!