MOC: 6 wide PF steam locomotive shunter project

[Dread Pirate Rob]

I have just completed the modifications to incorporate the suggestions for my 6 wide power functions shunter. Please let me know what you think and I welcome suggestions for how it can be improved.

Thank you all for your support on https://ideas.lego.com/projects/82031 I regret we have only 100 supporters now so I don't forsee this getting up as the 50th anniversary of Lego Trains train.

Fortunately James Mathis has what I think is an even better idea https://ideas.lego.com/projects/86744 so if you haven't supported this one I can highly recommend his.

The biggest change is the ability to now turn the battery box off and on by pressing the front of the forward dome. I have some pictures on Flickr that show how it works.

https://www.flickr.c...57649279163680/

 

Edited June 25, 2018 by Dread Pirate Rob

[Redimus]

Impressive use of the limited space.

[James Mathis]

Thanks for the advertisement.

Sharing the support: I'm a supporter of your project.

A classic style no doubt, and always nice to see innovation inspired by necessity with the Power Functions bits. Challenging.

-James

[JopieK]

Very nice Dread Pirate Rob!!!

[Dread Pirate Rob]

Thank you, its no Peppercorn A1 but it is fun to shunt with. Here are some photos of the power button button by pressing the forward dome to switch the battery box on and off.

Does anyone know a better way to work the power button in this confined space?

Edit: Sorry, I'm out of upload space, they are also on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128987084@N02/15985593171/in/set-72157649279163680

Edited December 11, 2014 by Dread Pirate Rob

[dr_spock]

Nice work. It looks good with the 7710 Push Train.

You can try using a plate and inverse round tile to active the power button. See the 60052 cargo train build instructions or Ronenson's HE on/off MOD: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=103148

Remove the 1x3 slopes and use cheese slopes around the plate.

[Dread Pirate Rob]

Cheers dr_spock, I'll give it a try with cheese slopes and see how the profile looks. I have tried Ronenson's solution on my HE now and it works a treat. Thanks!

[cgarison]

Such a nice sweet little locomotive. Great Work!

[zephyr1934]

That's a great job hiding everything, hardly a spare micron unused inside that MOC. Lots of nice little features too, e.g., the rods and the retro 12v cylinders. Did you think about doing the wheels in red?

[Dread Pirate Rob]

That's a great job hiding everything, hardly a spare micron unused inside that MOC. Lots of nice little features too, e.g., the rods and the retro 12v cylinders. Did you think about doing the wheels in red?

Thank you. The working conditions in the cab are not ideal but the driver can take it up with the union. I did a prototype that was three studs shorter (and had moving pistons and connectiong rods) but I thought it was a bit silly. I'll put a photo up but I think you will agree it was an idea taken too far... https://www.flickr.c...02/15841810167/

I agree, red wheels would be an improvement. To Bricklink!

Edited December 15, 2014 by Dread Pirate Rob

[zephyr1934]

Thank you. The working conditions in the cab are not ideal but the driver can take it up with the union. I did a prototype that was three studs shorter (and had moving pistons and connectiong rods) but I thought it was a bit silly. I'll put a photo up but I think you will agree it was an idea taken too far... https://www.flickr.c...02/15841810167/

Oh, I don't know, you could go further...

... but then you would really upset the engineers... though there is historical prescience.

[Srbandrews]

I really love this. Very efficient use if space and overall a really nice looking little retro-lego style shunter.

[andythenorth]

Should be an official TLG set.

[Dread Pirate Rob]

Oh, I don't know, you could go further...

I had a play around with something along the lines of your 4 wide build but couldn't make it robust enough. Even the torque from that little M motor tore my mechanism apart. Respect that you got it to work. Do you have any photos of the linkage to the wheels?

[zephyr1934]

Apologies, I did not mean to side track your thread. I was just trying t say that you could have gone even more obtuse with the running gear. Having kicked the can of worms open, it's been a few years since I've played with it. I tried two approaches and I don't remember which was the final one. One used bevel gears and a vertical axle the other used a rubber band with a 90 degree twist. While sufficient to move the engine and a few wooden trains, neither approach was very strong. I'll try to remember to pull the engine out over the holidays and post more in a different thread.

[ronenson]

Cool little engine. I hope TLG comes out with smaller battery boxes so making this type of engine will become easier