This is the first in a series of eight cars which will run on Port Elderley.

It is a 40 foot hopper car.



The base plate has been pierced and the two bulkheads attached.

Really looking forward to this one mate!


Pete.

Do you plan to make this a hopper with operating dump hatches?

How did you do the diagonal cutouts at the end of the baseplate Max and what are they for?.

Well, on real hoppers that's how the frame is built at the ends. It saves on material without impacting structural strength overmuch.

Thanks, Pete.   Me too.

No, Brendan.  The inside will contain the gubbins to make the couplers operate.

Brendan is right, Alan.  I drilled them out and then cleaned them up with a file.

This next shot shows the spine being assembled.



I'm hoping that building it on the glass will result in a straight body.

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

I'm hoping that building it on the glass will result in a straight body.

My experience dictates that too close an association with the glass results in anything but a straight body……:oops:

Doug

I recall that, sometime ago, when you built that huge locomotive from plasticard, you had problems with it warping over time Max.  I can't remember if that was that due to lamination or glue stresses …………….:roll:

If the latter, have you now solved the problem ?  I'd hate to see all this excellent work end up looking like a banana …………

Yes, Peter.

I've stopped using MEK and I am now using the two glues shown in the photo.

Tests so far have been positive.

Development is inching along.

This is a shot of the inside, showing the completed spine and the mechanism for opening the couplers.



I'm still waiting for the decoders to arrive from Western Australia and the couplers to arrive from Sydney.

I've tested the mechanism and it works correctly.

Memory wire with a spring return Max?
Marty

That's it, Marty.

Crude, but effective. 

Nice project…ingenious… this will be fun to watch… Good thing you've plenty of hair?
Marty

I know the Revell glue Max but what's the other one ?  Also, can you still get memory wire ?  I heard they'd stopped making it ……….:roll:

Thanks, Marty.  I shouldn't say this, but it all seems to be going to plan.


Peter, the other one is from Volmer GMBH Stuttgart.  It smells the same - like the old Tarzan's Grip.

Muscle wire is used in prosthetics and robotics - it comes in many thicknesses.

The one I'm using is 100µm in diameter and will pull 143 grams.

Available from www.jameco.com

Well, Max, I hope you knocked on wood when you posted that last message.

The hopper is shaping up nicely. Uncoupling system seems quite interesting. A slight shame it prevents the hopper having working dump doors, although then again you probably don't have space for a dump spot anyway.

Thanks, Brendan.

Nope.  They will just be running up and down the wharf.

The decoders arrived today.



Still no couplers, though.  :roll: