Don’t really know why seen as I have so many other projects on the go at the moment, I have started thinking about building a plane, Lost? “Me Too!”
Well here are the picture of what I started today..
Please take note that I have drawn the shape of these propellers “Free Hand” and I have never made this type of thing before…
The top propeller has been sanded
As you can see I have not yet finished the propeller on the right as it still needs to be sanded.
All in all, Not bad for my first attempt at making a propeller…
The Design
One evening I had five minuets to chill and I had my laptop in front of me, so I made this little sketch on Google’s SketchUp. And as I have passion for trains I sketched a small tank engine. I do intend to finish this sketch to make it look a lot more “Train Like” but for now I have another idea in mind…
As you can see I did not add a funnel to this sketch, but I did intend on adding one, as all trains need them.
This Sketch is all to size, 100mm by 40mm will be the footprint of this model.
The Build
I then decided to build this sketch, and with a few little mods from the sketch it turned out to be a great little toy train.
This toy has been made completely from off cuts as this is just a prototype. You can see that I have sloped the side block instead of leaving them as blocked ends as shown in the sketch.
As you can see I have added the funnel, also I have not added buffers in this build. But I am contenplating adding buffer to the next build.
The Idea Expands
This has been a great little project to work on and has open doors to bigger ideas, such as I want to now construct a “Saddle Tank” engine with the same footprint. And you never know there might be loads of other famous styles of trains I might design and build, with this simple yet effective design.
Here is some pictures of the prototypes I have made for the signals that I will be building for my new layout. As you can see I have developed these signals from a wood type to a smaller and more to scale signal. I have also found that the 3mm LEDs are more to scale as well, compared to the standard 6mm LEDs. My reason for making my own signals is cost, as on average signals cost about £20 each and I can make them for under £3, so seen as I am going to be making about 30 of them it seems to be the way forward.
Here you will see the 2 light version of the signals I am building, but I am also working on 3 light and even 4 light signals.
What I have use to make them
- Foam Board
- Drinking Straws
- Strip Board (prototype board)
- 3mm LEDs
- Ribbon Cable
- NoMoreNails
I do intend on writing a full account of how to make these signals once I have finished them…
If you are look for more information on UK signals use this link to view the Wikipedia page
I have come up with a simple yet effective way of creating a dust extraction system for my Sanding Drum with a Simple Jig. My Sanding Drum is a great little tool that I attach to my Drill Press to sand and smooth wood projects with. But the down side to the Sanding Drum is that it creates alot of Sawdust Partials that float around in the air so I have to wear a mask (as I don’t want the sawdust partials get onto my lungs and do some real harm.) So this means I can only use it for short periods of time.
But now that I have made this Simple Jig it reduces the sawdust down to a minimal amount, as all the Sawdust is sucked strait in to my vacuum cleaner that is attached to the Drill Press. GREAT!
Have a look at some of the pictures and read the comments to see how I made it…
Very simple construction of two bits of scrap chipboard, I cut two pieces to match the size of my Drill Press table with my Compound Mitre-Saw.
With my Fret-Saw I cut one of the boards with a hole a hole slightly bigger than the Sanding Drum and a Gully to the edge of the Jig for the Sawdust to vent down, and be sucked away into the Vacuum Cleaner.
As you can see I have added some arrows to show the direction the sawdust will travel when the Drill Press is working.
Here you can see that I have attached the Vacuum Hose to the Drill Press By means of a Spring Clamp around the Piller of the Drill Press. Also you can see that the Jig is held to the Drill Press Table by two smaller Spring Clamps.
Here you can see the whole thing with the Vacume cleaner on the floor.
Simple but Effective and it cost me only a couple of screws, cause I already had the scrap wood and the spring clamps!
Combining a passion for trains with woodworking skills, has resulted in a project I never thought i would be doing. Some how on Friday I picked up an old project and started to build the undercarriage for it. So Here are the photos of the almost finished railway carriage !
Here you see a side-on view of this carriage, complete with undercarriage and wheels, (Click on Picture for larger Image)
So This Project Continues
Well I have stared building a “Steam Loco” set to go with this carriage (photos coming soon,) and plans are underway for more different types of “Locos” and rolling stock. If I can make them to a high standard I might start selling them.
The start of 3D design of a “Toy Saddle Tank Engine Train” Approx 150mm by 300mm
I will properly be making other simple rolling stock as well, here is an idea of a wagon.
As always lets see where this project goes, keep up to date with is project and many others by adding me on twitter for real time updates.
