Don't you know I'm Loco?

[JatoTheRipper]

Wow this is impressive!

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

Wow this is impressive!

Thanks?

This weekend was all about riveting, exciting stuff. Like adding more rivets.


That was getting tedious, so I cut some holes for exhaust and the steam blow off valve. Also did a bit more work on the hood steam vent.



Also, a part that was fun was building out the hatch on the back of the boiler. I like cutting tiny letters. I'll make this so it is removable, so I have access to the gas valve.



Yay for progress.

[XSRCdesign]

Very tidy work on that logo

[Sneetches]

What is the theoretical top speed of this thing going to be?

[wblteen]

300 chugs per hour I would imagine

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by XSRCdesign

Very tidy work on that logo

Thanks, I made a few mistakes so went back and redid it.

Originally Posted by Sneetches

What is the theoretical top speed of this thing going to be?

Close to whatever a 65T brushed motor is capable of.

Originally Posted by wblteen

300 chugs per hour I would imagine

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Now we're talking about my college days.

I'm quite chuffed by the progress here.



That hatch is removable so I can get in there and check/regulate the gas flow if necessary, and see total pressure.

[BigSki]

The hatch will remove itself when the pressure gets too high !

[calcagno45]

Very nice!

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by BigSki

The hatch will remove itself when the pressure gets too high !

Ha, we both know you're joking.

Originally Posted by calcagno45

Very nice!

Thank you!

So, finally, done all 300+ rivets. What a royal pain in the butt. I have newfound appreciation for 35th scale tank builders, also know as "Rivet Counters". Those guys are bonkers.




Got around to putting some detail into the steam exhaust on the hood.


And finally, because I like to punish myself and learn on the fly, I got around to starting some 3D printed elements of my own design. Some things would just be too complicated to do in styrene, like these tail lights:


And the starting of the rear bumper. As it needs to mount a little more creatively, I'm still figuring some of the mount measurements.


I didn't think I had it in me, but thanks to some help from the guys at Autodesk Fusion360, and my friends at Shapeways, these things are shaping up faster than I could have imagined.

[imthatguy]

So today, I finally decided that this build wouldn't meet my standard of completion if I left the interior stock. I got a picture from Kenny of the real deal to start the inspiration.



Ditched the stock dashboard and got started. Yay, more rivets...



It's a good start, but requires some special touches to finish it off. I'm really excited.

Also, because I want to make sure heat is as small an issue as possible, I opted to cut another exhaust. We're sacrificing a little accuracy to make sure I don't melt it all down.

[calcagno45]

Seriously cool! Nice details

[Mike Flea]

Originally Posted by imthatguy

Thanks, I made a few mistakes so went back and redid it.



Close to whatever a 65T brushed motor is capable of.



Now we're talking about my college days.

I'm quite chuffed by the progress here.

That hatch is removable so I can get in there and check/regulate the gas flow if necessary, and see total pressure.

Hopefully you've figured out, or made it easier to get into, than having to remove 9 screws to regulate the gas, like maybe the entire backplate removes with 1 screw and the rest are dummies, or make a latch that removes the backplate in one move. Once the boiler heats up, and triggers the blow off valve, you'll want to reduce the amount of gas going to the burner or you'll have short run times.

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by calcagno45

Seriously cool! Nice details

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

Hopefully you've figured out, or made it easier to get into, than having to remove 9 screws to regulate the gas, like maybe the entire backplate removes with 1 screw and the rest are dummies, or make a latch that removes the backplate in one move. Once the boiler heats up, and triggers the blow off valve, you'll want to reduce the amount of gas going to the burner or you'll have short run times.

I can spin three mounts and the backplate comes right off. No biggie. I'll probably leave it off until the blow-off trips, reduce gas flow, then close it and off I go.

So this was a week for some mechanical testing and a few cosmetic bits. I finally got the steam tubes plumbed so they run to the rear of each wheel well. Not much to see here, but truth be told, the steam is so accurate as it puffs out from each side, that I'm rather chuffed.



Here's where those pipes route to. Still need to be trimmed and bent a bit more downwards so hot steam doesn't soak the front tires and create mud.



Got my 3D printed taillights too! They look great, and are bang on for size and fitment. Shapeways did a great job. I was concerned with the size and placement of the mini bolts, but it turned out great.


The coolest part was all of these miniature live steam pipes. All threaded, multiple sizes, and machined brass for the victory. I'm so happy with how these look on the truck, mimicking the real thing. No steam flowing through them, but they look amazing.



More to come, but every day, the list gets shorter!

[calcagno45]

Think positive, could be a hot steam bath for the front tires to keep them clean and sticky!

[Mike Flea]

What's going on with this rig lately? Is it painted, finished? Any Video's?

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by calcagno45

Think positive, could be a hot steam bath for the front tires to keep them clean and sticky!

Ha, yeah, a hot, oily steam bath. Gross.

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

What's going on with this rig lately? Is it painted, finished? Any Video's?

Things are happening. I figure two more weeks and I'll take it outside for it's maiden voyage in a box to California.

Someone special is helping me out with the grille.

[Mike Flea]

That's cool I like the simulated steam tubes for the grill.

[Szczerba]

A. Needs more details.
2. Didn’t know you have robot part maker interns

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

That's cool I like the simulated steam tubes for the grill.

Yeah, just like the real truck. Very fun watching that part come together in the magical hands of James Knight.

Originally Posted by Szczerba

A. Needs more details.
2. Didn’t know you have robot part maker interns

12. You're right
X. He's on permanent retainer for when I can't do things.

Final design sent to print!

[JatoTheRipper]

Those brass pipes and fittings make me geek out. So much scale nerd coolness. Where did you get said pipes and fittings?!

Excellent work.