The Rail Ballast Vac Train Thread

[fcnrwy23]

The Rail Vac Train Thread


This project is being posted, earlier than I had planned.   Only because, I am having some issues and I AM STUMPED! 
I had gotten this far with the project, but had to shelve it, for the NSE trip.   And, only just got back on it, this morning.

What I have here is the "chassis" for the Main unit on the RVT.
It consists of:
(1) Complete Atlas BXX-7 chassis, (minus the 2nd truck)
(3/4) of a Roundhouse, 50' boxcar frame, with (1) MT truck
(1) Digitrax decoder, n163-whatever...

This set up is the closest I could find to fit the prototype...
    I filed down the rear portion of the underside of the frame, to allow for the attachment (Weld-Bond) of the Roundhouse frame.   The "Left" half of the BXX-7 frame has been bonded to the boxcar frame.  I then went back and did some additional filing, to the "Right" half of the BXX-7 frame for (insulation) clearance, on top of adding Kapton tape as an insulator.
Now, The unit does run, but "here's the stumping part".  Even when I have raised the speed to 28, it still only crawls.   Over a short period of time (like trying to figure-out, what I forgot) the armature will get HOT.   
So, there's a Short somewhere???

What am I missing? 


Left side of chassis


Right side of chassis


Jerry G.

[mu26aeh]

Did you try another motor ? 

[eric220]

My first suspect would be a mechanical bind somewhere.

[PeyRil]

That is quite a long chasis with only a two axle truck trying to move it. Are you having any wheel slip or stalling. That was my first thought. But it could be a bind also. To rule out a short, have you done any continuit checks between the frame halves and also the motor housing?

[fcnrwy23]

mu26aeh  &  eric220 -  YEAAA!!  I replaced the motor and with the chassis apart, I filed a little more, here and there.  Anywhere, where it looked suspicious just to make sure.
Runs like a new machine!!    THANK YOUs!!

PeyRil -  That was a possible concern, when I first started to construct this project.  But, the GGX Ballast Cleaning Train has the very same setup (Single-powered truck).   The difference is, the RVT will only have Itself, a Difco dump car and a Storage car (Caboose) that will need pulling.

That's the Great Thing about this Forum, Help is Never Far Way!    Thanks again!.

Jerry G.

[peteski]

The Atlas motors can tighten up - I have seen this problem several times.  I fixed one of these for Dave Foxx (IIRC).  There was a thread about this a while back. What I noticed is that usually the bearing on the non-commutator side of the motor slides inwards. That eliminatet the for/aft play of the motor shaft and makes the armature hard to spin. I gently pull on the motor shaft on that side and that moves the bearing outwards fixing the problem. This has to be done cautiously to prevent the armature moving on the motor shaft.

[SSW7771]

I don't think I have heard of a rail vac train, what is the prototype you are going for?

[fcnrwy23]

Sorry, I started this thread, Wrong.. 

The Rail Vac Train Thread...

The RVT is a "Hoover" vacuum cleaner on rails.  Well, actually a "Shop Vac" is more accurate, since it is used to pickup just about anything. Wet/dry/sand/mud spots, etc.
On the front of the unit, is a large diameter hose, connected to a robotic arm.  Which enables the hose to be manipulated, for the task at hand.

                                                         Video of a RailVac in transit, somewhere out East.

The train usually consists of:
The Vac/Power Unit...
a loaned, Difco Dump Car..
and a Storage Car, (modified Caboose, usually a "Bay-Window' type).

On the Model, the chassis is a "near-Complete" Atlas BXX-7 engine, minus the rear truck. With a Roundhouse 50' Boxcar frame attached at the rear.
I have swapped out the front, "Freight" truck of the proto for a powered FB-2 truck.  While, the rear truck is the same, with a MT 1035 truck/coupler assembly being used.
The body is a BXX-7 shell, cab and sill.  With, the addition of styrene sheet stock sections, to replicate the different compartments on the prototype.


This is what I have gotten done, so far..

The Main body has been pretty well, "Felshed-out".  With only the two sets of conveyors at the rear, to place.
The Difco car, is already made.
And the Storage car is just a still in the works..

As, I have said before, when one project stalls.  I just jump onto the next one...

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

August 3, 2017

A lot more progress, has been made on the RV Train in the last few days. 

All of the "main" body pieces are in place, except for the "rear" platform. (Its located at the end of the Main Body, above the first "small" Conveyor.)



The most challenging, was the Articulated Arm on the front of the unit.  This is how the Suction Hose is handled.
I was trying to get something that look believable.  I think it turnout OK.  Some, minute detailing should finish the job.
The Brass wire stock at the front of the unit, will represent the "upper support" for the Suction Hose.
And styrene flat stock .010 thick, was used to resemble, the access doors for the engine compartment.

The rest of the work is more detail parts...


Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

The Rail Vac Train Thread

August 13, 2017

(Been away on a 9-day Railfan trip, just got back, Friday Night).

Yesterday, I got a little more done on the RVT.
I added, the "Guide Vanes" for the Discharge conveyor, the "paddles at the end of the large conveyor.   I then installed a "Air Tank", near the Engine compartment, (I used "Half-Round" styrene stock for the exterior and a piece of dimensional stock to give the tank some "Depth".
Finally, I added "door latches" on most of the Engine compartment doors, by simply, "drilling" small holes..  I have used the trick, before with pleasing effect.




Still have more details to added and then its off to the paint shop...

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

August 20, 2017

The final body detail parts have been added, and the supply car has been finished and so the train went into the paint booth, early this morning.. (What you see is BOTH the RVT and the DCTs.)



They will sit the customary, three days to cure, before getting a coat of Glosscote.  Then, it's on to the decaling...

If time allows today, I may start on the electronics...

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

August 27, 2017

The train is now ready for the application of the final protective coating (Dullcote). Since, the decaling and final paint touch-ups have been completed.
There will still be some work to be done on the shell.  Some of the detail parts are easier to paint, separately, and then attach them later.

Both the DCT and RVT trains....



(Sorry for the same photo in both threads, but it is "easier" and more "efficient" to do this work together...).

Jerry G.

[fcnrwy23]

September 01, 2017

The Ballast Vac Train, (as it WILL now be called!) is nearing completion.


The entire train.   The Difco dump car is on loan from the BCT set for photos.. 


The Power/Vac car, needs a few more detail parts to be done.  I will be adding exhaust stacks for the mid-body power units. Roof A/C units, it's front coupler assembly, some paint touch-ups and the completion of the DCC installation.


The Supply car, will be finished with the additions of...     Electronics, A/C units, Stored supplies(Drums, Tools, etc..) and a little paint touch-up. 

The need to do "Paint touch-up" is not that obvious until you see the (up close) photographs..


Jerry G.