Flanger 015

[Dave Eggleston]

Ultimately, all of this depends on what era and what time of year you're setting your model in--and a ton of speculation on maintenance.

I'd agree this looks more, in my mind, like the start of the season. What we know the RGS did in later years may or may not reflect the pre-C&S or C&S practices. Flangers were important and religiously kept functional but were in heavy use for months and pulling them from service during winter to paint blades could be debated.

From b&w photos it's hard to tell if dark patches seen on the blade was paint or is it how the light was hitting the complex curve of the surface--there are photos showing the curved outer lower quarter shiny with the rest dark and others showing it dark with the rest looking shiny.

Then there's the question of the durability of the period paint--it got a lot better by Keith's era. Also that by 1910 they were flanging a lot less railroad than before that year.

[tonyk375]

Looks great Keith!

Tony Kassin

[Keith Hayes]

Slow and steady wins the race. The deck went on today.

Next, I set to making the manual blade lever. This is a field-hockey-stick-shaped cam levers that allows a wimpy fellow like me to put all my weight on the bar and actually raise the blade with no air. First, I sweated together some strip. Then I cut it with the fancy FastTracks saw.

The shape was filed to shape and the holes drilled per the D&RGW drawing. Then the piece was heated and heated and heated until it fell apart.

Two matching pieces! Time to break for dinner.

[Keith Hayes]

Fiddley bits:

[Mike Trent]

Looks great, Keith!

[Chris Walker]

Hey Keith,
the Pipe-fitters union rep will be wanting his Dues if you keep that up.

[Keith Hayes]

The flanger signal mast.

This mod2l is increasingly becoming a personal challenge: can I do it?

[Mike Trent]

Yes, Keith. You can!

[Keith Hayes]

When assembling a flanger,  remember to install the manual lift bar before the dead rod and automated air cylinder lever.

[Keith Hayes]

The Colorado Model Railroad Museum hosted an RPM near the Museum in Greeley yesterday. I packed up some models to show off some Sn3 models in a room of mostly HO and some N, O and On3 models.




And who doesn't like this vest-pocket turbine?!?

The RPM was a distraction as I prepared a base to show some models on. I dislike traveling with models and sure enough the coal sustained some damage. I fot this repaired today and set to bending the air pipes for the flanger.

The brass wire was tempered with a lighter and the bends were referenced on the photos and model, using a Sharpie to mark the bends. It was a measure twice,  look at the photo 3 times and gently hold it in place just before bending sort of operation.  I am glad this is done.  The pipes are in the paint shop now. They need to go on before the handrails and blade signal.

It was great to see a couple readers at the RPM!

[Keith Hayes]

We are stinking close to having this model wrapped.

The handrails about killed me. Some stirrup steps, air hoses, the brake wheel and some paint touch up and the flanger will be done.

[Mike Trent]

Fantastic, Keith! Snow will be flying (again) soon!

[tonyk375]

Looking fabulous!

Tony Kassin

[Jim Courtney]

looks great, Keith!

Seems to me that you "killed" the hand rails, not the other way around.

[Rick Steele]

Jeff,

Trout Creek Engineering was sold to San Juan Models. Cliff Mestel, the former owner of Trout Creek is battling some health issues.

Rick

[Keith Hayes]

Finis.

[Al Pomeroy]

Very nice Keith.

Does the blade operate or is it fixed in the lowered position?

Al P.

[Keith Hayes]

Al, an operating blade is a bridge too far. Maybe in 1:20.3?

[Mike Trent]

It's a beauty, Keith! Can't wait to see it in person. I'll have to consider upgrading mine with some of the features that surfaced during the evolution of this long thread! It's been fun watching how this all came together.

I'll also be interested in seeing what you end up doing with Idler #013!

[Norm Acker]

Wow Keith, very nice work - it looks great!