Love it or hate it - the 'Aerotrain'
Mar 26, 2016 13:08:20 GMT -5
dtinut, roadkill, and 2 more like this
Post by norm66 on Mar 26, 2016 13:08:20 GMT -5
One either love the futuristic look of the LWT-12, the power unit of the Aerotrain or hate it since it has no resemblance to a usual disel locomotive. Due to the lack of power of the LWT-12 and the rough riding of the cars there were more 'haters' at the time the train was on the tracks.
However, from the engineering point of view the shaape of the shell is an interesting challenge. Additionally in large scales I know of only a 1/29-model made by Gary Mittner.
So after a bit of consideration which scale/tracka gauge to chose I decided to join the big guys on 7 1/4" tracks and 1.5" scale. Buildong started almost nine years ago - however, the cars still missing the axle's side frames (for optical pruposes only since the axle have inside bearing). There are only a few workshop pictures with rather low resolution.
Although at a later time of buildiing the shell looks a bit 'messy' (as the rest of the garage). Steel tubes as a basic frame, masonite, EPS-foam, some stove pipe, plywood and many layers of glass fibers make up the shell...
After roughly a year the unit is more prototypically and has it maiden run
Paint job started and running with a first 'car' - actually only the rough frame of it
And the shell removed with a look to the drive train (the rear axle is powered, not idling as on prototype - does not need a helper to reach Summit)
And with four cars (it's all what fits into my van) with basic shell (the corrugated panels were simulated by 5/64" rods soldered onto thin brass panel...a really tedious job with app. 700ft of rods to solder
Current status (app. 4.000 nails set in each car as 'rivets')
Since someone was looking forward for a video running the M-10005 - at least here's one of the Aerotrain (more or less a kind of 'dome-car - ride')
Hope you'll enjoy the report even if it's not in the usual scale...
Regards
Norman
However, from the engineering point of view the shaape of the shell is an interesting challenge. Additionally in large scales I know of only a 1/29-model made by Gary Mittner.
So after a bit of consideration which scale/tracka gauge to chose I decided to join the big guys on 7 1/4" tracks and 1.5" scale. Buildong started almost nine years ago - however, the cars still missing the axle's side frames (for optical pruposes only since the axle have inside bearing). There are only a few workshop pictures with rather low resolution.
Although at a later time of buildiing the shell looks a bit 'messy' (as the rest of the garage). Steel tubes as a basic frame, masonite, EPS-foam, some stove pipe, plywood and many layers of glass fibers make up the shell...
After roughly a year the unit is more prototypically and has it maiden run
Paint job started and running with a first 'car' - actually only the rough frame of it
And the shell removed with a look to the drive train (the rear axle is powered, not idling as on prototype - does not need a helper to reach Summit)
And with four cars (it's all what fits into my van) with basic shell (the corrugated panels were simulated by 5/64" rods soldered onto thin brass panel...a really tedious job with app. 700ft of rods to solder
Current status (app. 4.000 nails set in each car as 'rivets')
Since someone was looking forward for a video running the M-10005 - at least here's one of the Aerotrain (more or less a kind of 'dome-car - ride')
Hope you'll enjoy the report even if it's not in the usual scale...
Regards
Norman
