Carl,

did you try a lot of silencer designs on your wonderful green monster or was there a less empirical approach. I was impressed and surprised how relatively quiet you had managed to make your live diesel.

I am assembling the relevant parts for a live diesel and this will be one of my main winter projects. If successful it will be called "Senor Carl Hibbs" though
I am unsure how to progress with refining the silencer.

David...There was absolutely nothing empircal about the silencer.

It was crudely copied from something Bob Pope made in the USA and which mimics the function of an old style car exhaust.
This is just a soft soldered brass chamber/tube with a series of horizontal and verticle baffles in it. So the exhaust passes down one side of the chamber and up the other side dampening and cooling.
The bottom of the chamber acts as a sump and collects oil which is drained off by gravity through a connecting tube underneath.
This also helps limit the amount of 'clag' as Phil called it (the heavy exhaust smoke which seems to delight diesel trainspotters).

I am relishing a real FEVE diesel on a Locomotion chassis. That will be fantastic at next years open day. There's your target. And I've changed the title of this thread to reflect that.

Could you post or let me have some photos and details of a Locomotion chassis. How they are built, dimensions, material etc.

I keep thinking about rebuilding mine and/or building another and wondered about their suitability.

HeHe No pressure David!

mikey

Carl, what are the benefits of including a speed controller in addition to a servo operated throttle on the diesel engine ?

Does it enhance or complicate the driving experience ?


David

Carl, many thanks for your reply.

Only progress to date is bidding for a cheap motor on Ebay and buying a multimeter. Unfortunately my electrical knowledge is limited to A level physics but I will get there eventually, afterall it is the learning adventure I enjoy most.

Hope to have an engine and generator/starter bolted to the workbench soon.

Hope your move is still progressing well.

David

The prospect of another G scale live diesel is very exciting (okay...whatever turns one on...).

But it's the creation of an autonomous machine that has life that is so important (for some of us).

It's a bit like Frankenstein I suppose.

There will definitely have to be a joint meet somewhere next year.

If you need a wiring diagram/schematic of what I did I will be happy publish/send it.

A wiring diagram would be immensely useful Carl.

Thanks for the offer.

Carl..have you given thought to sticking an engine into the Renault railcar.It's plenty big enough.

It could be a good idea actually Troy.

I would have to do some tests with the wood to see if it will stand the temparature.

Plywood is ok though with heat proof paint. The green 'caravan' body was made out of it and has suffred no reaction.

A brass chassis would be easy to make and I have the bogies ready.

That would be brilliant though a real diesel ABH with lots of 'clag'.

I was thinking that you could build a brass 'inner' to give it weight and provide protection for the wood.

Do you think that a typical etch brass diesel kit would need lining with wood on the inside for sound and heat insulation or do you think it would be OK au natural.

Carl it will be interesting to have a schematic for the principle of the machine, not a detail one, more what element are needed. I have something in mind, just don't know all the element I will need.

I have/had a schematic plan (and a wiring diag.) somewhere in my filing system. Bare with me while I try and locate it. If not I will draw-up another.

I think a simple cage around the engine motor would be enough to protect the bodywork during frequent removal.

An etched brass kit soft soldered would be fine David. I even discussed this project with Alan Doherty at Worsley Loco Works

The temperature of the engine is cooler than soldering temperture.

I couldn't find the original plan(s) as I think they're boxed up and packed with the engine.

So here is a redrawn one.