I had posted this over on the traction/subway section, but I thought that maybe this would appeal to more folks here than there.

Here's a little project that I could not resist starting despite not having much free space in the shop.

Picked up a Bowser mechanism for a Birney and took a Dremel cut-off wheel to it.

Then I used my resin castings for the ends and the sides are just built up from scribed siding and scale stripwood. Roof is just 2 pieces of cove molding glued together and then shaped with a 4-in-hand and the belt sander. Body and roof as a unit drops right onto the mechanism frame and all that's needed now are all the finishing touches and details.

Pretty slick. I like it!

Thanks, Matt!

Turned out to be surprisingly easy to do as well. Ok, that's true it you don't have to scratchbuild your ends and can work from 1 piece resin cast ends. But even then, parts and ends are out there (scale lumber & cove molding is pretty easy to come by!) and this little all around 2 axle drive comes in pretty inexpensively.

After I get some of the details on it I'll post an update.

That is really neat
Will it get a trolley pole and head light?

Yup!

Trolley pole in the center of a work platform that's being installed.

Headlight, retriever, and pole hooks on both ends since the pole will swivel for reversing direction.

Other "stuff" will get added as well....

Assume if you are going to use pole to reverse direction you will be using the scheme that Pittman used on the 4 wheel work car.This had a split commutator below the roof that was rotated by the pole.Refresh my fading memory with diagram.

Bill,

I had not considered actually using the pole's directionality to reverse direction, but now will have to give that some thought.

Very nice, who made the pole? I think traction is great, cost effective and especially were space is at a premium, do you have some trackage planned or maybe a club to run with? The only drawback to pole reverse is sometimes the connection between the hook and and pole oxidizes.

Very nice Martin, now I see what you made those castings for.

be sure to post a finished pix, please.

atlpete,

I have lots of poles, mostly in kit form in my parts bin, but the one I'm going to install is one that was a salvage jog of uinknown origins and age. Might be an older Kemtron, but I'm not entirely sure.

Trackage will be in parallel and/or overlapping with my steam line after I install the overhead. This mechanism will take very tight spaces nicely and would provide an easy entry into traction modeling.

Chris,

Actually this is the 3rd car I've built using those castings! That mold has really paid off big time; while I've assembled ends a la the La Belle kits, having entire ends that I pull out of the parts bin is a huge advantage. I've got a few other ends cast up as well that will be making appearance eventually.

quote:

Originally posted by atlpete:
Very nice, who made the pole? I think traction is great, cost effective and especially were space is at a premium, do you have some trackage planned or maybe a club to run with? The only drawback to pole reverse is sometimes the connection between the hook and and pole oxidizes.

Matt,

Actually runs mine just fine, but the wheels are a little tight on gauge but it works fine on my track - wheels are not perfectly true on the axles which just puts a little wiggle into its giddyup. I don't mind that so much as it lends a bit of "character" to my intended purpose and it's not that significant when running slowly. It's going to be a tired old work trolley.....

What is more curious is that the entire mechanism is off-set from center which puts the body off-set from the wheels. The motor is in the middle, but if you flip it over and look where the wheels are in relationship to the sideframe, they are shifted a foot to the one side....

If my eyes get a lot worse I guess I won't notice a 1/4" off-set,

I purchased a Bowser that evidently had more use than I figured on. It had problems carrying power from the wheels to the motor. Of course you shouldn't have that problem. If you ever do I would recommend wipers on the wheels so you can hook solid wires to the motor. OH Yes, Nice work!

Thanks, Jim!

The insulated side of course does have wipers for pickup; I could add a set to other side later if pickup on that side seems a problem