Garratt Locomotive 1:20.3 scale

[Francois]

Hi all

Here are some pics of the new Garratt Locomotive I've built this year.
The model is at 1:20.3 scale.
The trucks come from 4-6-0 steam locomotives.
The bodies and the frames ara mainly made of styrene sheets and strips, and PVC pipes.
The figures are made of resin.
Length OA : 43" (1.10 m)
Width : 5.1" (13 cm)
Height : 8.5" (21.5 cm)

More pics on the Brest Mini Rail website if you clic on both pics below.

Francois

[Loco Bill Canelos]

Francois,

It looks great,  how did you articulate the boiler so nicely?

The pics on the BMR site are very nice as well!

Bill

[Dave]

Beautifully done Francois.
     I am building one as well, using the Annie Chassis, but its no where near finished. Is yours Track or Battery powered? I have mine running and I would be interested in how much Drawbar pull yours has.

      Dave

[Skarloey Railway]

Really enjoyed your video of the Baie de Somme.

[Francois]

The garratt is track powered. I hardly changed anything on the trucks, except for a few cuts to adapt to the chassis and the couplers.
I don't know how much drawbar pull. It pulled 5 accucraft cars without any problem and I think it can do much better but I didn't test.
The boiler frame is articulated on the trucks with 3mm screws in 4mm brass pipes. The front articulation permits 3 rotations (like a ball joint), the rear one permits only 2 rotations: the rotation around longitudinal axis (as same as the "roll" of a ship) is blocked. Then the middle frame has a 3 point suspension and has the "roll angle" of the rear truck.

The model is free lance. I imagined an american locomotive built in France.

Francois

[Dave]

I have just done a drawbar test and I got a reading of 3!/2 lb at half throttle. She started to slip then. Maybe I should fit some sanders!

                 Dave

[john1937]

Wow! Francois, that Garratt is great. I would like to suggest that Bachmann should broaden the range of large scale models to include locomotives from places other than North America, such as United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. For example, a large-scale model of the narrow gauge K1 Garratt would appeal to those who are aware that it was as the first of its type. An original blueprint is available from the Australian National Archives at http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1080282&I=1&SE=1 , a manufacturer drawing at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/K1_drawing.jpg , a works photo at http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki/75/K1_works_photograph.jpg , and line drawings at http://s405.photobucket.com/user/dirty_numb_angel_boi/media/British%20Steam%20Drawings/Beyer_Peacock_K1.jpg.html . For those who would like to see a full CAD rendering, a book is available, as described at http://lightrailwayresearchsocietyofaustralia.cart.net.au/The-Anatomy-of-a-Garratt . Further details about Garratt locos can be obtained from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garratt  and/or  http://www.beyergarrattlocos.co.uk/source.html  or  http://users.powernet.co.uk/hamilton/source.html . Those who wish to see a Garratt loco in action can try  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFlmwCUpCHo and many other examples will be suggested. If more recent Garratt models are desired, see G42 (Puffing Billy Preservation Society) at  http://pbps.puffingbilly.com.au/rolling-stock/locomotive-fleet/  or at  http://4largescale.com/fletch/d30e.htm  and see NGG16 Class examples at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Welsh_Highland_Railway_rolling_stock  , and  http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/pg/ngg16a/ngg16s.htm .
Enjoy, John.

[uscgtanker]

Nice work on a magnificent locomotive. One question for you is did you use a pre exciting boiler or scratch.

[Francois]

One question for you is did you use a pre exciting boiler or scratch.

The boiler is scratch build, using a 80mm PCV pipe.
The steam dome is made with an half-sphere, molded in polyurethan resin on a 40mm Xmas tree ball. The cylindrical portion is a PVC pipe. Both parts are fitted with epoxy putty together and on the boiler body.
The spherical portion of the steam box door is also molded on a Xmas tree ball (much larger) and glued on a circular 1.5mm styrene sheet.

All rivets are cutted in rod strip of styrene (1.2, 1.6 and 2.0mm) and glued on to the boiler and the body of the locomotive. Thousands of rivets for for long winter evenings...

Francois

[smcgill]

Realy nice job!

[tac]

Don't overlook a brand-new book about engines that bend, called 'Engines that bend' by David Joy.  Every Beyer-Garratt-patented loco ,and those built under licence by the Belgians, French and Germans, gets a mention.

...and K1, the VERY FIRST B-G in service anywhere on earth, currently runs in North Wales on the Welsh Highland Railway.  It can be seen many times on YouTube...
like this, the latest movie - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bibz3yl2-SU

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

PS - Great job, Francois!!