Scratchbuilding Steam Locomotives
Chris Ruegger
Every once in a while I see that an author in MR has scratcbuilt his own
steam locomotive. I have a very basic question. How in the world does one
go about doing this? What materials are used? Brass? Lead? How, for example,
does one go about making a boiler from sheet metal? (or whatever youre supposed
to use). What types of tools are required?
Also, where do you stop? Do you make your own gears and motor too, or "cheat"
on them? :)
I've never seen any books on the subject. Also, are there any books that
give precise specs on different engines so you don't have to go around looking
for blueprints of them???
Any info would be appreciated.
Chris
KEVIN R. JONES
>
> Every once in a while I see that an author in MR has scratcbuilt his own
> steam locomotive. I have a very basic question. How in the world does one
> go about doing this? What materials are used? Brass? Lead? How, for example,
> does one go about making a boiler from sheet metal? (or whatever youre supposed
> to use). What types of tools are required?
>
The late Gorden Odegard did a seies on scratch building a B&O Mike
sometime around '82-83 in Model Railroader. This is best information I've
seen on scratch building a loco. Try to find someone with the issues, or check
a local library. MR has a reprint service where they will make photo copies of
out of print articles, for a nominal fee. Odd's are that NMRA's Kalmbach
library will have thoes issues too. Same deal, phto copies for a nominal fee.
> Also, where do you stop? Do you make your own gears and motor too, or "cheat"
> on them? :)
>
I posted the NMRA defintion of "scratch built" a while back. I
will post it again if there is interest. You can build your own motors and gears
but it's kind of silly. The NMRA doesn't require it for a scratch buit
locomotive, and you can buy far better gears and motors than most people could
build. When you consider the labor involved doing it yourself, they are not all
that expensive either.
> I've never seen any books on the subject. Also, are there any books that
> give precise specs on different engines so you don't have to go around looking
> for blueprints of them???
>
> Any info would be appreciated.
>
> Chris
The problem with steam locomtives Chris is that virtually every lcomotive built
by a diffrent railroads was unique. There is really no collective list of
every steam lcomotive for every railroad. The exception to this is the USRA
design engines. These were lcomotives built from common buleprints to save
materials during WWII. If you are looking for a specific locomotive type from a
particular railroad then I would try the historical society for that railroad.
Some other good sources are:
Steam locomtive cyclopedia - Kalmbach
Drawings in back issues of Model Railroader, Railroad Model Craftsman, etc.
A post to this, or the rec.railroad group.
Hope this helps,
Kevin Jones
University of Louisville
Jeff Scherb - CATS
Maybe this will help:
Keyword search for 2 keyword(s): SCRATCHBUILD STEAM
96 matching entries found
MR 1/48 p8 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 1 - frame
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/48 p88 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 2 - running gear
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 3/48 p180 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 3 - superstructure
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 4/48 p268 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 4
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 5/48 p340 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 5
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 6/48 p418 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 6, conclusion
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 4/49 p8 Camelback ten-wheeler, part 1
( 2-6-0, CAMELBACK, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 5/49 p8 Build an HO articulated from stock parts, part 1
( 2-8-8-4, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 6/49 p17 Build an HO articulated from stock parts, part 2
( 2-8-8-4, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 7/49 p24 Build an HO articulated from stock parts, part 3
( 2-8-8-4, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 10/49 p16 Build an HO PRR K-4 Pacific, part 1
( 4-6-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 11/49 p39 Build an HO PRR K-4 Pacific, part 2, completing the chassis
( 4-6-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 12/49 p42 Build an HO PRR K-4 Pacific, part 3- superstructure
( 4-6-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/50 p67 Building an HO gauge K4 Pacific, part 4, superstruct.detail
( 4-6-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, SUPERDETAIL )
MR 2/50 p59 Building an HO gauge K4 Pacific, part 5, tender
( 4-6-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TENDER )
MR 4/50 p26 Making pilots
( PILOT, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, SUPERDETAIL )
MR 4/50 p38 Making a tender shell, how to make rivets
( RIVET, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TENDER )
MR 7/50 p24 Build an HO 0-8-0 switcher, part 1
( 0-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 9/50 p22 Build a B&O Civil War Ten-wheeler, part 1
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/51 p12 Kitchen table locomotive, part 1 - frame, cylinders
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 3/51 p40 Kitchen table locomotive, part 2 - superstructure
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 4/51 p16 Building an O gauge 0-4-0 switcher and tender, part 1
( 0-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, O SCALE )
MR 4/51 p40 Kitchen table locomotive, part 3 - boiler details
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 5/51 p36 Building an O gauge 0-4-0 switcher and tender, part 2
( 0-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, O SCALE )
MR 6/51 p30 Roll your own HO loco boiler
( BOILER, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 6/51 p38 Building an O gauge 0-4-0 switcher and tender, part 3
( 0-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, O SCALE )
MR 7/51 p36 Building an O gauge 0-4-0 switcher and tender, part 4
( 0-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, O SCALE )
MR 8/51 p44 Building an O gauge 0-4-0 switcher and tender, part 5
( 0-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, O SCALE )
MR 9/51 p42 Building an O Gauge 0-4-0 switcher, conclusion - tender
( 0-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 11/51 p47 How to make pilots
( PILOT, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/52 p34 Forming tapered boiler sections
( BOILER, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 12/52 p30 Build an HO 1910 American, part 1
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/53 p36 Build an HO 1910 American, part 2
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/53 p33 Build an HO 1910 American, part 3, boiler
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 3/53 p53 Build an HO 1910 American, part 4, cab, boiler details
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 4/53 p36 Build an HO 1910 American, part 5, tender details
( 4-4-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 11/53 p34 Kitchen table 0-6-0, part 1
( 0-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 12/53 p56 Kitchen table 0-6-0, part 2
( 0-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/54 p46 Building an O-Gauge 2-8-0, part 1, frame
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/54 p46 Building an O-Gauge 2-8-0, part 2, running gear
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/54 p54 Kitchen table 0-6-0, part 3 - conclusion
( 0-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 3/54 p66 Building an O-Gauge 2-8-0, part 3, boiler
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 4/54 p49 Building an O gauge 2-8-0, part 4, basic boiler, cab
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 5/54 p45 Building an O gauge 2-8-0, part 5, boiler fittings, details
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 6/54 p41 Building an O gauge 2-8-0, part 6, tender
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 8/54 p44 Building an O gauge 2-8-0, part 7, conclusion
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 11/54 p72 Kitchen table 2-8-2, part 1, running gear
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 12/54 p72 Kitchen table 2-8-2, part 2, boiler
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/55 p68 Kitchen table 2-8-2, Part 3
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/55 p64 Kitchen table 2-8-2, Part 4
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
RMC 11/55 p20 MKT 0-8-0: making loco frames from channel brass, part 1
( 0-8-0, SCHOPP, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 9/56 p36 How to build a pilot
( PILOT, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, SUPERDETAIL )
RMC 2/56 p36 Scratchbuild this oldtime 2-4-0
( 2-4-0, SCHOPP, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 11/57 p56 Locomotive boilers made easy
( BOILER, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/59 p41 Build a Wabash Mogul, part 1 - frame
( 2-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/59 p56 Build a Wabash Mogul, part 2 - motor and running gear
( 2-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 3/59 p52 Build a Wabash Mogul, part 3 - boiler, pilot deck details
( 2-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 4/59 p55 Build a Wabash Mogul, part 4 - backhead, smokebox details
( 2-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 5/59 p53 Build a Wabash Mogul, part 5 - cab & superstructure
( 2-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 6/59 p54 Build a Wabash Mogul, part 6 - conclusion
( 2-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 12/59 p42 Building a compound 2-8-0, part 1 - frame
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/60 p68 Building a compound 2-8-0, Part 2
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, SUPERDETAIL )
MR 2/60 p76 Building a compound 2-8-0, part 3 - superstructure
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 3/60 p52 Building a compound 2-8-0, part 4 - superstructure details
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 4/60 p54 Building a compound 2-8-0, part 5 - tender
( 2-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 8/62 p54 Make your own locomotive drivers (requires lathe)
( DRIVER, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 6/64 p23 Custombuild your own tenders
( SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TENDER )
RMC 6/64 p42 Build the Great Northern 2-6-8-0 articulated
( 2-6-8-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/67 p48 Scratchbuild your own loco frame
( FRAME, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 9/67 p43 Lagged boilers are easier - scratchbuild loco boilers
( BOILER, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/68 p59 The Niagara narrative - scratchbuilding techniques
( SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TECHNIQUE )
MR 9/68 p44 Building in brass
( BRASS, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TECHNIQUE )
MR 10/68 p49 Building in brass, part 2 - 4-6-0, Boiler, cab & fittings
( 4-6-0, BOILER, CAB, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 12/68 p64 Building in brass, part 3 - 4-6-0, tender
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TENDER )
MR 5/69 p66 MR Clinic: modeling steam pilots
( PILOT, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, SUPERDETAIL )
MR 6/70 p34 Axle springing in locomotives
( DRIVER, SCRATCHBUILD, SPRING, STEAM )
RMC 10/71 p40 Loco cab construction - building cabs from sheet brass
( CAB, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 5/72 p48 Building a locomotive from wood and card
( CARD, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, WOOD )
MR 9/72 p62 Equalizers for steam locomotive drivers
( DRIVER, EQUALIZER, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 3/74 p48 Scratchbuilder's kinks, fitting motors into tight spaces
( SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 9/74 p67 The piece-part approach to locomotive scratchbuilding
( SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 10/74 p40 The locomotive you wante but couldn't get
How to half-scratch a steam loco & tender without machine tools
( SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TECHNIQUE )
RMC 10/80 p68 How I scratchbuilt my first steam locomotive, part 1
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
RMC 11/80 p66 How I scratchbuilt my first steam locomotive, part 2
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
RMC 12/80 p96 How I scratchbuilt my first steam locomotive, part 3
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
RMC 1/81 p95 How I scratchbuilt my first steam locomotive, part 4
Building the tender
( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 10/82 p74 A USRA Mikado in brass, part 1
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 11/82 p114 A USRA Mikado in brass, part 1 - frame & drivers
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/83 p72 USRA Mikado in Brass, part 3 - gearbox, drivetrain, cyls
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 1/83 p124 A cylindrical-type tender for your Bull Moose
( SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, TENDER )
MR 3/83 p80 USRA Mikado in brass, part 4 - engine trucks & coupler
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 5/83 p92 USRA Mikado in brass, part 5, boiler and cab
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 7/83 p76 USRA Mikado in brass, part 6 - boiler details
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, SUPERDETAIL )
MR 9/83 p84 USRA Mikado in brass, part 5 - running gear, frame details
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM, SUPERDETAIL )
MR 11/83 p102 USRA Mikado in brass, part 8, tender and painting
( 2-8-2, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
MR 2/90 p121 HO steam kit dimensional data - a reference table
( KIT, KITBASH, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Scherb
Vice President, Applications & Technical Support (CATS)
(215) 431-9184 - Commodore Business Machines
FAX (215) 429-0643
uucp: ...{uunet,rutgers}!cbmvax!scherb
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Stimac
>every steam lcomotive for every railroad. The exception to this is the USRA
>design engines. These were lcomotives built from common buleprints to save
>materials during WWII.
--
Michael Stimac
(408) 922-7539
ro...@tymnet.com
These opinions are not necessarily anyone's but my own.
f.w.kerfoot..iii
> In article <1992Mar23.2...@bellcore.bellcore.com> rue...@bae.bellcore.com (Chris Ruegger) writes:
>>
>>Every once in a while I see that an author in MR has scratcbuilt his own
>>steam locomotive. I have a very basic question. How in the world does one
>>go about doing this? What materials are used? Brass? Lead? How, for example,
>>
>>give precise specs on different engines so you don't have to go around looking
>>for blueprints of them???
>>
>>Any info would be appreciated.
>>
>>Chris
>
> Maybe this will help:
>
> Keyword search for 2 keyword(s): SCRATCHBUILD STEAM
> 96 matching entries found
> MR 1/48 p8 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 1 - frame
> ( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
> MR 2/48 p88 Building a Ten-wheeler, part 2 - running gear
> ( 4-6-0, SCRATCHBUILD, STEAM )
I would like to get more information about the database which (apparently)
created this list. Is it possible to obtain a copy, or, failing that,
is there a way to have searches made? Does the database cover magazines
associated with prototype railroading, as well as model railroading?
If it is only models, are there other databases out there? I have a
reference to a written list which can be purchased, which was mentioned
some time ago in rec.railroad, but at that time it seemed that no
one had access to the computer database from which it appeared to be
generated.
Frank Kerfoot
fwk\@homxc.att.com