Marx B&O F7 Wind-up bash

Very good. What diameter track will it negotiate?

Steve

Keys as well as other parts are available from Robert Grossman in Mentor Ohio

Frank

That is fantastic, Joe!  Always glad to see another "springhead", and Marx on top of that!  How many cars will it pull?  Any video of it running?  I'm looking forward to seeing your other windup projects as well.

I like to do clockwork projects & conversions too.  I occasionally experiment with double-heading windups, and kitbashed a triple-motor steam locomotive - this is a video of my Marx 1203 Triplex:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U96L1YcuI4o

Thanks for posting your project, can't wait to see more! 

Way cool..Id like to see more.

Pretty clever.  Let's see more of your projects.

Thanks, Pap! That has been the limitation on this engine so far...the engine derails on 6 foot or less, but there is still lots of room for adjustment on the brass plate. I made the engine around August and haven't really put it through much testing. I feel that I can get this to work at least on the 6 foot dia., most likely even less...

Joe

Thanks for the tip on a parts source.

I like to epoxy a square spring steel rod in the keyhole if there is evidence of the pot metal bearing exhibiting stress cracks. This technique solves a lot of issues in this critical spot and will extend the life of the drive unit, but is not appliciable in all cases.

The two drive units I used here were good candidates for this project with good springs and gears, but axle problems and pot metal fatigue on the main spring bearing. The square rods are concealed under the body shell, so no foul.

JB Weld is the epoxy of choice.

Joe    

Thanks, Steve, but I would have to say 'fantastic' fits your awesome engines even better! And thanks for link to some great vids, really helps to put a 'see what you're missing' face on wind-ups! I'm a CV fanatic, too. Do you know about the 'CV Challenge'?

I haven't tested this F7A engine very much and there are no vids of it running yet.

You know how the European wind-ups are exqusite in form and function, so this was the impetus for this project. After searching for an all stamped tin American engine with few pressure die-cast parts (main headlight and wheels are it) and relatively inexpensive, this is what I came up with. I used three Lionel 259E's in various states of dis-repair for this project.  Ebay furnished the wrecks and there are enough parts left over for another engine plus, if anybody is interested.

Marx supplied the wind-up and getting the rear wheels to accept the side rods without binding was the challenge. Any miss step here would rob the meager horse power and make this engine useless. But all went well and I would put this up against any stock Euro engine in the same class. The detail on this Lionel engine is almost perfect for this exercise, but I realise that Euro stuff is still king in wind-up.

Joe    

Thanks ecl, here ya go...and thanks for the cool vid...

Joe

Joe, thanks for the pictures of the diesel running gear and the Lionel conversion.  I like to see different locomotives converted to clockwork!  Nice conversion, I can certainly appreciate the thought and work that went into it... very cool, well done.

I agree that the old Euro clockworks are in a different realm than the Marx units.  I would love to acquire some, but the scarcity and price keep them out of my reach.  Thank goodness for Marx windups; they are durable, plentiful (at least the plain-jane forward only versions) and affordable.  The late model "rising-gear" motors (as found in the homely 401) are my favorite motor for the clockwork projects.

OK, I'll bite: What's the CV Challenge?  The Marx windup CV is my favorite Marx locomotive!

Looking forward to seeing any other projects you have...

After seeing your CV demo video, the best I've seen to date, I figured you'd like to hear what a couple of other guys did with a CV shell...the challenge is to live steam the shell. I think both guys made their attempts in O gauge and both were successful, though all together different approaches for each. I think both are in magazines as build articles and I did see one of those mags. Stuck with me and over the past few years have been slowly gathering material as it comes by. Just scored the mini boiler in a trade for a Marx windup and a half a dozen cars. The drive train is a Mamod, about as cheap as they come. The two shells will supply all the body parts I need. The Mamod is set up for G scale right now, but this can be changed to O with a factory conversion kit...which I still need to find.

I saw the Trimotor on your sight and thought you might like a few shots of my most recent project. It flies on all three motors, nav and landing lights and a fully detailed passenger cabin. With batts, ready to fly is only 3/4 of a pound on 36" wingspan. I used Plastruct corrugated sheets for the scale finish. These required alot of sanding on one side to get them to flying weight. Not train related, so hope this doesn't offend anyone...

Joe

That is really interesting... as a live steamer and a CV fan, the thought of a live steam CV has crossed my mind, but that's as far as it went.  I had no idea it had been done before, let alone twice!  It looks like you have a good start on yours; I think it is a smart move to base it on commercial parts, it will save a lot of time over scratchbuilding everything.  I am very much looking forward to seeing that locomotive run!  As for myself, the live steam CV was a fleeting thought; I have been concentrating my designwork on a homemade "high performance" clockwork motor to fit in the CV shell.  It's still on paper at this point, and I have yet to design the governor.  But, I have another long-term project that needs to be finished before I start construction on the windup motor.

Very nice Trimotor, too!  I think the guys will forgive a picture of a plane that nice... plus the Ford Trimotor ought to be considered honorary tinplate, considering it's construction and vintage. 

One time I had the idea to make a spring drive too...six main wheels for a Pacific-style engine. A Hudson would be something worthy...

CV's close cousin, the Mercury...this one has the air whistle. Took me a few moments to figure out it was a vacum whistle while I was rebuilding the unit. The grease was dried up and stiff and when cleaned out and lubed, the whistle was fine.

Another tinplate windup favorite of mine are submarines. But to get an actual working sub that dives and sufaces required some work on my part. You can see how small they really are, not enough room for proper engineering for a diving model. The toys are just that...I ended up making a scale model of the first US Navy submarine, the Holland, circa 1900. There is a Utube video of it in a public pool...it's not my vid, but the title is 'Holland Clockwork Sub' or something like that. The little silver one is a current project, Jules Verne's 'Nautilus'. 

This is a bit train related...I used a Marx unit again...

Joe