1:35th Muir Hill rail tractor

[finescalerr]

You are truly a master craftsman and it is a real pleasure to see your models evolve. Those etched parts are just perfect. -- Russ

[Ray Dunakin]

Wow! Great work! Can the wheels still turn, or are they held in place by the non-functional chain?

[Bernhard]

Thanks guys. Ray, yes the wheels can turn. The holes in the hubs of the sprockets are slightly larger than the axles. The axles are even properly sprung.

Bernhard

[Barney]

What are the steps in making PE parts - will the company do the drawings if a "basic drawing" (freehand Drawing) with sizes is supplied - Im interested in those drive chains -I need six of various sizes for my Keystone skimmer project
Barney 

[Bernhard]

Barney, the supplier needs a 1:1 drawing of the complete etch sheet, with front and back side.
He then etches the sheet from this.

[Bernhard]

The chain is built from 3 layers, each 0.3 mm thick.
The hubs are turned parts that are put on separately.
I don't know if my supplier draws the etching templates himself, and if he delivers abroad (he is based in Germany). I can ask him after the holidays.
But I could make the drawing for your chains. Maybe you have a supplier near you.

Bernhard

[Bernhard]

Barney, good news: the supplier also works with fully meshed hand sketches and delivers to England.
The supplier is: http://www.aehc.de/Modellbau1/
Email documents to Thomas Engel: CDS@AeHC.de
Please send him your complete contact information, so he can follow up if needed.

Bernhard

[Barney]

Bernhard - thanks for sorting my PE issues  will be in touch soon - sent you an email
Barney

[Chuck Doan]

Amazing! Fun to see how it it built.

[Franck Tavernier]

Awesome craftsman work!

Franck

[Bernhard]

Back to the topic: the next assembly is the brake of the rail tractor. Again, Colin Copcutt's photos provided me with valuable information.
(Photos: Colin Copcutt)

[Bernhard]

The design: a few parts are slightly simplified so that they can be made at all.

[Bernhard]

First, the contour of the traverses is milled on the rotary table.

[Bernhard]

Then the parts are slotted ...

[Bernhard]

... and finally soldered the bolts for the brake shoes.