Brass C-Train Single Axle Converter

[Msmaddie]

Finally at the C-train converter. (The Hardest one to figure out) I was hoping to build it with Duals, but the R&D is going to be to much right now so a Super single will look just as cool. We have both styles up here in Manitoba so I am staying with in my own personal build rules. LOL

Hope you like it. :)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/001-3.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/008-5.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/010-3.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/012-3.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/014-6.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/014-6.jpg

[CustomClod]

Looking good so far! Nice work
Scott

[DieselKid]

It's really cool to see one of these being built because you don't see many out there.....some of the older Fruehauf pups at work have these for doubles....I always like to think of it as a detachable B-train.

Anxiously awaiting more updates...this is cool!

-Alex

[Msmaddie]

Hey thanks, up here in the Trans Canada. They are a very common thing. I've never had the chance to pull one. The Company I drive for has a few sitting out back but they are the style that a solid axle sitting under a turntable. I like the style that I'm building more. I'll take Sk e pics of these next time I'm over in that part of the yard.

I gotta have this built by the end of the weekend. I have an R/C show here in Winnipeg on the 14th that I'm putting everything in. I hope my stuff will help spark some more interest in R/C semi Building. :)

[Brian in PA]

Madison, your brass skills are superb!

[SWAGGER]

Yeah, you are putting me to shame. I would love to get into this kind of scratch building, but I currently lack a workshop. I really need my own space outside of the house so I don't get into trouble with the boss LOL!

[Msmaddie]

Yeah, you are putting me to shame. I would love to get into this kind of scratch building, but I currently lack a workshop. I really need my own space outside of the house so I don't get into trouble with the boss LOL!

You don't need allot of room. At the moment I'm just building in my closet. I'm staying at my moms till my tenants lease is up. Then I'll have an entire basement to use.

I have a work bench, drill press, bandsaw, and a disc/belt sander and a dremel. I bought a scroll saw prefer cutting with my bandsaw. I think with everything in I spent $700 Canadian. That was all brand new equipment. My work area is 4 by 8 feet. The drill press and bandsaw are on a rolling cart so I can pull it out to use the drill press.

I think I have a pic of my work bench and area on my First build thread.

[B-Train Hauler]

Wow! Great job! Love that c-train converter, and your b-train! That's coming to be a superb truck set, can't wait to see more!

[Msmaddie]

OK, SO.... It was driving me nuts that I was doing this build with Super Singles. I knew there had to be away to be able to use Duals and be able to get them to steer with the lead trailer. I spent my hole run consumed with this issue. So after some R&D this is what I came up with. I adjusted the set up With the singles. As you will see in the pic. This worked great with duals. So I went and built steering knuckles and a hole new axle. (Well a couple) and this is where im at now. :)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/003-8.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/005-6.jpg


http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/008-6.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/011-4.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/009-5.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/010-4.jpg

[doodlebug]

Hi Madison, something to consider?Set the kingpin inclination to approx. 5 degree's. That work's for going forward. I've seen lockout's for backing up. Based on my experience with lift axle's, aka "training wheel's". Look's great!
Cheer's, Neil.

[Msmaddie]

Yeah that was working with the Super Singles but the duals were another story. The tamiya axle comes with the a pre set caster angle. I wish it would have been that simple.

[doodlebug]

Hmmm! Learned something new. Sound's like full size truck&trailer alignment, less of a pain to figure out.
Cheer's, Neil.

[Msmaddie]

So I got the Axle basically done, and the main part of the frame. Its starting to look really good. :) :)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/001-5.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/002-4.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/005-7.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/009-6.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/010-5.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/011-5.jpg

Still allot of solder to clean up but thats a better idea of how its going to look. :)

[B-Train Hauler]

Yep! You said it! looks really good :D

[Diesel Demond]

very nice!!!!!! turning duels look great

[FabOne]

Msmaddie-

Lookin GREAT! I think you have it down now! Keep us posted.

-Terry

[Msmaddie]

You guys have some weird stuff on the other side of the pod.
I’d like to see a photo of the real thing if you can.
Love to say it looks good, but have no idea what I’m looking at.
Tim

Lol. Well I think Diesel Kid was going to try and get a couple taken. But I'll see what I can do. I'll have to talk to a few guys that pull them.

[Espeefan]

Pretty fancy fabrication. Out of brass no less. Boy, one of these days I'd like to try something like that. I can solder electrical components but never gave brass strauctural building a shot. Nice work so far. Care to share any tips?

[Msmaddie]

The biggest thing I hve found with Brass is that if you buff the surfaces before soldering with a sanding wheel it will take on the soldier better. I purchased a nice little torch and a good quality Soldering Gun.

I'm still figuring out the getting everything to hot. I don't know how many times I had parts fall off cause I got the area to warm. But it just comes in time. :)

It's quite a beautiful metal to work with. I think :)

Hope that helps

[Espeefan]

Yeah, I think that'd be a big challenge. Brass spreads the heat so things you soldered over there, start falling off, when you are trying to work on something over here. That would drive my crazy.

What kind of soldering iron or gun are you using? Do you know the wattage? Just curious what it takes to get the soldering flowing. Or do you use the torch most of the time?

[Msmaddie]

Well I start off using the torch, then I will use the gun in tighter areas, but I would say its 50/50.

I tried using a damp cloth to help keep the heat from travelling. It works well but I am now doing smaller spots and then letting cool. plus learning how to work with clamps and clips are helping allot. :)

Here are a couple pics of my gun and torch. I have had the torch for a while but just boought the gun a couple weeks ago. It sure helps having both.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/031-1.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/032-1.jpg

[Msmaddie]

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/001-6.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/002-5.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/003-9.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/005-8.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/011-6.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/013-4.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/015-6.jpg

[Msmaddie]

Just finished the C-train converter

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/031-2.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/030-1.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/026-3.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/018-3.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/022-1.jpg

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/006-6.jpg

[B-Train Hauler]

Wow! Very good scratch build, and unique of its kind! :D

[SWAGGER]

Once again, another work of art scratch build from Maddie and as B-Train said, completely unique!

[Msmaddie]

Thanks guys. I did a small video last night of it working but broke the left Eye loop. Was having troubles soldering it do I'm going to make a new one tomorrow when I get home. But I'll try and take some video of it at the show this weekend.

[Msmaddie]

Here is a video of the Converter in motion

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/th_IMG_0552.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/?action=view&current=IMG_0552.mp4)

[glorydays24]

Msmaddie that is very cool.:) I don't recall ever seeing a dolly like that before, you did an amazing job. Your brass work really impress's me.:D
I can't wait to see what you come up with next...:eek:

Big John

[Espeefan]

I agree. Great looking dolly. I've never seen one that was rigid and had self-steering wheels before either. Pretty cool. It looks really nice now that it's got a coat of primer.

Thanks for sharing the photos of your equipment. How long does the torch run on one tank?

[Msmaddie]

Msmaddie that is very cool.:) I don't recall ever seeing a dolly like that before, you did an amazing job. Your brass work really impress's me.:D
I can't wait to see what you come up with next...:eek:

Big John

Thanks Big John,

We have them up in canada here, I'm hoping I can catch a set somewhere parked one of these days so I can get some pics. The ones we have at work that are retired are a different style.

I'm thinking about taking a break from the Rigs and build a trail truck. I have a Clod Buster body sitting on my work bench. Trying to figure out the best way make it out of metal. :)

[Msmaddie]

I agree. Great looking dolly. I've never seen one that was rigid and had self-steering wheels before either. Pretty cool. It looks really nice now that it's got a coat of primer.

Thanks for sharing the photos of your equipment. How long does the torch run on one tank?

Thanks for the kind words. :) Thats the colour it will be staying. this wasy they will look proper with any trailer that I build in the future.

Not sure how long a full tank last for. I tend to fill it up before it even gets half way, so maybe 10 mins between the time I fill it. I went through one full Can of Butane building both those conveters.

[Msmaddie]

Well Miss L,M,F that sure is a new concept from what we have in OZ.
Bloody beauty ol girl, that’s a great idea, I love the way you work with metal too.
I’m interested to see how that travels with the 2nd trailer on the back.
Tim

Here is a video I took Testing it

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/th_Ctraintest1.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h369/msmadison1/?action=view&current=Ctraintest1.mp4)

Hope this is what you had in mind. :)