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January 6, 2008 17:39:30 MST
Adding RC to my Shay will go a long way to making it more enjoyable to use. One of the questions that could only be answered by trial-and-error was if a singe servo on the Johnson Bar would be enough control on my grades, and fine enough control for switching. So rather than plunking down a few hundred on R/C gear only to learn I'd made the wrong choice, my son Matthew and I decided to rig up a test with RC parts from the junk box. We dug out a very old HiTec radio system and servos, put batteries in them and found them to be functional. We tried the Johnson Bar only first as that was the easiest to hook-up. At first I thought of just attaching a rod to the finger control and eliminating the latching pin, but we couldn't find a suitable rod in the junk box. What we found would work was to remove the finger control bar completely and use the stand to mound a servo horn as a pivot.  We used brass servo mount sleeve to fill part of the oblong hole in the bracket to keep the pivot center from moving. One end of the horn was connected to the Johnson Bar rod with a self taping screw and the other end connected to the servo with a servo control rod. This is the "Quick" part. The Servo was hot-glued to a wood spacer block which in turn was hot glued to the floor of the water tank. The AA Batteries and the Receiver just fit inside the railing around the servo. Set up in this way the water tank cover could not be put back on. This is the "Dirty" part.  Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge  After fighting with the old radio system for a bit trying to find neutral we lit the burner and raised steam. Once pressure was up I opened the throttle a full turn and used the R/C to operate the Johnson bar. As soon as we cleared the cylinders of water she was off. We ran the Shay light an put it through it's paces , stopping, starting and backing through the Wye. It handled the grades just fine and even this old crappy servo gave very fine speed control suitable for any switching task.   Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge The experiment was a huge success. It helped me make the decision to go with a single servo system as soon as I can pony up the bucks for the hardware. In the mean time the Quick & Dirty system will do the job and allow me to enjoy running the Shay on my ground level track without getting on my hands & knees. Jon  |
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January 6, 2008 18:23:35 MST
Nice illustration and a nice detailed explanation, I was even able to follow what you were talking about. I have a feeling the "Radder Electronic Junk Box" might be quite large. One of our first conversation and true get to know each other meetings was while Matt was screaming his r/c car up and down the parking lot at York. I think he came by all that naturally. ;-)  |
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January 31, 2008 17:54:20 MST
The Quick & Dirty experiment is done and a permanent battery & servo solution and temporary radio installed. Fully documented in the Articles section. See http://largescalecentral.com/articles/view.php?id=97 Heres a preview:  |
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January 31, 2008 19:40:30 MST
Very nice article Jon. I might think about this for my own. It sure gives me a good reference point.  |
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February 6, 2008 08:17:02 MST
Thanks Bruce. I got a chance to steam it and take it outside under R/C control on Sunday. It works, but I'm not happy with the cheapie radio system. Range isn't very good and occasional glitches cause the steamer to run all herky jerky like a sparky on dirty track. My in-house expert says that my antenna installation is to blame and I don't doubt him. The next experiment is to get some antenna tube, paint it back and see where I can disguise it as pipe or something. Jon |
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February 6, 2008 12:37:09 MST
Jon, anything more on the damage to the shay???? Nick Jr |
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February 6, 2008 18:42:44 MST
Where's that round tuit ? Last edited by Jon Radder (February 6, 2008 18:42:59 MST) |
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February 6, 2008 20:06:25 MST
I've got one. No, wait, I loaned it to Warren. I once remarked to my pastor that I would rather be cremated. After a pregnant pause, he retorted, "I wouldn't worry about it, had I your history."  |
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February 6, 2008 20:16:59 MST
I didn't get a round tuit! Warren M. CEO Consolidated Sugar and Transportation Services - StJ&FC RR  |
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February 7, 2008 01:21:22 MST
Well, then, who has it. I want it back. I need it for a project! I once remarked to my pastor that I would rather be cremated. After a pregnant pause, he retorted, "I wouldn't worry about it, had I your history." |
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February 7, 2008 07:50:13 MST
I used to have one, just can't find it.  Last edited by Jon Radder (February 7, 2008 07:52:39 MST) |
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February 7, 2008 16:25:31 MST
I'm bringin a couple of show and tells to York, are you going to include this? There is usually a live steam track. :-) |
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February 7, 2008 21:14:40 MST
Probably won't bring it for a couple of reasons - The low-end radio would definitely not hold up in that RF rich environment - and I have no desire to run in circles on a steam track. Jon |
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February 8, 2008 02:55:14 MST
Well, Jon, you could at least bring it for "braggin rights".......... 
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February 8, 2008 07:51:56 MST
Jon, The stuff I'm bringing isn't even Largescale, an On30 and an HO setup. I don't have any thoughts of running them. |
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