< Driver Truck Modification >
Some weeks ago I traded in my old car for
a new one. Recently mini van is very popular
in Japan. I think mini van is good to carry
many persons but not suitable to carry long
locomotive. I checked utility of many kinds
of cars and chose a station wagon that can
carry C53 of 1700mm length. I took advantage
of this opportunity and decided to modify
my old driver truck.
The old driver truck is 990mm length. I had
designed the length in order to keep it in
my old car's trunk. But it is too short to
carry passengers except a driver or myself.
So I decided to extend the length to 1600mm
so as to carry three passengers. I make a
new body completely but take bogies and braking
system from old one.
The body is made from medium-density fiberboard.
I asked a timber dealer to cut a 15mm standard
board to desired parts. Fiberboard has smooth
surface and good uniformity. And it is cheaper
than normal plywood. Strictly speaking, it
is heavier and weaker than plywood, but the
differences are small.
The body is built with glue and screws for
wood, and then painted with acrylic paint
aerosol. Fiberboard absorbs much water. So
it also absorbs paint liquid and wastes much
paint. Before spraying, I varnished whole
job three times, so as to stop absorption.
The steps are also made of fiberboard. They
are screwed onto painted steel crossbars.
The crossbars are hung from the body with
long bolts.
The seat consists of fiberboard base, polyurethane
cushion and vinyl leather cloth. First, the
cushion is cut, chamfered and glued onto
the fiberboard.
And then they are wrapped with the cloth
and fixed by 'tacker' that is a strong stapler
for woodwork. I separated driver's seat because
there is water tank inlet under the driver's
seat.
I employed three plastic CD cases as water
tanks. They are connected one another with
brass tubes. The outlet nipple is at the
bottom of the middle tank. Water is filled
through the large hole of the front tank.
The hole is closed by styrene foam disk glued
under the driver's seat. Each tank have small
venting hole on the top. The tanks' total
capacity is 8 liters that is 5 times larger
than the old one.
The water is supplied to locomotive through
vinyl tube and elbow joint. The brake rod
is extended according to the wheelbase extension.
Other components are just taken from the
old truck.
Now the new driver & passenger truck
is ready to run. Total weight is 25 kg.
Whole items for service were loaded in the
new car. One-third of the rear seat is folded
and the truck is laid vertically. The locomotive
and other tools are put in remained space
in the trunk. Moreover four persons can sit
in the car.
In order to put the locomotive vertically
in the trunk, I had to shorten the locomotive
carrying case. The case is made of CREFORM.
Four members of the case are cut, shortened
and reconnected with joints.
I joined the 20th anniversary of Seto-Ohashi
Bridge. 35 locomotives joined the two days'
meet and served for more than 3000 passengers.
To tell the truth, this event is the first
purpose of the driver truck modification.
