Chris
|
Steam FairgroundSadly I sold my childhood meccano 
So I recently bought a modern ferris wheel set. Here are a couple of the models I made (both modified a bit with some ebay meccano to run from my TE1a).
|
Spokesmann
|
Love the swing boat Chris! 
|
Chris
|
Thanks, it was a sod to get running right. The original design in the book wasn't that great in terms of transmitting the movement, so I had to modify it a bit. The kit comes with a puny 3v motor, so I figure anything that can move my TE1a can move better. Then just a case of sorting out the transmission from engine to meccano model which improved greatly once I got some chain.
Got a few more to try out in the book, but it has to wait for a rainy day.
I expect they would run better from my Luton Bowman, but just kind of feels right to have them running from the traction engine. Better if I had a showmans, but don't want to pay out for one.
|
Spokesmann
|
| Chris wrote: | Thanks, it was a sod to get running right. The original design in the book wasn't that great in terms of transmitting the movement, so I had to modify it a bit. The kit comes with a puny 3v motor, so I figure anything that can move my TE1a can move better. Then just a case of sorting out the transmission from engine to meccano model which improved greatly once I got some chain.
Got a few more to try out in the book, but it has to wait for a rainy day.
I expect they would run better from my Luton Bowman, but just kind of feels right to have them running from the traction engine. Better if I had a showmans, but don't want to pay out for one. |
The Luton has a good heavy flywheel which helps . . .
What you really need is a Bowman 101, now thats got plenty of low speed torque . . .
|
DavidWP
|
3v motorsChris
Don't knock the 3-6v Meccano motor to much.
I drive several of my fairground rides with them including a set of gallopers. Sure there are better (and more expensive) motors about but at £3.00 a pop three years use ain't bad.
|
Spokesmann
|
Re: 3v motors | DavidWP wrote: | Chris
Don't knock the 3-6v Meccano motor to much.
I drive several of my fairground rides with them including a set of gallopers. Sure there are better (and more expensive) motors about but at £3.00 a pop three years use ain't bad. |
I agree, I have one as an auxilliary power unit on my Mamod workshop.
|
Minor1PJG
|
I think the swing boats and ferris wheel look really good with the TE1a.
What else can you build with it??
I think the set is about £30 on E-bay. Is that the best price/place to buy a set. Very nice 
|
MFSteam
|
Two of those swing boats joined together would be fantastic, it looks good now but with two it would be just like Harry Leas Steam Yachts.
Do they still get down to the Dorset steam Fair? I have fond memories of them there.
|
8_10 Brass Cleaner
|
| MFSteam wrote: | Two of those swing boats joined together would be fantastic, it looks good now but with two it would be just like Harry Leas Steam Yachts.
Do they still get down to the Dorset steam Fair? I have fond memories of them there. |
Ian,
Yes they do, they travel quite extensivley now that they are owned by Saunders in Bedfordshire. I'd say a better thrill than some of the modern tack.
|
MFSteam
|
| 8_10 Brass Cleaner wrote: | | MFSteam wrote: | Two of those swing boats joined together would be fantastic, it looks good now but with two it would be just like Harry Leas Steam Yachts.
Do they still get down to the Dorset steam Fair? I have fond memories of them there. |
Ian,
Yes they do, they travel quite extensivley now that they are owned by Saunders in Bedfordshire. I'd say a better thrill than some of the modern tack. |
Good News
As to a thrill, oh yes but you had to be sitting in the back row holding onto the netting.
Have they gone all H&S and fitted seat belts?
|
8_10 Brass Cleaner
|
| MFSteam wrote: | | 8_10 Brass Cleaner wrote: | | MFSteam wrote: | Two of those swing boats joined together would be fantastic, it looks good now but with two it would be just like Harry Leas Steam Yachts.
Do they still get down to the Dorset steam Fair? I have fond memories of them there. |
Ian,
Yes they do, they travel quite extensivley now that they are owned by Saunders in Bedfordshire. I'd say a better thrill than some of the modern tack. |
Good News
As to a thrill, oh yes but you had to be sitting in the back row holding onto the netting.
Have they gone all H&S and fitted seat belts? |
No sign of the safety police yet.
As for the ride, I find it is better not to hold on, sit at the back, tuck your legs under the seat in front, jamming the top of your knee agains the underside of the seat, then and cross your arms. Your bottom will lift, but you cant fall out. Everytime I do it the wife goes green.
|
Birminghamboy
|
I like steam yatch, I frequently steam one off a built on Meccano engine
I have tried to build a double set with opposed swing ala full sized, but no go. Has anybody come up with a Meccano mechanism to do it?
|
Spokesmann
|
Steamyjim has images plans . . . 
|
steamyjim
|
| Spokesmann wrote: | | Steamyjim has images plans . . . |
Of what?
|
Spokesmann
|
| steamyjim wrote: | | Spokesmann wrote: | | Steamyjim has images plans . . . |
Of what? |
Swingboats? I may have a pic from STiA 2008.
|
stuman01
|
I have built the same ferris wheel and tried running it from my SE3 but can't get it to turn slowly. Have fitted a large mecanno pulley to the centre shaft of the ferris wheel on the assumption that a small wheel (on the engine) driving a large wheel would reduce speed. But it still goes so fast it is a blur to look at. Can't quite make out the speed reduction mechanism in the video. Any advice welcome.
Thanks,
Stuart
|
Chris
|
| stuman01 wrote: | I have built the same ferris wheel and tried running it from my SE3 but can't get it to turn slowly. Have fitted a large mecanno pulley to the centre shaft of the ferris wheel on the assumption that a small wheel (on the engine) driving a large wheel would reduce speed. But it still goes so fast it is a blur to look at. Can't quite make out the speed reduction mechanism in the video. Any advice welcome.
Thanks,
Stuart |
Check out my first video, I use a few pulleys to get the speed down. Not a very neat solution, but it is what I have. It needs rather a lot of gearing down from a TE1a, so expect it will need similar from an SE3 although you can probably get more power at a slower speed with that.
|
stuman01
|
Ok thanks, will give it a go
|
Birminghamboy
|
The full size travelling protoype uses a wire rope round the outer edge of the wheel, which creates a large pulley. My own version runs from a TE1 to a 2" pulley on the ride base then from a 1" pulley to the outer of the wheel, approx 15 1/2"diam, it runs a little fast but not a blur
|
