Cracker/Cricket Locomotive Build

[vlmarshall]

Well, up until a few months ago, I would have said that I'd probably never build an oscillating-cylinder steam engine. That was before I saw the little Cracker locomotive win April's Project Of The Month over at the Home Model Engine Machinist forum.
The winner was a guy that goes by the board name of "Shred", and his write-up and photos of this little 16mm-scale (G Scale Locomotives runnng on O-Gauge track, representing 2-foot gauge on the prototypes) were more than enough to convince me I needed to build it.

The plans are available for free in several places online, ( http://home.iae.nl/users/summer/16mm...ms/Cracker.htm ) and before long I had printed them out and was planning to build a PAIR of these little utility engines.

Here's my progress so far.
The first thing I had to do was come up with the gears, as the pitch diameter would set the axle and crankshaft spacing. I followed Shred's advice, and used RC pinion gears from Robinson Racing, as I've used their products many times in my younger days.

Cutting out the side frames was simple enough, and I decided to build TWO locomotives, one for myself, and one for my dad, who's fuelled my interest in all-things-mechanical since I was a wee lad.

Here's the first frame side plate being cut out on my little Sherline mill.


This is too easy, so far. The loco frames are 10mm longer, 5mm added to each end, to make room for a slightly longer boiler, and more room on the footplate as well. Originally, I was going to add all 10mm to one end, and move the fuel tank under the footplate and between the frame rails, as I've read elsewhere online, but decided against it, at least for THIS build. ;D

I turned two sets of bushings from bearing bronze, again diverting from the plans, and making all 8 bushings to the same dimensions.
Here they are pressed into place in the frame sides.

[vlmarshall]

The first of the boiler parts I made for these little locomotives were the end caps that will be silver-soldered into each end of the boilers.
These were made from a slice of the boiler tubing stock, annealed and tapped down over a mandrel I turned in the lathe.

When I made my first set the radius I used was way too big...but at least it'll add extra water capacity. I'll use the big ends for the boiler backheads, but I turned a smaller radius on my mandrel, and made a second set.
Sorry for the blurry photo, the rest will be better. ;D


After this photo, all four end caps were drilled for the flue pipe that passes through the boilers, and set aside until later.

[vlmarshall]

The wheels were fun, so I made an extra set...which will either be used on a THIRD loco, or some rolling stock.
I enjoyed cutting the back flange and tire angles; by setting the tool to cut one angle, and the compound slide to move along the other, these were quick and easy, taking about 2 hours to saw and turn them all.


I added a .200" boss to the back side,which wasn't on the plans, so I could use 4-40 setscrews to secure them to the axle. The only place I want to use Locktite on these locos is between the crank throw and the crankshaft.


The frame end beams were easy millwork, and mostly featureless for this photo, missing a few holes.

[vlmarshall]

For the smokeboxes, the plans call for a split section of tubing, but I decided that using a pipe cap, with it's radius, would help give the Cracker a smaller, yard-loco appearance.

Here are both pipe caps, with a hole in one end for the smokebox doors.

Right now, they look more like engine cowlings for a radial. ;D

After more consideration, one of the two locomotives may not use this style smokebox... but I'll make that decision in a few more days.

These little "Crackers" have gotten me hooked on live steam locomotives after 40 years of playing with trains.

[vlmarshall]

The pistons were easy enough, but I made them .375" instead of the plan's .3149"... I couldn't resist making the engine bigger on this little single-cylinder.


I guess I should add some oil grooves before I call them done.

[vlmarshall]

My newest progress is a few more pieces;
The boiler bushings, made from Phosphur Bronze...I made them all the same size instead of the plan's 10mm/8mm, tapping them all 5/16-24.


Cylinders for both machines... they're a bit bulky compared to some of the other Crackers I've seen. As I mentioned earlier, with the piston photo, I've enlarged the bore from the plan's .3125" up to .375". I just couldn't help myself.

I wanted plenty of material at the contact face for future lapping, both of these locos are going to be runners, I'm planning for wear. I added brass bushings to the big-end of the pistons for the same reason.

...and a pair of flywheels. One of 'em is a day or two older than the other.

I made them thicker than the plan (like everything else). I'm trying to get these engines to run as slowly as I can, and figured the extra mass couldn't hurt. Besides, the thicker flywheel offsets the look (and balance) of the cylinder hanging off the other side.


Once again, I'm really happy with my little Sherline mill.

This is fun, I should have started sooner.

[vlmarshall]

Oh yeah, here's the prototype.
Originally there was a commercial model based on this locomotive, called the Cricket, and now the Cracker is a free plan based on the Cricket, and this prototype.

[Kipper]

Now that's my old mans Christmas present sorted! What about the track?

Nice work...keep going

[vlmarshall]

Originally Posted by Kipper Now that's my old mans Christmas present sorted! What about the track? Nice work...keep going

Track's easy; it fits on O-gauge track, so even Lionel and old Marx track will work, even if it's too corroded to run the electric stuff.

Thanks for the compliment!
This thing is designed to be an easy build, or as complicated as you like. I've found many examples online, in many different styles.

[vlmarshall]

Cut the chimney holes in the rounded smokeboxes yesterday... although, I might not use both of these after all. I think I'll be making one of these as a freelance O-scale locomotive, with an appropriately-sized cab and other details... and the rounded-edge smokebox might not be the best choice for that. I have two slip-fit couplers that I'll also try... it's easier to go ahead and run both of each part while I'm set up... not that this is really a "set up"...just a part stuck in a vise.

[vlmarshall]

YouTube video link. Not terribly exciting, but I thought I'd post it anyway.

YouTube - Cracker Live Steam Locomotive Construction: cutting a chimney hole in the smokebox.

YouTube - Cracker Live Steam Locomotive Construction: cutting a chimney hole in the smokebox.

[vlmarshall]

Yet another video...just a pass around the footplate for one of the locomotives, as I cut it out of .125" aluminum. Nothing special.

YouTube - Cracker Live Steam Locomotive Construction: cutting out the footplates.

YouTube - Cracker Live Steam Locomotive Construction: cutting out the footplates.