Author Topic: Hello (Drive chain wanted) (Read 16175 times)

Philip · « **on:** December 25, 2009, 10:58:41 AM »

Merry Christmas,
I'm building a small sternwheeler and need some help. I need help finding a drive chain for a 1/48th scale paddlewheeler. I just finished the wheels and need to figure out how to set the model in motion. Actually it will be non-operational but I want it to look convincing. Does anyone have a link to a seller of chain besides the delrin chain from grandtline?
thanks, Philip

derekwarner_decoy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2009, 11:41:44 AM »

Hi PD's ....& welcome Philip - here is a link for stainless steel miniature roller chain & pinions but it is horrendously expensive ....[the smallest is 3.747 mm pitch which equates to 95 mm or approx 4" pitch which is totally realistic @ 1:24 scale]......I am not aware of any 1:48 scale roller chain

http://www.smallparts.com.au/

<<<<<<< look to the left & you will see my example of the same 3.747 mm pitch chain

With your model being static......you could consider modeling a more traditional twin cylinder steam engine & eccentric push rod approach........

Keep us posted with .jpgs as you progress..........there are many members world wide @ PD's who will be more than happy to offer comment & assistance as required.......Derek

.....

Philip · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2009, 01:39:08 PM »

Thanks Derek,

I joined another forum and asked the same question a month ago. No one said anything, can't remember where it was ..they were ship builders for the old sailing pirate vessels

arrg? Walk the plank. Not exactly a warm welcome over there....

Glad I found this forum, lots of information here for the research..even on Christmas eve, family coming in tomorrow. I'll dig up the links to the grandt line chain and there was another site that deals with the bulk delrin chain at a more reasonable price than the Grandt Line plastic. The link you provided ..is that 6 $ per link?

Philip

derekwarner_decoy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2009, 02:09:42 PM »

Hi PD's.......Philip asks.... "is that 6 $ per link?"....no Philip not quite that bad

..

A quick view of the attachment will confirm 412 mm of chain was AUD$133.66 ...so that rounds out to $0.33 cents per mm or $1.22 per pitch....[remember a single pitch in roller chain is between one roller axis to the next roller axis]

Then the chain is only 1/2 the cost .....

...as when I add two chain pinions....the cost is >>>>>$350.00 - Derek

Talisman · « **Reply #4 on:** December 25, 2009, 02:09:59 PM »

Quote from: Philip on December 25, 2009, 01:39:08 PM

Glad I found this forum, lots of information here for the research..even on Christmas eve
Quote

It is a great site i have learned loads since joining .... as for Christmas eve .....
Its 3 am here and I'm still hard at work drawing my next project ..... some might say I'm just slow and need to use a lot more of my 168 hours a week .... others (wife included ) just think I'm nuts
Still no sign of Santa ....
Welcome along anyway

P.s.If its of any use, have you looked at Meccano chain?

Talisman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 25, 2009, 02:17:21 PM »

Blimey Derek, that's some price and i like the note at the bottom of the page .... Buyer is responsible for insurance etc....
Anyway coffee done back to the drawing board.
Regards,
Kim

derekwarner_decoy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 25, 2009, 02:24:53 PM »

Talisman says ........."3 am here and I'm still hard at work drawing my next project" ...Kim you know that Santa will not turn up if you are awake

My best regards to all PD's still posting on this 25/12/2009

....Derek

Philip · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2009, 05:29:01 PM »

Derek,

I wonder if santa sleigh is chain drive? maybe santa has some freebies extra master links. I could see spending that on a machine like your avatar, but this is just a nonfunctioning wood and plastic model. I checked the maccano chain also. Any others..wonder if there are any etched brass chains. If push comes to shove I'll scratch build the links, sprockets and jackshaft. I'll be 100years old when finished.

I f still no luck 'll change it to a pitman arm and quit stressing on this chain dilemma.

thanks again..what a great forum!

mjt60a · « **Reply #8 on:** December 26, 2009, 01:08:05 AM »

you need this type of chain, but longer

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/9-1950/med_bike_gears.jpg
don't know how you'd get sprockets for it though!

Stuart Badger · « **Reply #9 on:** December 26, 2009, 05:45:30 AM »

This is the miniature chain and sprockets I use for the drive on all my models.

This page is the access for the index of parts listing;

http://www.sdp-si.com/web/html/drivesystems.htm

and this page is the company; http://www.sdp-si.com/

the products are handled in the UK by; http://www.davall.co.uk/

They all do mail order and are very helpful on the phone. There is NOTHING these people don't do in terms of gears, couplings and drives.

Hope this helps

Stuart

steamboatmodel · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2009, 12:44:54 PM »

Check out the Meccano guys, I did see a website once where the fellow made his own chain and sprockets. Unfortunately I didn't bookmark it.
Regards,
Gerald

sandystrone · « **Reply #11 on:** December 27, 2009, 09:13:42 AM »

I have only ever used Meccano chain and sprockets and have never had any problems.
Meccano is still available to buy, but unfortuately I can't find the address

Philip · « **Reply #12 on:** December 27, 2009, 01:13:35 PM »

Hi again,
Thanks for all the links and help trying to locate chain/sprockets. Here is what I"m trying to build. This photo was the only known photo. I assumed it was pitman type drive with a horizontal engine.

Then this picture surfaced two days ago showing a chain drive system.

I'm bulding this 1/48th scale. The prototype was 40 feet long and 16 feet wide. A very small craft. I'm afraid the drive chain will look overscale (with what is available so I may just pretend the second photo never surfaced. I apologise for my american non metric measurement. I also used your photo section to show my pictures. If I'm in violation of forum rules I'll remove the photos from the gallery.

Thanks you kindly,

Philip

Stuart Badger · « **Reply #13 on:** December 27, 2009, 02:35:10 PM »

Phillip - have you looked at the link I posted? That chain would give at full size in 1/48 scale a link of about 5 inches - surely not overscale!

Stuart

Philip · « **Reply #14 on:** December 27, 2009, 03:31:18 PM »

Stuart,

I have looked at the page.

https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail.asp?Opener=Group&PartID=5205&GroupID=447

Looks like a match. I'm having trouble finding the correct sprocket, the pitch doesn't seem to match .1227
I really like the spoked sprockets! Prefer spoked more than the solid ones. I'll research more..seems the pitch would have to match perfectly or can it have some chain slop tolerance? I'm new to gearing miniature machines any pictures of your drive would be appreciated.

thanks for finding that link!

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