I'm building a Great Eastern style tram, based on the construction series in the Australian Model Engineer magazine with a few mods, and I needed to make the headlight.
The commercial torches these days mostly use those surface mount LEDs and the reflectors are not the right shape for an incandescent bulb. I came across a cheap torch at a junk store which still had a bulb and looked to be a suitable diameter.
I had a drawing of the kero lanterns the Victorian Railways used on the narrow gauge NA locos of Puffing Billy. This fortunately printed off in a scale I could work straight off the drawing...half the printed size.
The lantern body is made from bronze, machined out to house the reflector and bored right through so the bulb retainer comes out the back. The front wall of the tram was drilled out to clear the bulb retainer and facilitate wiring up The reflector is a push fit into the body of the lantern and so is easily removable.
The kero tank and the vent were made from solid, filed half round to suit the body, and machined to shape. The handles are from hardened piano wire with a bit of copper tube to represent the hinge. Mounting is via a tapped hole in the kero tank.
Maybe you could make a similar style lantern for your project!
Don't forget Christmas is coming up shortly, and those who purchase through the website will be in the draw to win some of our prizes! See more about it on our website!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave us a comment!