SimonD’s workbench

[simond]

A mechanical horse



This is the first print and there were a couple of issues, which I have now fixed in the CAD. The front mudguard was a pain, but came out well in the end, and I’m pleased with the overall appearance which captures the look to my eye.



The available drawings are not very detailed and there’s more than a bit of “imagineering” in it, so it would be ideal to measure the real thing. Still, it’s a static model to sit at the back of a goods yard, unless I decide to do a version of @Giles r/c model.

 

[lankytank]

Is that all 3D printed Simon? Scale - 7mm? How 'difficult' would it be to produce in G3 - 13.5mm? Apart from the physical size of the print bed.....

It's very nice none the less......

 

[simond]

Thanks Barry, I’m pleased with it, but I’m looking with a jaundiced eye, it seems a bit too tall. It’s the sacrificial prototype, so I’ve reviewed the CAD data and I will print another.

For sure, in principle it can simply be scaled up by not quite 2:1. Not sure what problems that might cause, I’d guess that scaling up is generally easier than shrinking.

It took around ten hours to print but I suspect if I were to try something in G3 size, the chassis would have to be angled more steeply, and it would not all fit on the build plate, so it’s probably a couple of long prints, but it’s certainly feasible.

So returning to the question of fidelity. The current model is really the love child of a couple of internet drawings, several photos and some measurements from a quite old whitemetal kit. This does not a finescale model make…. And if I were scaling up, I guess I’d want to include the droplights, the gauges, some detail in the seat cushions, working suspension…

 

[simond]

the antennae were working, it's wrong...





The grey plane with a blue edge is 7'4" above ground level - its too b....y high.

That's a bit of a challenge, as there's no front view on the mechanical horse website, and I have not found any alternative drawings. There should be enough to scale from...


this drawing from

Development of Scammell’s Mechanical Horse

In the late 1920’s the railway companies were looking for a suitable vehicle to use on their town parcels delivery traffic, which was predominately horse drawn. The London Midland & Scottish Ra…

mechanical-horse-club.org.uk

Mechanical Horse Particulars

3 Ton Mechanical Horse 6 Ton Mechanical Horse ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION GENERAL Engine mounted within cab, one point front and two points rear, clutch, gearbox, drive shaft and driving axle. ENGINE S…

mechanical-horse-club.org.uk

lots of details missing, of course.

 

[simond]

looks better to me...

but bottom line, the data is far from conclusive so it remains an "artistic interpretation"

S

 

[Osgood]

I don't have time at present to follow up all the articles highlighted, but just found this one in a search for 'Scammell mechanical Horse' on the Commercial Motor Archive - they often had decent drawings provided by the manufacturer.
Some useful part-undressed photos though:

SCAMMELL'S MECHANICAL HORSE | 2nd June 1933 | The Commercial Motor Archive

'SCAMMELL'S MECHANICAL HORSE' first printed in the 2nd June 1933 issue of Commercial Motor

archive.commercialmotor.com

How to search:

Commercial Motor Search | The Commercial Motor Archive

Search the Commercial Motor Magazine Archive

archive.commercialmotor.com

 

[Osgood]

The later model, but still a film that beats most of the cr@p new motion pictures these days!

 

[simond]

I don't have time at present to follow up all the articles highlighted, but just found this one in a search for 'Scammell mechanical Horse' on the Commercial Motor Archive - they often had decent drawings provided by the manufacturer.
Some useful part-undressed photos though:

SCAMMELL'S MECHANICAL HORSE | 2nd June 1933 | The Commercial Motor Archive

'SCAMMELL'S MECHANICAL HORSE' first printed in the 2nd June 1933 issue of Commercial Motor

archive.commercialmotor.com

How to search:

Commercial Motor Search | The Commercial Motor Archive

Search the Commercial Motor Magazine Archive

archive.commercialmotor.com

Thanks Tony, that’s another rabbit hole…

cheers
S

 

[Alan]

Wonderful film.

 

[Giles]

Go on Simon, you know you want to................

 

[Richard]

As it's only going to stand in the corner of the yard, perhaps it would be quicker to have a model of a horse drinking from a water trough

 

[Osgood]

Go on Simon, you know you want to................

Thanks Tony, that’s another rabbit hole…

cheers
S

Advisory:

If you choose to play in that particular warren, be alert to the highly contagious Scammellitis - oh, and brush up your double de-clutching .....

 

[simond]

Advisory:

If you choose to play in that particular warren, be alert to the highly contagious Scammellitis - oh, and brush up your double de-clutching .....

View attachment 254037 View attachment 254039

I had a S1A Landrover with a V8 and crash 1st & 2nd, so double declutch was something I learned.
That was over 30 years ago, so I might need practice…

 

[simond]

Go on Simon, you know you want to................

You remember that Garratt…. Still needs valve gear!

S

 

[RichardG]

That's a bit of a challenge, as there's no front view on the mechanical horse website, and I have not found any alternative drawings.

Does this help? (I did an image search for "mechanical horse tractor unit")

Scammell Mechanical Horse

 

[simond]

Thank you Richard,

I had seen that one, but its a useful reminder that the trailers only fit the correct tractor. A 3t trailer has a narrower gauge for the flanged wheels on the coupling so apparently will not couple to a 6t tractor, and vice versa of course. My trailer couplings were made to the narrow gauge…

I checked, the Roxey kit is quite wrong…. Height, wheel diameters, gauge of couplers, etc.

Still v2 of the 6t cab is currently drying before heading into the curing chamber. Hopefully all issues sufficiently resolved to pass the two coach rule…

Fingers crossed, this afternoon will likely see dry assembly and paint.

thx
S

 

[simond]

I don't have time at present to follow up all the articles highlighted, but just found this one in a search for 'Scammell mechanical Horse' on the Commercial Motor Archive - they often had decent drawings provided by the manufacturer.
Some useful part-undressed photos though:

SCAMMELL'S MECHANICAL HORSE | 2nd June 1933 | The Commercial Motor Archive

'SCAMMELL'S MECHANICAL HORSE' first printed in the 2nd June 1933 issue of Commercial Motor

archive.commercialmotor.com

How to search:

Commercial Motor Search | The Commercial Motor Archive

Search the Commercial Motor Magazine Archive

archive.commercialmotor.com

The rabbit hole led, (amongst other interesting places) to the Mersey Tunnel, which, being a Birkenhead lad, I knew well, terrifyingly slippery on a motorbike for the last fifty metres or so on the Liverpool side if it was raining, and the requirement to update the engine to a 45Hp diesel to get up the hill.

It’s amazing how very low powered vehicles were ninety years ago. And by extension, how unprepared we were for a global war.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

'Scamell in goods yard' just as clichéd as 'bus on bridge' on layouts.

However, I would assume the Scammell mechanical horses would have been more prevalent in congested urban areas with larger and busier goods sheds/depots.

 

[Osgood]

Flag being pressed, ready for waving

 

[simond]

'Scamell in goods yard' just as clichéd as 'bus on bridge' on layouts.

However, I would assume the Scammell mechanical horses would have been more prevalent in congested urban areas with larger and busier goods sheds/depots.

Hi Dave, yes, agreed on all counts, not a BLT accessory!

I recall the later versions with Royal Mail box trailers were particularly common at Liverpool Lime St when I was rather younger. They were also quite plentiful on the docks, I believe.

The master plan involves docks, that’s my excuse!