{"id":3817,"date":"2018-05-11T12:00:54","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T16:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/?p=3817"},"modified":"2018-05-11T00:52:15","modified_gmt":"2018-05-11T04:52:15","slug":"madame-queen-moc-builder-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/2018\/05\/11\/madame-queen-moc-builder-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Madame Queen – MOC Builder Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re’ back again with our second builder interview, this time we’re going across the pond with 39 year old Swiss builder Beat Felber<\/a>. Beat built this awe inspiring Santa Fe 5000 class steamer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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BMR: Tell us a little more about the build. How long did it take? Do you have an estimated piece count?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beat: Santa Fe 5000<\/a> is a steam locomotive with a 2-10-4 (Texas) wheel arrangement which was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1930. It is the only unit of its own 5000 class and served as a prototype for further 2-10-4’s of the 5001 class which were built from 1938 onward and the 5011 class from 1944 onward.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 5000 was soon nicknamed Madame Queen and was initially a coal burner, before it was converted to run on oil in 1940. My model represents the latter version with oil tender.<\/span><\/p>\n

The LEGO version features Big Ben Bricks XL drivers and measures ten studs across the cab and even a bit more at the widest point of the driving rods. The latter ones are fully functional and a Walschaerts style valve gear is present as well. The tender is nine-wide. Although pretty long with five coupled axles and quite some rear overhang, the model is fully LEGO track compatible, including R40 curves and switches. Usually I run it on R88 and R104 curves though.<\/span><\/p>\n

The model shown here is the third incarnation of the same prototype. Initially I started in 2006 and built two versions with L-sized drivers before the XL drivers were released by BBB. This final version was done in a few months over the winter of 2016\/17.<\/span><\/p>\n

To estimate the piece count is quite difficult since it uses a lot of small parts and some weird SNOT constructions in the boiler. If I should name a number, I\u2019d say around 1,000 parts. (Ed: I’d say Beat’s estimate is very low, my guess is closer to 4,000.)<\/span><\/p>\n

BMR: What inspired you to build this particular locomotive? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Beat: It was in 2006 and again in 2008 that I traveled the USA. Both times I made a stop-over in Amarillo, TX. There, the Madame Queen was on public display at the Santa Fe yard, where I was able to take pictures of it. In the meantime, the fate of the locomotive is unclear and rumors have it that the city plans to sell it.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was really impressed by the sheer size of Madame Queen with its large drivers and thought that was an interesting challenge to have a go at. Rather than building any locomotive from pictures and drawings, I wanted to try something I had seen with my own eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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BMR: Is it powered?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beat: Madame Queen is powered by three Power Functions motors. Basically the model is tender driven, with both bogies directly powered each by a XL motor. Of the three axles per bogie, the front and rear ones are driven, with the center axles being slideable to negotiate curves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two cables run to the locomotive, one of which powers an L motor which acts on the third driver and makes sure that the coupling rods and valve gear run smoothly. The motor is geared accordingly to match the speed of the tender.<\/span><\/p>\n

The other cable feeds old style 9V Light & Sound bulbs, one of which lights the head lamp and a set of two light bars create the impression of a flickering fire in the fire box.<\/span><\/p>\n

The locomotive runs on a Power Function rechargeable battery and is controlled by PF remote. Thanks to the XL motors, the tractive effort is enormous. I tested it up to 15 heavy eight-wide cars which she pulled without batting an eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

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BMR: What is your build process? Do you use some form of digital design program? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Beat: When I have a new model in mind, I begin by searching the internet and books for pictures and drawings\/blueprints. That was also the case with Madame Queen, with the difference that I already had a set of detail shots from my two visits to Amarillo.<\/span><\/p>\n

A blueprint helps determine the main dimensions and proportions. I hardly ever plan anything digitally. Usually I do it the good old way of printing the drawings on paper and use a ruler and a calculator to get things right.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rest is trial and error until I am happy with the end result. I spend quite a lot of time on the PC at work so that I really like the analogue hands-on building process as a compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n

BMR: What was the hardest bit to get right? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Beat: The hardest bit was definitely getting the driving rods and valve gear to work flawlessly, using only LEGO parts (with the exception of two self-made pins from track stacking pins). I wanted to include a Walschaerts style valve gear which complicated the design. In the end, I am quite happy with how it turned out.<\/span><\/p>\n

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BMR: What’s your favorite detail that other people might not notice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beat: My favorite detail must be the valve gear. To see it in action, check the video on my Flickr stream of Madame Queen passing by and hauling 15 cars.<\/span><\/p>\n

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