#33 Mounting Brackets

#33 Mounting Brackets

Mounties to the Rescue...

Turbo Mounts

I was going to start on the jacketing but realized I had a ton more work to do before I started on that. I had to figure out where I needed to connect all the appliances (air compressors, turbos, etc) and the running boards to the boiler. Since this boiler is conical, it was more difficult to line things up. I also wanted to make sure that once I weld all these brackets on, I could still easily put on and take off the boiler jacketing. I studied the prototype drawings very carefully and then made some templates out of cardboard. I then positioned the 3 turbo brackets on the boiler and welded them up.

Air Compressors Mounts

In order to properly position the Westinghouse air compressors, I had to get them assembled. In order to do that, I needed to do some basic machining on them, made tons of "T" bolts and then assembled them to see how they would fit. I had to make sure they would fit under the running boards properly. Only made the "T" bolts for one compressor for now. Still need to do a lot more machining on these things and make more "T" bolts before I can make them ready for display. For now, I plan on just having these air pumps as "dummy" units, but I have the drawings/plans to make them fully operational after I get the engine done. The Westinghouse pumps are another project that will take some time to finish them.

Running Boards

Now this was a pain in the a@#. The conical boiler made it real tough to get a straight line. I made more cardboard templates and welded threaded tabs on the boiler. I did this so the jacketing could be put on easier. Once the jacketing is on, I then screw the brackets 0n for the running boards and air compressors. Since I knew where the running boards were going to be, I then found a convenient place for the mechanical lubricators.