Balanced Air Brakes from Scratch
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Fall 2015
During the summer of 2015 I began studying air brakes and how live steam modelers incorporate working air brake systems on their trains. I was well into building a Kitsap Live Steamers caboose kit and decided to add a fully operational balanced air brake system to the caboose.
This is my first attempt at building operating air brakes, and I am quite pleased with the results. Air brakes will certainly be added to my other equipment.
Equipment
- Clippard parts:
- UDR-17-1 : Stainless steel double-acting cylinder, 1 inch stroke, 1-1/16 inch bore, 5/16 inch shaft
- CT4 : #10-32 to 1/8” ID Hose Connector, designed for Clippard's Polyurethane hose
- T44-4 : Tee fitting, 1/8 inch ID
- URH1-0804-BKS : Urethane tube 1/8 inch ID
- TV-3SP : 3-Way Toggle Valve, ENP Steel Toggle, 1/8" NPT
- MCV-2 : Check Valve, #10-32 Ports
- 15090-1 : 1/8” NPT to #10-32 “L” Fitting
Tools and Supplies
Build Gallery
In an effort to save money I decided to cut brakes from a ring of aluminum purchased from McMaster-Carr. The pipe has a 4 inch inside diameter and a 6 inch outside diameter.
A 1/2 inch width of the aluminum pipe was parted off on the lathe. Here it has been blued and marked for cutting.