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Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Videos The Office of Steam Cinema => Topic started by: gbritnell on July 04, 2020, 09:00:23 pm

Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: txlabman on July 21, 2020, 01:43:12 pm
I just got a chance to catch up on this thread.

Thanks for the explanatory video on the operation of the grader George.  Amazing the number of working parts.  The pinnacle of model engineering for sure.

Daniel and Bruce: thanks for the interesting instruction.  I can't imagine how difficult this would be to operate efficiently behind a team of draft horses.  I can barely manage to operate my JD tractor!
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Stoker on July 10, 2020, 07:33:49 pm
Well now Bruce, thanks for the video, but I must say that it does nothing to harm your earlier premise, as a smooth, straight, level and pre-existing road that has been covered with a well spread load of fresh material of even consistency is hardly a worthy test for either of our views!

What I will take from that video is the obvious "lightness" of the machine, and how if you were to try and get aggressive with it, it would clearly just buck and skip over any real resistance. If you were to get it to dig in to any significant degree, it would almost certainly stall the horses, or early weak tractor, that was tied on out front. Of course much heavier, larger graders of the type did come along as time passed, but they were still pretty light compared to a well stuck rock, large roots or other "fixed" resistance, while already deflecting a blade full of dirt.

I am equally sure that back in the day, there were masters of the art, that could "work" the machine in a manner much more like what you had envision, but my feeling is, that wasn't the norm by a long stretch.

Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: St Paul Steam on July 10, 2020, 07:13:43 pm
This was the video I was hoping for George .besides the tow vehicle or team of horse's...could one man operate all the controls of would it take two men ?

Not trying to answer for George here, but I have spent some time messing about with one in a static situation, so I'll share my opinion.

I think it would best be operated by one man on board the grader itself, as two would very much be in each other's way most of the time, and might well find themselves working the controls to cross purposes. Certainly if there was more than one aboard, there would still have to be just one "captain" in command of what adjustments to make, and how and when to make them.
Makes logical sense,  thanks Daniel  😊

Perhaps I should add, that once the "cut" was decided upon, and the blade and frame adjustments positioned for it, which would likely be done while not moving, then once under way most adjustments would consist of minor fine tuning as the cut progressed. Any major repositioning would likely be very difficult (and slow) while the components were under load during operation.
I think this is where I have to disagree with you Daniel,  having worked with large equipment all my life I beleive constant adjustment would be normal...cut ins for culverts, driveways, curvature of roadways on hillsides vrs  flat ground....ect. I doubt that adjustments  (even for Manuel equipment ) is very difficult while in motion, plus they were expected to work hard 100 yrs ago 😊

Well, we may just have to disagree a mite here then Bruce, as I've got a whole lot of hours on heavy equipment myself, though never a grader, and I always found that a minimum of adjustment once underway, provided the best in the way of a finished "grade". Of course hydraulics, self powered and increased machine weights opened up a whole new way of doing things, which allow for backing and turning on a dime along with the power to instantly change angle of attack or depth of cut. 

I'll also point out that there are a host of relic old mine roads from 100 plus years ago around here, and I doubt that you could find half a dozen culverts of any kind in any of them within a hundred mile radius of here. I'll bet those culverts you did find were hand dug in and possibly at a much later date, after a washout or three. Hill slopes and steep grades were virtually always just cat work, or hand work before that, so that if a grader was ever used on it, it was after all major contours were in place.

I do have a Fresno Scraper sitting in the backyard, which instrument is responsible for many of the roads, canals, ditches, railroad grades and other earthworks around here, from before the grader came into being.

Least that's how it all looks to me from here and now, a century hence!

I watched a few video's Daniel & I have to say you are correct....most of the operators didn't do much adjusting at all when underway...I stand corrected my friend, thank you. I watched this video & found it interesting.

https://youtu.be/lQKj67rVS84
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Stoker on July 10, 2020, 01:01:41 pm
This was the video I was hoping for George .besides the tow vehicle or team of horse's...could one man operate all the controls of would it take two men ?

Not trying to answer for George here, but I have spent some time messing about with one in a static situation, so I'll share my opinion.

I think it would best be operated by one man on board the grader itself, as two would very much be in each other's way most of the time, and might well find themselves working the controls to cross purposes. Certainly if there was more than one aboard, there would still have to be just one "captain" in command of what adjustments to make, and how and when to make them.
Makes logical sense,  thanks Daniel  😊

Perhaps I should add, that once the "cut" was decided upon, and the blade and frame adjustments positioned for it, which would likely be done while not moving, then once under way most adjustments would consist of minor fine tuning as the cut progressed. Any major repositioning would likely be very difficult (and slow) while the components were under load during operation.
I think this is where I have to disagree with you Daniel,  having worked with large equipment all my life I beleive constant adjustment would be normal...cut ins for culverts, driveways, curvature of roadways on hillsides vrs  flat ground....ect. I doubt that adjustments  (even for Manuel equipment ) is very difficult while in motion, plus they were expected to work hard 100 yrs ago 😊

Well, we may just have to disagree a mite here then Bruce, as I've got a whole lot of hours on heavy equipment myself, though never a grader, and I always found that a minimum of adjustment once underway, provided the best in the way of a finished "grade". Of course hydraulics, self powered and increased machine weights opened up a whole new way of doing things, which allow for backing and turning on a dime along with the power to instantly change angle of attack or depth of cut. 

I'll also point out that there are a host of relic old mine roads from 100 plus years ago around here, and I doubt that you could find half a dozen culverts of any kind in any of them within a hundred mile radius of here. I'll bet those culverts you did find were hand dug in and possibly at a much later date, after a washout or three. Hill slopes and steep grades were virtually always just cat work, or hand work before that, so that if a grader was ever used on it, it was after all major contours were in place.

I do have a Fresno Scraper sitting in the backyard, which instrument is responsible for many of the roads, canals, ditches, railroad grades and other earthworks around here, from before the grader came into being.

Least that's how it all looks to me from here and now, a century hence!
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: St Paul Steam on July 10, 2020, 12:11:23 pm
This was the video I was hoping for George .besides the tow vehicle or team of horse's...could one man operate all the controls of would it take two men ?

Not trying to answer for George here, but I have spent some time messing about with one in a static situation, so I'll share my opinion.

I think it would best be operated by one man on board the grader itself, as two would very much be in each other's way most of the time, and might well find themselves working the controls to cross purposes. Certainly if there was more than one aboard, there would still have to be just one "captain" in command of what adjustments to make, and how and when to make them.
Makes logical sense,  thanks Daniel  😊

Perhaps I should add, that once the "cut" was decided upon, and the blade and frame adjustments positioned for it, which would likely be done while not moving, then once under way most adjustments would consist of minor fine tuning as the cut progressed. Any major repositioning would likely be very difficult (and slow) while the components were under load during operation.
I think this is where I have to disagree with you Daniel,  having worked with large equipment all my life I beleive constant adjustment would be normal...cut ins for culverts, driveways, curvature of roadways on hillsides vrs  flat ground....ect. I doubt that adjustments  (even for Manuel equipment ) is very difficult while in motion, plus they were expected to work hard 100 yrs ago 😊
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Stoker on July 10, 2020, 09:24:22 am
Pictures please Nick ..... and of course we want the video too!!!
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Nick on July 10, 2020, 09:22:06 am
We pull grandma's with a tractor and one person runs the grader, gives you a good workout, but that might be because it's old, rusty and far from new!
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Stoker on July 10, 2020, 09:21:06 am
This was the video I was hoping for George .besides the tow vehicle or team of horse's...could one man operate all the controls of would it take two men ?

Not trying to answer for George here, but I have spent some time messing about with one in a static situation, so I'll share my opinion.

I think it would best be operated by one man on board the grader itself, as two would very much be in each other's way most of the time, and might well find themselves working the controls to cross purposes. Certainly if there was more than one aboard, there would still have to be just one "captain" in command of what adjustments to make, and how and when to make them.
Makes logical sense,  thanks Daniel  😊

Perhaps I should add, that once the "cut" was decided upon, and the blade and frame adjustments positioned for it, which would likely be done while not moving, then once under way most adjustments would consist of minor fine tuning as the cut progressed. Any major repositioning would likely be very difficult (and slow) while the components were under load during operation.
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: St Paul Steam on July 10, 2020, 09:14:37 am
This was the video I was hoping for George .besides the tow vehicle or team of horse's...could one man operate all the controls of would it take two men ?

Not trying to answer for George here, but I have spent some time messing about with one in a static situation, so I'll share my opinion.

I think it would best be operated by one man on board the grader itself, as two would very much be in each other's way most of the time, and might well find themselves working the controls to cross purposes. Certainly if there was more than one aboard, there would still have to be just one "captain" in command of what adjustments to make, and how and when to make them.
Makes logical sense,  thanks Daniel  😊
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Stoker on July 10, 2020, 09:07:38 am
This was the video I was hoping for George .besides the tow vehicle or team of horse's...could one man operate all the controls of would it take two men ?

Not trying to answer for George here, but I have spent some time messing about with one in a static situation, so I'll share my opinion.

I think it would best be operated by one man on board the grader itself, as two would very much be in each other's way most of the time, and might well find themselves working the controls to cross purposes. Certainly if there was more than one aboard, there would still have to be just one "captain" in command of what adjustments to make, and how and when to make them.
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: classixs on July 10, 2020, 08:43:31 am
Very interesting indeed, the Galion Road Grader is way more complex than iŽd initially imagined.

Thanks for the educative explanatory tour George, much appreciated  :)
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: St Paul Steam on July 09, 2020, 08:57:20 pm
This was the video I was hoping for George .besides the tow vehicle or team of horse's...could one man operate all the controls of would it take two men ?
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: RedRyder on July 09, 2020, 08:55:44 pm
George, my friend...... You've done it again...!!!


Left me in awe...!


This is an amazing model of the Galion Road Grader.


Gil
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Stoker on July 09, 2020, 07:55:16 pm
OMG George .... that is all so totally BRILLIANT!!!

The complexity of the original machines design offers much to be admired to be sure, but most especially your consummate execution of that complex design in scale, is to be marvelled at and honored to the limits of my poor ability to express!
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: gbritnell on July 09, 2020, 06:52:50 pm
Gentlemen,
Several people had asked if I would make a video showing the various functions of the machine in operation. I did the best I could.
gbritnell
https://youtu.be/PDwxCcs-yOo
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: IndianaRog on July 07, 2020, 01:30:19 pm
George, that exceeds anything I think I could pull off.  The detail and fact it's components function makes it that much more fantastic.

well done indeed,
Roger
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Inge on July 07, 2020, 08:43:25 am
A fantastic model!  Thanks for sharing as to how the main beams were machined, that was my first question. This is a "Smithsonian" quality model.
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: yozhek on July 07, 2020, 02:24:49 am
True craftmanship and dedication, thank you for sharing Sir

Ade
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: txlabman on July 06, 2020, 09:58:54 am
Thank you George for sharing this amazing model.

I am speechless.
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2020, 09:44:58 pm
Unbelievable work George!! Hope I get to see this one in person someday  8)

I remember selling one like this at my great-grandpa's auction because I had no room for it (not so much of a problem with this one  :D ) and my grandma on the other side of the family has one that we still use for her driveway, so she won't sell it to me  :D
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: classixs on July 05, 2020, 10:02:42 am
Impressive doesnŽt even begin serve this amazing model justice.

Exceedingly well done George !!!
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Hero on July 05, 2020, 08:21:38 am
What a beautiful piece of work! You are a master craftsmen if ever there was one.
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Swift Fox on July 05, 2020, 04:54:40 am
Fantastic attention to detail!! :o
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: John Besley on July 05, 2020, 04:41:30 am
Wow :o... love to see some pictures of the original
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: Stoker on July 05, 2020, 12:57:16 am
Astonishing detail and beautiful execution!!!
Title: Re: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: St Paul Steam on July 04, 2020, 10:03:26 pm
Wow ,that is spectacular George, I truly believe you can build anything you set your mind  to. This looks like a patent model (but much better & more accurate & detailed) simply outstanding...!
Title: 1913 Galion road grader
Post by: gbritnell on July 04, 2020, 09:00:23 pm
Gentlemen,
Here's a video of the 1/12 scale Galion road grader I have been working on for the past 14 months. This includes, photographing, measuring, creating CAD drawings and building. There's information in the video so I won't repeat it here.
I trust you will enjoy it.
gbritnell
https://youtu.be/BDkGjuT9gX8