Model Train Journal

I learned from a friend that Stu passed away yesterday. Figured some people here would like to know, as he worked on a lot of locos for a lot of people. May the signals be green Stu!

BH

condolences to his family. Have a couple of his jobs on my layout. and painted many, many for clients
Bob

Never met the man. Wish I could have. Would have loved to pick his brain...if allowed to do so.

At one time I was told there was a father and son scenario. Is this true? Is the son carrying on the tradition?

Jay

His techniques were described in a long-ago magazine article. I only remember a few salient items:

Stu would first re-do all drivers, plugging and re-boring for exact concentricity and equal crankpin throws. That is often necessary on domestic drivers (Lobaugh, Hines, etc) but really taking it to the next level on the USH drivers, which are generally good to start with.

Then, of course, he would re-quarter. I seem to recall his tolerances were very tight - I use a loose .001 at the pin.

Crankpins were always steel - rods accurately re-bushed. In short, a Cadillac mechanism.

Somebody else will have to fill us in on his gearbox philosophy. His dedication to the hobby will be missed.

Bill Davis just sold one of Stu's engines on ebay: Ebay #352832586387, BRASS O US Hobbies F45 w/KES Drive U/P NO RESERVE
The last picture shows the mechanism and what I presume is a a diode drop constant lighting circuit -- did Stu also install those?